As we were going to press with the 3M Open issue, we were saddened to hear of the passing of artist Loyal H. (Bud) Chapman at the age of 97. Bud was an international golf icon from the Twin Cities world renowned for his golf paintings. You probably know Bud Chapman as the artist who created the Infamous 18, those wonderful paintings of “fantasy” golf holes, but Bud was also an avid golfer with 3,899 rounds of golf shot better than his age.

Our paths crossed with Bud and his son David a few times over the years, the most memorable was our first meeting at a Tee It Up For The Troops event at Mendakota Country Club. As we walked up to our cart preparing for the shotgun start, I saw the cart sign listing our playing partners as Bud and David Chapman. I introduced myself to them and asked Bud if he was “THE” Bud Chapman. He said he was “A” Bud Chapman, but wasn’t sure if he was “THE” Bud Chapman. I asked if he painted The Infamous 18, and of course he had. I told him, “You’re “THE” Bud Chapman!” To which I received a sly grin in return. That was the start of one of the most enjoyable rounds I’ve ever played.

Bud was 89 when we played and a true joy to play with – fun loving, quick witted, spry (he walked most of the course), and a very good player – in fact, we used several of his shots during the day. It was a round that I will never forget. Bud, you are a true gentleman and I’d like to thank you for the time we spent together that Friday in September at Mendakota, I will never forget it.

The following is R.J. Smiley’s interview with Bud from a few years back that will give you insight into the man that we were so fortunate to meet that day at Mendakota.

Bud Chapman – One Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words!!

When asked about Bud’s paintings, Pete Dy, the world-famous architect said, “Bud’s innovative thinking certainly influenced many designers to make the contours a little steeper and the bunkers a little deeper and generally to think outside the box with new designs, and, in that way Bud made a great contribution to the game.”

Bud Chapman is a very talented painter, but where does Bud Chapman come up with the ideas for those holes. When asked that question, Chapman simply said, “With 80 years on the golf course, it just seemed easy. I see golf holes everywhere.”

Bud Chapman began his golf career as a caddie at Interlachen Country Club at the age of ten. He would take his bicycle or hitchhike to the course and wait around the “Caddie Shack” to see if he could pick up a “loop” that day. In those days, caddies were paid 75 cents per round. The following year Bud became the favorite caddie of the famous Patty Berg. He considers himself lucky because the other caddies did not want to “tote her bag” because she carried around 100 practice balls in it. “When she missed a shot, she would stand there hitting those practice balls until she had cured that flaw. Then, I would have to hurry and pick them up and then proceed with the round,” Chapman says with a smile. “She used to tip me 10 cents per round. The pay was great!”  

By the age of twelve, Chapman’s dad would let Bud drive the family car, a 1926 Hudson, to the golf course. Bud, who needed a pillow so he could see over the steering wheel, would pick up the other caddies along the way to Interlachen. They all used their tip money to pay for gas, 12 cents per gallon. The caddies were allowed to play the great old golf course on Mondays. In his first attempt at the game, that he quickly grew to love, Bud shot 166 (not counting whiffs – caddie rules). With the flexibility of a dancer and the hart of a champion, Bud soon became the caddie to beat.

Now as he approaches his 90^th birthday, Bud is proudest of the one record that will never be broken. He has attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open 67 times. When you consider that a player must maintain a handicap index of 1.4 or less just to enter American’s Championship that is an amazing record!! Bud tells the story of his biggest choke! “I was leading the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying in Chicago (ahead of Sam Snead and Frank Stranahan) when he finished 13, 11, to miss qualifying by one shot.”

Two other records prove how good he was and still is, playing to a 6 at age 89. Bud earned MGA player of the year distinction in three different decades. He won the Minnesota’s Senior Amateur and Senior Open in the same year, at age 69. Chapman has shot his age over 2,600 times. Last week he shot a 77 at Minneapolis Golf Club, missing a few short ones. Bud says he only fails to shoot his age two or three times each year.

To use Bud’s words, “I was never really that good. But when I played in tournaments I would, you know, get in that zone. Hitting good shot after good shot. I really did not care about winning. I just wanted to keep playing. I love playing when I am in that zone, hitting shots perfectly!”

After the war Chapman returned to Minneapolis and started a commercial artist business where he still works today. The artist business gives Bud a balance to his life. Working on his art projects and playing golf. He has a new sports/art series to be released soon. Hint: it involves a ball and an athlete in an alley.

Throughout the years Chapman has maintained those two important attributes, at the age of 89 he has retained that incredible, athletic, flexibility that allows him to swing the golf club like a teenager. More importantly, Bud has retained that strive for perfection, that “will to win.” He is soft spoken, never swears and has a smile on his face – but he does want to beat you!