The Minnesota Public Golf Association Centennial Celebration is a story that needs to be told. Not because it was a great day of golf at Wirth Golf Course followed by a banquet at The Metropolitan Club. The party for the 150 or so past champions, golf executives and guests who attended was a celebration of uncompromising dedication to golf in its pursuit form. For the past 100 years the MPGA has organized, supported, and promoted competitive golf.

The Centennial Celebration kicked-off with a Pro-Am golf tournament at Wirth Golf Course. The same golf course, called Glenwood in1923, was founding member of the MPGA along with Columbia, another Minneapolis Park Board course. Glenwood was subsequently re-named Theodor Wirth Golf Course, to honor Theodor Wirth, the Director of Minneapolis Parks & Recreation in the early 1900’s. During his tenure the majority of the Minneapolis Park Board Golf Courses were developed. Theodor Wirth is often referred to as the grandfather of Minneapolis golf.

Many of the players who participated in the Pro-Am believe that the Centennial Committee wanted to play a golf course where the natural terrain has changed little since being developed over a century ago. Early in planning the Centennial event, the Committee decided to honor all previous Public Links and Senior Public Champions at the banquet at the Metropolitan Club. For many of us who attended, the gathering of friends and foes felt similar to a class reunion.

Theodore Wirth Golf Course proved to be a fine test that presented plenty of challenge for the 128 golfers who participated. The fairways and greens were in perfect condition. For those readers who have not experienced this centurion masterpiece, a trip around Theodore Wirth Golf Course needs to be added to your bucket list. Have your cell phone charged, Wirth presents some Minneapolis skyline views that can only be photographed from selected tees at Theodor Wirth.

The Master of Ceremonies was Craig Waryan, a member of the three-generation Waryan clan of Minnesota golf professionals. A better choice could not be made. I feel sure that Craig knew every golfer, golf executive and most guests, personally. Craig spoke with reverence, with a little humor, about the work that the MPGA does to foster competitive golf.

Waryan’s introduction of Steve Johnson, MGA Hall of Fame, was a trip down memory lane. Steve’s record of Minnesota golf championship victories (MGA & MPGA) is something to behold. His record of MPGA Championships spans four decades. Steve’s son Eric is also a MPGA Public Links Champion. Typical of the humble Steve, his entire speech heaped praise on Bob Ulsacker of Meadowbrook Golf Course. Ulsacker directed the Minnesota state qualifying for USGA Amateur Public Links Championship (the USGA no longer hosted the event). Under Ulsacker’s direction, Minnesota led the nation in qualifying golfers for this USGA Championship 14 straight years. Bob also solicited donations from MPGA men’s clubs to offset expenses for the trip to the USGA Championship.

Trent Peterson was the next speaker to be introduced by Waryan. Peterson spoke of playing public golf courses with his dad at a very young age. Trent, who admitted that he could afford to belong to a private club, cherishes the opportunity to travel and play Minnesota’s variety of MPGA courses. Trent has a fabulous record of championship victories and may someday surpass the numbers of Steve Johnson’s Championships.

“To bring the sport of golf to the common man,” was the goal when a group of daily fee golf courses formed the MPGA in 1923. The stories of the MPGA that get the most discussion and press are about the three Minnesota golfers who won the USGA Amateur Public Links Championship, Les Bolstad, yes that Bolstad. Bolstad was longtime coach of the University of Minnesota Golf Team who seemed to find ways to make good players great. The University of Minnesota Golf Course is named after Les. As a 17-year-old Bolstad won the first of his two state Public Links Championship and a year later in 1925 Bolstad won the USGA Amateur Public Links.

Bob Clark again brought distinction to Minnesota public golf when he won the 1940 title. It would be 44 years before another Minnesotan would capture the USGA Pub Links Title.

In 1984 qualifiers for the USGA Pub Links Championship had to travel all the way to the remote island of Kauai, Hawaii. Jim Sorenson, son of a Bloomington dentist who played out of Dwan Golf Course, made the long trip to Hawaii but had a short final match. Sorenson won the 36-hole final match in record fashion, 12 and 11. The personable Sorenson has been in the business of golf ever since. He is the owner of Momentus Golf, the weighted golf club company that sold thousands on the Golf Channel. Sorenson brought his winning smile back when he attended the Centennial.

The MPGA and its 80 member clubs organize into club team matches and seven championships. These events are available to Men’s Club members of MPGA clubs. These seven Championships vary in format and provide Championships for golfers of all ages. The Junior Public Links has divisions for both boys and girls. Several of the Championships include both gross and net divisions.

The 100 year celebration of the MPGA and its goal to organize and promote competitive golf was a huge success.

For more information about the MPGA go to www.mpga.net.