Sports
Walter Hagen
1892–1969 · professional golfer
Flamboyant winner of eleven major championships, "the father of professional golf", who became the first head professional at Oakland Hills and made Michigan his home.
- Born
Rochester, New York- Died
Traverse City, Michigan
aged 76- Birth name
- Walter Charles Hagen
- Also known as
- Sir Walter · The Haig
- Detroit years
- 1918–1950s
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Hagen was already a U.S. Open champion when, in 1918, he became the first club professional at the new Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, northwest of Detroit, whose South Course was then opening. He stayed only about a year in the job, leaving to become one of the first golfers to make a living purely from tournaments and exhibitions, but the Detroit area remained his base for decades. With his tailored clothes, chauffeured cars and showman's confidence, he did more than anyone to turn professional golfers from club employees into celebrities. He won eleven majors, including five PGA Championships and four British Opens, a total surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, and he captained the first U.S. Ryder Cup teams. In retirement he lived in northern Michigan and died at his home in Traverse City in 1969. He rests in the mausoleum at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.
Highlights
- Eleven major championships, third on the all-time list
- First club professional at Oakland Hills Country Club, 1918
- Five PGA Championships and four British Opens
- Captain of the early U.S. Ryder Cup teams
- World Golf Hall of Fame charter member, 1974
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1918–1919
Oakland Hills Country Club
He was the club's first head professional as its Donald Ross-designed South Course opened.
Buried here · 1969
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (mausoleum)
Hagen rests in the cemetery's mausoleum, next to his grandson.