Don Johnson, WesternAGA (Chicago), was elected as the second member of NAGA Hall of Fame joining founder Bill Davis who was honored the year before.
The person who was the prime mover in getting NAGA started was Bill Davis, President and Founder of Golf Digest magazine, which, incidentally, first saw the light of day on the back porch of Bill's mothers house in the Chicago area, Evanston to be more precise. Bill's regular employment at that time was a time salesman for CBS Broadcasting. He later developed the book to the point where he sold it to the New York Times. Bill and his partner Howard Gill went with the magazine to the NY Times to run the magazine for the new owners. This, of course, was after Bill and Howard went to the bank with megabucks from the sale. There was a third man, a financial type, who also shared the early days of Golf Digest as an investor; his name escapes me at the moment. Reference Don Wade Article on the sale of Golf Digest.

Anyway, as the NY Times acquired more properties Bill became President of the magazine division - which included Tennis, Family Circle, and US which competed with People magazine and several others. US was Bill's brainchild, but it was sold before it really took off.

Back to NAGA. Bill Davis' right hand promotion man was Paul Menneg at the Times. Paul and Bill collaborated on NAGA along with a gentleman named Jack Reese, retired from Compton Ad Agency and living in Pinehurst.

A national association of advertising golfers from major cities across the country had been a dream of Bill Davis for some time during the early sixties. Jack Reese, of the New York group, of which Bill Davis and Paul Menneg were also members, had a similar dream. But all efforts to launch such a group failed to materialize until 1967 when Davis, Reese, and Menneg got together - made calls to Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Philadelphia as well as New York to get the group started. The five chapters agreed to start their local competition during the 1968 season, select a four-man team and meet at the Broadwater Beach Hotel Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi in November of 1968 for the first playoff. This is where NAGA was born, where the first officers were elected and plans were made for the playoffs in 1969 - and for expansion of the National group.

Earl Morgan of New York was the first President. His staff of officers included Bob Leonhard of Detroit, Secretary, Chet Riedemann of Chicago, Treasurer and Geo Barnhard of Philadelphia, Vice President. NAGA formed its own board, wrote by-laws, and conducted the championships and continued the interchange of information between the individual member association. Later on, Walter Hagen, Jr., who played for Detroit in the 1968 playoffs became Executive Secretary of NAGA - after his famous father had passed away and Walter and Helen had retired to Hobe Sound, Florida. Walter was a great human being and made many contributions to NAGA. He did miss a number of NAGA meetings though, because he would not fly. If he could get to a meeting by boat, or by his Bentley, he'd be there. He even went by train with Riedemann to Pebble Beach in '72, but if the only transportation available were an airplane, Walter would open a bottle of beer, wave bye-bye and stay home!

This original group of officers made the initial contacts with chapters in other cities, San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle, who eventually joined the group. Cities like Minneapolis showed interest but chose not to join. Philadelphia dropped out after only a few years and although they show signs of rejoining, they haven't yet.

Tom Martz, San Francisco, Oscar Lewis, Atlanta and Hugh Feltis, Seattle became great members of NAGA.

Denver with Ed Sweeney at the helm joined NAGA next and Ed went through the chairs to Presidency. (That first meeting in Biloxi saw a unique system for picking the officers of NAGA. Bill Davis put the names of the representatives of the five teams in a hat and said the first four names drawn would be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and that's the way it was.)

While the meeting went on, the teams played on Friday. Chicago, with Paul Day, Bill Belsey, Paul Riordon and Don Johnson - were leading after the first day. The second day, Saturday, dawned chilly and wet, but we teed off anyway, then gave out prizes (deck clocks) to the winning team. Chicago won the Golf Digest trophy. Paul Day took low gross honors with 72 and Al Embry of Philadelphia took low net.

Then most of us headed for New Orleans and Bourbon Street. We'll skip the lurid details of a wild night in the French Quarters except to say that no fewer than 3 foursomes ended up in Don Johnson's room at the Royal Orleans Hotel - a single room under normal circumstances. The air the next morning (Sunday) was so foul it prompted several of us to go to the church near the levee just to get a place to rest where the air was fresh.

We went to the Broadwater Beach resort in Biloxi the first two years - '68 and '69 and then moved to Bay Hill in Orlando for the '70 and '71 seasons. That made four playoffs in four years at a southeastern facility and it made sense at that point to stage the next playoff somewhere in the west to give the western teams a travel break. At this point, we agreed to go east and west of the Mississippi on alternate years to give all teams a travel break.

There were no host chapters the first six years of NAGA. Golf Digest arranged and hosted the tournament. Each chapter paid its own way and the individual players paid their own way. Later the local chapters helped pay expenses for the team, some partially, some completely.

Other things discussed in those early meetings were the exchange of tournament schedules between chapters, the development of a NAGA crest worn only by officers, past Presidents and members of a winning team. The emblem was designed in Chicago along with the NAGA stationary. The first crests or emblems for NAGA were awarded at the second tournament in Biloxi in 1969.

Dues were established at $150.00 per year. (This was later changed to $250.00 and eventually to $450.00 per year.)

The Satellite tournament was also developed in 1969 to encourage interested players who didn't make the team to come and participate. In those early days it was also suggested that the ladies not be a part of NAGA. That plan was rapidly changed when it became very obvious that if we wanted to increase attendance it had to come from the development of Satellite competition. The possibilities of getting former team members (and others) to use the NAGA playoffs as a partial vacation, either before or after the remainder of the vacation, meant that wives and/or significant others would be a very important part of future tournaments.

It was a wise decision because the ladies and the satellite activities became the backbone of the organization, attendance-wise.


The 1971 tournament was won by L.A. at Bay Hill. Bob Leonhard, Detroit, was NAGA President. This was the 4th year in a row that the NAGA playoffs were held in the southeast. This made for a very long and expensive trip for L.A. The decision by the Board was to start alternating playoff sites between east and west of the Mississippi River to give all chapters a break. As a starter, a decision was made to take our distinguished group to Pebble Beach for the '72 playoffs. This paragraph might be a repeat

By 1972 Chester Riedemann, who started as NAGA Treasurer in '68, was now President. Geo Barnhard, Bob Leonhard and Earl Morgan had served their terms as the helm. The Riedemanns and the Hagens took the train across the country to L.A. That represented a lot of "sipping" hours in the bar car for the Haig and Chet and wives.

By this time, San Francisco had joined NAGA and Philadelphia had dropped out, temporarily, they said. The temporary hiatus reached 20 years some time ago so I think it safe to assume they are gone. We had encouraging information that they could be ready to rejoin the group. (They did and now they are gone again.)

In order to help defray expenses, an entry fee of $10.00 per person was established. Later on this fee was raised to $50 per person.

Also, early in the development of NAGA and in order to make the national event more attractive to all members of the local chapters, a system was established to encourage players from all classes, A, B, C & D, to qualify. In the first few years all chapters simply sent their best players, (mostly class A guys) to the playoffs. This was still in effect in 1972 but it turned out to be too limiting to use only the better players and it wasn't fair to other members of each chapter.

It occurred to us that the primary reason for getting together in a national tournament was not to win a tin trophy but to build on the camaraderie and friendships that were forming. It took time to establish this and we still have moments when winning is still more important to some chapters.

'We had already implemented the plan of using the best 3 scores out of the four man team each of the two tournament days. So, now we opened it up to hopefully include a class A, B, and C player - and then add the fourth player from any one of the 3 handicap groups. For convenience it was decided that 28 would be the highest handicap used. A person with a higher handicap could still be on the team but for playoff purposes, 28 was the top limit.

The system worked much better, but it still did not eliminate all the problems since some local chapters did not have city, state or electronic handicap systems to govern them. They used handicap from AGA events only. Very inaccurate!

Since NAGA could not dictate what the local groups should do with their handicap systems - only suggest - we had for a long time a few chapters who figured their own handicaps - some groups also gave putts inside the leather" to speed up play. They also didn't keep their handicaps seriously.


One group selected one player from each of 3 handicap divisions on the basis of most the improved player in each division - and then selected their fourth team member with a putting contest through an obstacle course (no joke). This was later changed when the same player won the putting contest 3 or 4 years in a row.

It was also proposed in 1972 that if a member in good standing of any chapter would 'transfer to another chapter in NAGA for business reasons, that he be given immediate membership in the new group upon request, rather than sit through a waiting list. This plan is still in effect in many cities. It became a matter of the chapter involved making the decision for the acceptance of a transferee. So far, it has not been a problem.


