Exclusive Book Excerpt from "A GGO Thing" Part 2

Even with the success of the first Greater Greensboro Golf Tournament, as it was called on the orange tickets, members of the Greensboro Junior Chamber’s Board doubted the tournament’s future. Smith Barrier reports that there was grave concern among the membership.
The nightmare of going in debt with a golf tournament still existed, and Joyner remembered such an element among the Jaycees at the time: “We had a new group of officers in the Jaycees who came in sincerely and honestly feeling that a golf tournament would absolutely ruin the Junior Chamber, and it would put the chamber in disgrace and oblivion if this golf tournament were held. They actually called a meeting of the board to vote down this golf tournament, but it didn’t happen.”

An even though the first tournament failed to make a profit, it lost $314.90, it is fortunate for millions of golf fans that the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors did continue to host the Greater Greensboro Open. The following is an excerpt from the 1938 Annual report submitted by the president of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Perhaps the most outstanding project of our organization for the year 1938 was the First Annual Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament. Archie Joyner, as chairman of the Executive Committee, did a splendid job and our entire membership is to be commended for their unselfish cooperation. Almost without exception, all professional golfers of any consequence competed. Sam Snead, the greatest money winner of the year, won the tournament and the $1200.00 first prize money. The leading pros told us, and no one doubts their sincerity, that this was the finest tournament in which they had ever competed. They were very unselfish in their praise for Greensboro and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Executive Committee, with Charlie West as chairman, has already been appointed to handle the tournament for next year.

Minutes from a meeting held on April 7, 1938 by the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors describes the organization’s decision to continue to host the event.

Several members of the Board expressed themselves as being in favor of getting in on record that the Junior Chamber of Commerce would sponsor the Golf Tournament annually. Dr. Stanford presented the following motion to the Board: It is resolved that the By-Laws of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce be amended by adding Article 14 to read as follows:

THAT the Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament be an annual and permanent event of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Joyner and was passed unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

While the story of the Ford Motor Company may be hard to prove, it does at least metaphorically capture the sprite of the young business minded individuals like Dr. Alex R Stanford and Archie Joyner that helped make Greensboro’s tournament a reality. It also embodies the spirit of the Greensboro community as it bands together each year to do its part to make the tournament in Greensboro a successful one.

This knowledge of the Greater Greensboro Open’s origin will certainly be of interest to the bottle collector and the sports fan alike. Keep these thoughts with you as you enjoy the Greater Greensboro Open commemorative decanters-the tournament’s most successful promotion to date.

(March 27, 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Greater Greensboro Open decanters. To celebrate this anniversary "A GGO Thing" is now on sale on Amazon.com for only $9.00.)