He has been called “The Man Who Was Pinehurst.” He served as President of the United States Golf Association, Walker Cup captain and was such a staunch believer in amateurism that he wrote a creed on the subject. This was Richard Tufts, a man who was known in this country quite simply as “Mr. Golf.”
While Pinehurst will remain his legacy, it was amateur golf that drove Tufts to be so passionate about the game. “In my mind an amateur is one who competes in a sport for the joy of playing, for the companionship it affords, for health-giving exercise and for relaxation from more serious matters,” were the words Tufts wanted left behind. “As part of his light-hearted approach to the game, he accepts cheerfully all adverse breaks, is considerate of his opponent, plays the game fairly and squarely in accordance with the rules, maintains self-control and strives to do his best, not in order to win, but rather as a test of his own skill and ability. These are his only interests, and, in them, material considerations have no part. The returns which amateur sport will bring to those who play it in this spirit are greater than those any money can possibly buy.”
