George S. May
Encyclopedia
George S. May was an American
businessman.
George Storr May was born in Windsor, Illinois
. He graduated with a degree from the Illinois States Teacher College. First working as a Bible salesman, following Billy Sunday, he soon turned his natural talent for problem solving to use by becoming a freelance consultant, and efficiency expert.
In 1924 he started his first consulting assignment with Chicago Flexible Shaft Company, today's Sunbeam Corporation. This was the beginning of the George S. May International Company.
and the World Championship of Golf
, at the country club he owned, Tam O'Shanter Golf Course
, located in Niles, Illinois
.
He is known for being the first to broadcast the game on television in 1953 at the Tom O’Shanter Golf Course. He was the first to offer big-money tournaments, first to allow club members to use golf carts, first to provide grandstands, and first to use radios to keep spectators up to date about what was happening elsewhere on the coarse.
He was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 1992, as a golf innovator.
George S. May Company is featured in the History of the PGA, for the years 1949 & 1950. In 1949 the PGA ran a business survey, and in 1950 they implemented the recommendations of splitting the PGA from the tournament Bureau.
George S. May is listed as one of the 100 most influential persons to the game of golf, for being the first to live broadcast a golf tournament.
The All-American tournament held at the Tam O'Shanter golf course, in 1943 was the first tournament in the US, to welcome black golfers to the pro circuit. May is quoted as saying "These tournaments are open to any American who is willing and able to qualify,".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman.
George Storr May was born in Windsor, Illinois
Windsor, Illinois
Windsor is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Illinois:*Windsor, Mercer County, Illinois*Windsor, Shelby County, Illinois...
. He graduated with a degree from the Illinois States Teacher College. First working as a Bible salesman, following Billy Sunday, he soon turned his natural talent for problem solving to use by becoming a freelance consultant, and efficiency expert.
In 1924 he started his first consulting assignment with Chicago Flexible Shaft Company, today's Sunbeam Corporation. This was the beginning of the George S. May International Company.
Involvement in Golf
George S. May is well known for popularizing the game of golf in the 1950s by turning golf into a spectators sport. He staged a number of tournaments, including the All American OpenAll American Open
The All American Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s. It was played at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Niles, Illinois. It was run by George S. May and was also known as the Tam O'Shanter Open. From 1944 to 1946 it offered $10,000 winner's prize...
and the World Championship of Golf
World Championship of Golf
The World Championship of Golf was a championship played on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s that, in its latter years, boasted a purse that dwarfed every other event on the tour, including even the U.S. Open. It was played in August of each year at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club, in Niles,...
, at the country club he owned, Tam O'Shanter Golf Course
Tam O'Shanter Golf Course
The Tam O'Shanter Golf Course is located in Niles, Illinois. The north branch of the Chicago River flows through the course.The club of was previously owned by George S...
, located in Niles, Illinois
Niles, Illinois
Niles is a village in Maine and Niles Townships, Cook County, Illinois, United States. The 2010 population from the U.S. Census Bureau is 29,803.The current mayor of Niles is Robert M. Callero.-History:Niles was first settled in 1827....
.
He is known for being the first to broadcast the game on television in 1953 at the Tom O’Shanter Golf Course. He was the first to offer big-money tournaments, first to allow club members to use golf carts, first to provide grandstands, and first to use radios to keep spectators up to date about what was happening elsewhere on the coarse.
He was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 1992, as a golf innovator.
George S. May Company is featured in the History of the PGA, for the years 1949 & 1950. In 1949 the PGA ran a business survey, and in 1950 they implemented the recommendations of splitting the PGA from the tournament Bureau.
George S. May is listed as one of the 100 most influential persons to the game of golf, for being the first to live broadcast a golf tournament.
The All-American tournament held at the Tam O'Shanter golf course, in 1943 was the first tournament in the US, to welcome black golfers to the pro circuit. May is quoted as saying "These tournaments are open to any American who is willing and able to qualify,".