Lloyd F. Gullickson was an American professional golfer who played in the early-to-mid 20th century. As an amateur he won the 1917 and 1918 Chicago Amateur Championships, on both occasions using borrowed clubs. He turned professional in 1919 and later posted good finishes in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. His best U.S. Open finish was T28 in 1922 and his best PGA Championship effort came in 1920 when he finished T17. Gullickson won the 1934 Ohio Open as well as six other professional tournaments.
Early life
Gullickson, who was born in 1899 in Illinois, learned golf by first starting out as a caddie at the Jackson ParkGolf Course in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up under difficult circumstances when he became orphaned at age 11 when his mother, a poor upholsterer, died. Among others, he carried the bag of Chick Evans at Jackson Park who would later help Gullickson obtain his first pro posting at Lake Shore Golf Club in Braeside, Illinois.
He won the 1917 Chicago Amateur Championship and while serving in the U.S. Navy at Naval Station Great Lakes during World War I, he took a leave of absence to play in and win the tournament again in 1918. He was unable to afford his own clubs at the time and won both tournaments using borrowed clubs. Known as a long hitter of the ball, he turned professional in 1919.
Gullickson had a number of starts in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. In the U.S. Open, his finest performance was T28 in 1922 and his best PGA Championship effort came in 1920 when he finished T17. By 1926 he was serving as the head professional at The Elks Country Club in McDermott, Ohio. He later served at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River, Ohio, for the 1927 season. He won the Ohio Open in 1934 – as well as six other professional tournaments – and was hired as the head professional at the Inverness Club in 1945, succeeding Byron Nelson. He remained at Inverness as the summer professional until his retirement in 1965. During the winters, Gullickson served at the Pasadena Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Memorable match
In 1934, Gullickson partnered with fellow pro Babe Didrikson in a match against amateurs Glenna Collett-Vare and Babe Ruth which they won quite easily. The match raised $600 for a crippled children's hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. A number of gallery members were betting which of the "Babes" would hit the longest drive on each hole. Didrikson jokingly said that she could outdrive Ruth standing on one leg.
T = Tied for a place ? = Unknown R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play Yellow background for top-10 Sources:
