Smiley Quick
Encyclopedia
Lyman Loren "Smiley" Quick (March 19, 1909 – December 23, 1979) was an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1940s and 1950s.
Quick was born in Centralia, Illinois
, but lived most of his life in southern California
in places like Inglewood
and Los Angeles
. He served as a combat Marine
in World War II
. His best year as an amateur was 1946 when he won the U.S. Amateur Public Links
and was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur after missing a putt from 2 feet at Baltusrol's Lower Course giving Ted Bishop the championship. Quick played on the 1947 Walker Cup
team and turned professional in 1948.
As a pro, Quick never lived up to the potential he showed as an amateur; the closest he came to winning on the PGA Tour was when he tied for first with Jack Burke, Jr., Sam Snead
and Dave Douglas
at the 1950 Bing Crosby Pro-Am.
In his later years, he made a living gambling on the golf course with people like Titanic Thompson
. Quick hustled boxing great Joe Louis
out of a quarter million dollars — enough to buy an apartment in Los Angeles and a fleet of fast cars.
Professional
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = Missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
Yellow background for top-10
Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: USGA Championship Database
Source for 1947 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 28, 1947, pg. 6.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in the 1940s and 1950s.
Quick was born in Centralia, Illinois
Centralia, Illinois
Centralia is a town located in Marion, Washington, Clinton, and Jefferson Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 13,032 at the 2010 census. The town was founded because it was the point where the two original branches of the Illinois Central Railroad, built in 1853, converged....
, but lived most of his life in southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in places like Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He served as a combat Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His best year as an amateur was 1946 when he won the U.S. Amateur Public Links
U.S. Amateur Public Links
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
and was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur after missing a putt from 2 feet at Baltusrol's Lower Course giving Ted Bishop the championship. Quick played on the 1947 Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
team and turned professional in 1948.
As a pro, Quick never lived up to the potential he showed as an amateur; the closest he came to winning on the PGA Tour was when he tied for first with Jack Burke, Jr., Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
and Dave Douglas
Dave Douglas (golfer)
Dave Douglas was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s.Douglas hailed from Newark, Delaware. Early in his career, he held the position of club pro at the Newark Country Club from 1940 until October 1942. After World War II, he joined the PGA Tour...
at the 1950 Bing Crosby Pro-Am.
In his later years, he made a living gambling on the golf course with people like Titanic Thompson
Titanic Thompson
Alvin Clarence Thomas was an American gambler, golfer and hustler better known as Titanic Thompson. He traveled the country wagering at cards, dice games, golf, horseshoes and "proposition bets" of his own devising...
. Quick hustled boxing great Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
out of a quarter million dollars — enough to buy an apartment in Los Angeles and a fleet of fast cars.
Amateur wins
- 1940 Southern California Golf Association Championship
- 1943 Southern California Golf Association Championship
- 1946 U.S. Amateur Public LinksU.S. Amateur Public LinksThe U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
- 1947 Mexican Amateur
PGA Tour (1)
- 1950 Bing Crosby Pro-Am (tie with Sam SneadSam SneadSamuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
, Dave DouglasDave Douglas (golfer)Dave Douglas was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s.Douglas hailed from Newark, Delaware. Early in his career, he held the position of club pro at the Newark Country Club from 1940 until October 1942. After World War II, he joined the PGA Tour...
, and Jack Burke, Jr.)
Other (4)
- 1948 California State OpenCalifornia State OpenThe California State Open is the California state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Southern California section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1900 and has been played at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1949 California State OpenCalifornia State OpenThe California State Open is the California state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Southern California section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1900 and has been played at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1951 Utah OpenUtah OpenThe Utah Open is the Utah state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Utah section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1926 and has been played at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1955 Northern California OpenNorthern California OpenThe Northern California Open is a golf tournament played in the Northern California, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is run by the Northern California section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1920 at a variety of courses around the state...
Results in major championships
Amateur| Tournament | 1946 | 1947 |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T26 LA | CUT |
| U.S. Amateur | 2 | R128 |
| The Amateur Championship The Amateur Championship The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur... |
DNP | R128 |
Professional
| Tournament | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T27 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T8 | CUT | DNP | T10 | CUT | WD | DNP | T16 | DNP | DNP | CUT |
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = Missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
Yellow background for top-10
Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: USGA Championship Database
Source for 1947 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, May 28, 1947, pg. 6.