Emil Loeffler

Emil Loeffler
— Golfer —
Personal information
Full name Emil Felix Loeffler, Jr.
Nickname Dutch
Born (1895-06-06)June 6, 1895
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
Died March 19, 1948(1948-03-19) (aged 52)
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
Spouse Hilda Loeffler
Children 2
Career
Status Professional
Professional wins 4
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament DNP
U.S. Open 10th: 1921
The Open Championship DNP
PGA Championship T5: 1922

Emil Felix "Dutch" Loeffler, Jr. (June 6, 1895 – March 19, 1948)[1] was an American professional golfer and golf course designer.[2][3]

Early life

Loeffler was born on June 6, 1895 at Oakmont, Pennsylvania, to Swiss immigrants Emil Loeffler, Sr. and his wife Margaret, both of whom were born in Berne, Switzerland.[1]

Golf career

Loeffler had two top-10 finishes in major championships and had four wins in other tournaments. He had a long career as both course superintendent and head professional at Oakmont Country Club.

Oakmont Country Club

Loeffler started working as a caddy at Oakmont when he was 10. He was promoted to caddiemaster in 1912 and took over as the course's superintendent (greenkeeper) in 1916, a position he retained until 1948. Loeffler assisted in modification of the course, including facilitating addition of many hazards that became a hallmark of Oakmont. After the death of head pro Charley Rowe in 1927, Loeffler assumed that role as well. When he relinquished it in 1947, he was reportedly the highest paid pro in America. His replacement, young Lew Worsham, won the U.S. Open a month after he took charge at Oakmont.[4]

U.S. Open

Loeffler qualified for six U.S. Opens.[4] His best finish was at the 1921 U.S. Open with a 10th place finish.[5]

PGA Championship

In 1921, the PGA Championship invited the top 31 professional finishers at the 1921 U.S. Open, along with the defending champion, to the tournament and as such Loeffler was invited. Loeffler finished in a tie for 17th place with his first round loss in match play to Cyril Walker on the 37th hole.[6] Loeffer's best finish at the PGA Championship was a tie for 5th (quarter-final finish) in 1922.[7]

Golf course design

Loeffler is credited with designing over 20 golf courses.[8][9]

Military service

Loeffler served in the infantry in World War I where he was wounded.[10] He was a corporal in Company E, 327th Infantry, 82nd Division, serving from September 20, 1917 to May 28, 1919.[11]

Death

Loeffler died on March 19, 1948—at the end of a 65-day stay at Presbyterian Hospital—of respiratory failure due to pneumonia.[1] He was a widower, his wife Hilda having preceded him in death in 1945.[1]

Professional wins (4)

Results in major championships

Tournament 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
U.S. Open T35 10 ? ? ? ? T49 ? ? ? ? ? ? T63
PGA Championship DNP R32 QF DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP

Note: Loeffler played in only the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

DNP = Did not play
? = unknown
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Certificate of Death – Emil F. Loeffler (File No. 30342)". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Vital Statistics. March 19, 1948.
  2. ↑ "Highland Country Club". Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Emil Loeffler, Noted Golf, Dies". Pittsburgh Press. March 19, 1948. p. 42. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Whitten, Ron (June 10, 2007). "Putting the "Oh!" in Oakmont". ESPN. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  5. ↑ "1921 U.S. Open". About.com. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ "1921 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  7. ↑ "1922 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Emil Loeffler – Courses Built". Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Bucknell Golf Club, Lewisburg, PA". finegolfdesign.com. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Emil F. Loeffler, Jr." (PDF). March–April 1948. p. 15. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Emil F. Loeffler". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Military Affairs. April 2, 1952.
  12. ↑ "Open Championship - Past Champions". Western Pennsylvania Golf Association. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
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