In 1971 at Orlando it was decided that NAGA needed a set of by-laws and Chet Riedemann, being the' President the following year and one of the original officers, should make the first draft of the by-laws. Many discussions followed and many changes were made but eventually were approved at Pebble Beach in 1972.

From the start it was always the aim of NAGA to play the best resorts and courses that were available, places that were well known and attractive to real golfers in all cities. With few exceptions this plan has been followed and is still a very important part of our operation.

As Chet Riedemann stepped down from the Presidency of NAGA in 1972 Don Johnson, who had participated in Biloxi and Bay Hill tournaments where we had been the first four years, was appointed as the Chicago officer on the Board of NAGA. He was also the President of the Chicago NAGA that same year. He must have found a home on the NAGA Board because he is still there a quarter of a century later. (It is rumored that he has compromising pictures of Bill Davis with several small farm animals and that this "clout" has assured his longevity.)

The weather has not always cooperated with NAGA. The first year at Biloxi, all went well the first day but on Saturday the rain came, the weather turned cold and it was just a few degrees away from being completely terrible.

Yet all five teams teed it up on Saturday with one notable difference - Detroit teed it up
with only 3 men because Walter Hagen refused to start in that kind of weather. He bade "so long" to the first tee and said "I'll see you in the bar within the hour." He was right! Less than four holes later everybody picked up - came in to the bar where everything was completely dry (on the outside) and spent the better part of the day listening to Hagen tell stories about his famous Dad - the Haig, before having an early dinner and getting packed (it didn't take long for the 20 guys who made up the five teams). Then we all took off for New Orleans and a large night on Bourbon Street that will never be forgotten.

Sammy Nield and Bob Otto from New York hosted dinner in New Orleans and that night Don Johnson's single room at the Royal Orleans Hotel slept twelve advertising drunks. The air became so foul that several of us opted for religion and went to early mass to get a breath of fresh air.

The first six tournaments did not have host chapters. The crowd was small so the reservations were made it a resort and each group handled its own transportation and living requirements. Once there the tournament was organized in a short time with no complications.

The one trophy in existence was the Golf Digest Team Trophy, which went to Chicago the first year. All winning team members got electric desk clocks from Golf Digest. Don Johnson still has his plugged in at the office, still running after 30 years.

All had such a great time we booked the Broadwater Beach again the 1969 before we left for New Orleans. The crowd at NAGA #2 almost doubled to nearly 40 people and still no Satellite Tournament but we did have several foursomes of non-team members. Detroit won this one, President that year also Earl Morgan of the New York Mags.

The late Bonamy was one of the Detroit teams members that year. Bob was moving through the executive chairs when he passed away unexpectedly.

The next year, 1970, with Geo Barnhard of Philadelphia as President of NAGA, we moved to Bay Hill near Orlando, Florida where the Philadelphia chapter also won the team cup. Arnold Palmer didn't own Bay Hill at that time but they were using his name, We were treated so well there that we agreed to return to Bay Hill in 1971, where we attracted a bigger crowd mostly because Disney World was opening that year. Four of us went to Disney World and took Mrs. Jack Reese with us in a wheelchair for a complete afternoon of enchantment. (I have never seen a happier lady.)

We left Walter Hagen in the bar before noon that day and when we returned at 9 pm, the Haig was still on the same bar stool entertaining a very pleased crowd of golf addicts with tales of his Dad's exploits.

While nearly everyone flew to the playoffs, the Riedemann's and the Hagen's went by Pullman car. Which meant, freely translated, at least 48 hours in a bar car. San Francisco won all the marbles in 72 under. The Pebble Beach area was so delightful that everyone voted to come back as soon as possible, which turned out to be 1974, when San Francisco won again. This time our NAGA President was Oscar Lewis of the Georgia NAGA.

In the meantime, 1973 saw NAGA back on the East Coast at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Bob Day of Los Angeles was our NAGA President and the Detroit chapter won the big Golf Digest trophy.

This situation of the President of NAGA being from the West Coast and the tournament being held on the East Coast was an unhandy arrangement that was later rectified. Now tournaments are scheduled so the host group and the NAGA President are in the same time zone.

Some months after the Hilton Head playoffs our beloved Sammy Nield of the New York Mags passed away. The New York chapter put the Sammy Nield Trophy into circulation, in memory of a great golfer, great member and great human being, who usually won low gross honors. The Nield cup as was first awarded in 1974 at Pebble Beach to John Benjamin of the San Francisco chapter. (Sam Nield was captain of the Notre Dame golf team and Walter Hagen, Jr. and Paul Menneg also attended Notre Dame around the same time.)

In 1975 the NAGA playoffs were back in the Eastern half of the country at Disney World with the New York chapter as hosts and John Schneider as the tournament chairman. NAGA by this time had two chapters in Southern California, both based in Los Angeles, one in Seattle and another in Denver. The attendance had reached 120 players - team and satellite and the group was growing. Ed Sweeney of Denver was NAGA President and the Denver chapter won the team trophy. Stu Burr of the Los Angeles WAGS won the Sam Nield Cup.

John Schneider of New York was NAGA President in 1976. Denver shared the team trophy this time with Seattle. The Sam Nield trophy was kept in Los Angeles for another year, but this time the name on the trophy was Chris Carlson. A strange thing happened at the Wigwam in Phoenix that year where it never rains in October. Whatever the stuff was coming from the heavens, when it became ankle deep outside of the pro shop, all three courses were closed and our tournament became a one day affair for the second time in NAGA history. We had a very early dinner, awarded prizes and were on our way in time for church at home Sunday morning.

Hugh Feltis of Seattle became NAGA President in 1977 - the 10th anniversary of NAGA. Appropriately enough we gathered at Pinehurst, North Carolina for the affair with Detroit as our hosts and Jerry Brown as the tournament chairman. It was a Chicago tournament all the way with the team trophy going to the Windy City and the Sam Nield Cup going to David Long of Chicago.

The PGA Golf Hall of Fame at Pinehurst was a great attraction for us and it was a real treat for us to take in the exhibits and walk through the history of the golfing greats of the PGA. It was great to have Bob Leonhard of Detroit, one of the original officers of NAGA and President in 1971 back for the 10th year homecoming.

1978 was a year to remember - a real gamble - but due to the efforts of a few people things turned out alright but not before some very anxious moments. NAGA was all set for LaCosta in Southern California until 30 days before the scheduled playoffs when the host group discovered they had a regular outing at the same time as the NAGA tournament - and cancelled LaCosta. Most of the chapters were resigned to skipping the '78 tournament because of the lack of time to find another spot. But, some of us felt that skipping a NAGA playoff would be the death knell of the organization and in retrospect still believe that it was worth the effort to put the show on the road. In a couple of days we were booked at the Stardust in Las Vegas, only

To have another shot in the crotch when the Stardust opted to accept a group of 200 ballplayers for our days and cancelled our group of one hundred plus ad folks. After a few more days of frantic planning and ridiculous promises we had acceptance at the Tropicana Hotel - and now we had only three weeks till the first foursome was scheduled to stick it in the ground. But things went well the last three weeks and the Georgia chapter won the team competition. We had 130 players in attendance. John Siddell of New York won the Sam Nield Trophy. Jerry Brown of Detroit was President of NAGA in '78. Tournament chairmen were Don Johnson of Chicago and John Schneider of New York. The lounge was full of our losers Sunday morning - some of them trying to sell rented cars to get enough money to get home. It was a good outing - and today NAGA is alive and well and living in 18 cities across the country. We should go back to Vegas sometime just for old times sake. That tourney kept the interest in NAGA alive!!

In 1979, with Denver as the host group, NAGA went to the beautiful Broadmoor in
Colorado Springs. Ray Friedman of Denver was tournament chairman and Don
Johnson, Chicago, was President of NAGA. We welcomed four new chapters into
NAGA this year - largely through the organizational efforts of Verl Wheeler who led Cincinnati, Kansas City and Portland into the fold. San Diego also joined the national group. Attendance rose to nearly 160 golfers. Denver with local knowledge, of course, putted the tricky greens better than the rest of us had and won the Golf Digest team trophy. Joe Kryla of Detroit won the Sam Nield trophy.

