Johnny Dawson

Career

Dawson was born in Chicago, Illinois. Although he was a lifelong amateur golfer, his amateur status was rescinded by the United States Golf Association (USGA) for a time due to his employment with the Spalding sporting goods company. Dawson's amateur status was eventually restored and he competed in several USGA events. He was runner-up, at the age of 44, to Skee Riegel in 1947 U.S. Amateur. Dawson played on the winning 1949 Walker Cup team. He was also runner-up in 1958 U.S. Senior Amateur.

As a golf course architect, he designed and built Marrakesh Country Club, the Seven Lakes, Thunderbird, El Dorado, and La Quinta Country Clubs.

Dawson also won the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) amateur championship four times between 1942 and 1952.

Personal life

Dawson lived in Palm Springs. He was married to the puppetteer Velma Wayne Dawson.

Awards and honors

In 2007, Dawson was inducted into the SCGA Hall of Fame.

Amateur wins

• 1936 Trans-Mississippi Amateur
• 1942 California State Amateur, Southern California Amateur
• 1944 Southern California Amateur
• 1945 Southern California Amateur
• 1952 Southern California Amateur

Professional wins (3)

Note: all wins were as an amateur

PGA Tour wins (1)

• 1942 Bing Crosby Pro-Am Source:

Other wins (2)

• 1935 Iowa Open
• 1942 California State Open

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

• Walker Cup: 1949 (winners)

References

References

1. Glick, Shav. (January 22, 1986). "Golfer and Course Builder Johnny Dawson Dies". Los Angeles Times.
2. (1976). "Who's Who in Golf". Arlington House.
3. "1947 U.S. Amateur".
4. "1949 Walker Cup Match".
5. "1958 U.S. Senior Amateur".
6. "Thunderbird Ranch". Thunderbird Country Club.
7. (2014). "The Best Guide Ever to Palm Springs Celebrity Homes". Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe.
8. Johns, Howard. (2004). "Palm Springs Confidential: Playground of the Stars!". Barricade Books.
9. Dawson's wife, [[Velma Wayne Dawson]], designed the [[Howdy Doody]] [[marionettes]] and was honored with a Golden Palm Star on the [[Palm Springs Walk of Stars]] in 2000. {{usurped. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121208224143/http://www.palmspringswalkofstars.com/web-storage/Stars%20by%20date/Stars%20dedicated%20by%20date.pdf Palm Springs Walk of Stars: By Date Dedicated]
10. Johns, Howard. (2004). "Palm Springs Confidential: Playground of the Stars!". Barricade Books.
11. "SCGA Hall of Fame".
12. "John Dawson". PGA Tour.