The next year, 1980, was one of the best tournaments NAGA has had, at the Doral in Miami, Florida. Tournament chairman Cy Dawson of Atlanta did an outstanding job of organizing and an even better job of negotiating. We came out of it with enough extra money in the treasury to set aside funds for a NAGA brochure. Don Johnson was in his second term as NAGA President. The San Francisco chapter won the team trophy and the Sam Nield trophy had co-winners, Mo Moore, Chicago and Joe Mikita, New York. It was at this meeting that Hugh Feltis of Seattle proposed a change to divide the country into three zones, East, Central and West, instead of just East and West. This was to give the teams travelling farthest a break in travelling. He also suggested that some teams having smaller budgets might send three team players instead of four. Both proposals were passed on a trial basis.

In 1981 TK Voorey of Los Angeles was President of NAGA and with the help of San Francisco, hosted NAGA 14 at Silverado in the Napa Valley of California. We had 180 players and the courses were great. The Southern California group won the team trophy and Ed Sweeney of Denver won the Sam Nield trophy.

In 1982 Cincinnati hosted NAGA 15 at Ponte Vedra, Florida where the Los Angeles WAGS took team honors. Ed Sweeney, Denver, won the Sam Nield trophy for the second straight year. Peter Banning of Cincinnati was tournament chairman and Cy Dawson of Atlanta led NAGA as President.

With Verl Wheeler of Portland as President and Skip Rein of Kansas City as tournament chairman, the playoffs, scheduled for the Central time zone, went to Rancho Viejo in Texas in 1983, where the San Diego chapter won all the team marbles. Dallas and San Jose were also added to the group. Kelly Kirkpatrick of Dallas Ft. Worth won the Sam Nield trophy.

During the winter we lost our NAGA Executive Secretary, Walter Hagen who passed away at his Hobe Sound, Florida home.

Bob Davis, Denver, became President of NAGA in 1984 and with Al Neish of Portland as tournament chairman hosted the playoffs at Tucson National Golf Club in the Western time zone. Another great tournament with great attendance. San Francisco won the team honors and Fores Beaudry of Portland won the Sam Nield trophy.

1985, with attendance growing every year and 16 teams now in the national group, the one board meeting each year at the national playoffs was not really adequate to discuss all the local and national problems that needed answers. The two hours was just not adequate. At the suggest of Bill Davis and Paul Menneg, an executive committee was formed and scheduled to meet 2 or 3 times each year to consider problems and make recommendations to the President at the annual board meeting. Don Johnson was elected chairman of the Executive Steering committee for a three year term ('85,'86 and '87). The original committee was made up of 8 men including Davis and Menneg. (It has since been changed to the present format. Skip Rein of KC served as chairman in '88, '89 and '90. Lu DiSalvo, Detroit was Executive Committee Chairman when the format changed.

Peter Banning of Cincinnati was the 1985 President and the Detroit chapter with Lu DiSalvo as tournament chairman took us to Saddlebrook, near Tampa, Florida for the playoffs. The Dallas/Fort Worth chapter took team honors and the Golf Digest trophy while Jack Teagarden of Denver won the Sam Nield trophy. (Another nameless gentleman from Denver won 1st place for tasteless letter writing in a note to Lu DiSalvo.)

More misfortune befell us in 1986 when Chicago was the host group and Matt McBride was tournament chairman. The big attraction for going to Lakeway (Texas) was to play on the fabulous Hills of Lakeway course (one of 3 courses at Lakeway). In spite of promises that the Hills greens would not be aerated or sanded before NAGA left, Jack Nicklaus came in, ordered the greens to be aerated and the fairways shaved and everything sanded in preparation for one of his big shows coming up.

When the Big Bear speaks, they listen and a good part of our tournament was spoiled because of a broken promise. Before the year was out Lakeway had new owners but that didn't help our group who, incidentally took the tragedy in stride, made the best of it, but will probably never forget the experience. We had 210 players that year and Don Baxter of LA WAGS was our President. (Incidentally, Jack and Mary Dunford of New York who had attended all but one of NAGA's events since 1968 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Lakeway.and we took a very enjoyable dinner cruise Saturday night on the beautiful lake.) San Francisco won the team trophy at Lakeway and Mo Moore of Chicago won the Sam Nield trophy and a lady won the long drive on one hole - Janet Haire of L.A.

The next year, 1987, was the first time NAGA had ever gone North for a fall tournament, mostly because the weather could not be depended on at that time of year in northern climates. But the Portland group with a lot of people to help and something to prove spent a lot of time putting together a tournament at Sun River, Oregon that broke all attendance records. Some 350 golfers of all sizes and shares teed it up in Sun River. The mornings were a little frigid but the tournament was great and the weather didn't betray us. Jack Moys and John Young were tournament chairmen for the Portland group and Skip Rein was NAGA President. John Siddell won the Sam Nield trophy. San Francisco repeated as champions, winning the Golf Digest trophy again. Lu DiSalvo of Detroit became President of NAGA in 1988, our 21st year. The NY Mags were the tournament hosts and Mickey Wiernasz was the tournament chairman of a committee with limited funds. Golfpac was brought in to run the tournament at Grenelefe in Florida. At Greenelefe the Atlanta chapter won the team event while Joe Kryla of Detroit won the Sam Nield trophy. Under Mickey's direction, Golfpac did a creditable job and was given the assignment again in 1989 where the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter was the host and Steve Schaul was the tournament chairman at the Woodlands in Houston, Texas. The team event at the Woodlands was won by the San Jose group. Beryln Hodges of Portland won the Sam Nield trophy and most of the other prizes. David Bockel of Atlanta was NAGA President and the first Paul Menneg Memorial trophy was awarded and dedicated to the memory of Paul Menneg, Golf Digest, who was one of the original committee that formed NAGA in 1968. Paul passed away at his South Carolina home in February. The trophy, for low net player, went to Greg Morin, Chicago.

NAGA 23 was held at the Wigwam in Phoenix, Arizona in 1990 with 240 men and lady golfers. San Francisco, with Spike Cryderman as tournament chairman and Al Neish as NAGA President hosted the tournament with Golfpac again handling arrangements.

The Seattle group won team honors. Individual honors went to Chicago with Greg Morin winning the Sam Nield Low Gross Trophy and Roger Zamparo of Chicago, winning the Paul Menneg cup for low net.

In 1991 a former board member started his own golf company Golfquest, to organize and run golf tournaments for a number of organizations. David Pitkin based his company in Cary, North Carolina and was hired by NAGA to be executive director and tournament director. His first tournament for NAGA was at prestigious Kiawaii Island on the South Carolina coast in 1991.

David made his move in the nick of time not knowing that he was selected to come through the NAGA officers chairs the following year. So we lost a potential officer, San Jose lost a leader - and NAGA gained the services of a dedicated gentleman who has proved since 1991 that he belongs as our executive director. David has done a great job for NAGA and hiring him was one of two smart moves this group has made in 31 years. Steve Crane, Chicago was NAGA President and the Atlanta chapter was the host with Ed Bowen as tournament chairman.

Bill Davis, founder of Golf Digest Magazine and President of the magazine division or New York Times - and founder of NAGA - was hospitalized in New York with Lou Gehrig's disease and was unable to attend NAGA 23 at the Wigwam. He was scheduled to receive a trophy as the first member of the newly created NAGA Hall of Fame. The award was presented in absentia by President Al Neish and later presented to Bill at the hospital by our PR Director Stu Schneider of Golf Digest, with a tape of the evening’s proceedings.

All of Golfdom and NAGA lost a great friend when Bill died in a Connecticut hospital on January 2nd of 1991. On a personal note - I lost one of my best friends in Bill whom I knew in Chicago before the New York Times purchased Golf Digest.

One of Bill's original Golf Digest partners, Howard Gill was a member of Chicago's
WAGA even after he moved to New York where he lived until his death a year ago. It was my distinct honor to have worked closely with Bill and Paul Menneg and Jack Reese since NAGA was formed in Biloxi and throughout it's 31 year existence. NAGA has come a long way from the 26 man crowd that attended NAGA I in Biloxi in 1968. Today NAGA is a healthy organization of 18 chapters, attracting crowds of well over 200 regularly.

NAGA is in good hands and will continue to thrive with a lot of good young executive talent in the wings and old Pro Pitkin in the drivers seat.

Don Johnson