Class of 1993

George V. Rotan

Amateur Player

Biography

George Rotan was born in Waco on July 18, 1886. Regarded as one of the greatest amateur players in Texas history, George graduated from Yale University after winning the NCAA championship three times. While at Yale he set the course record at the top-ranked private course in America, Pine Valley Golf Club, which stood for 42 years.

Rotan is the only five-time winner of the Texas Golf Association Amateur Championship (1912-1915, 1920). In his five Texas Amateur Golf Championship matches, conducted in the match play format, no match ever got past the 15th hole. He was also a two-time TGA Senior champion (1939-1940) and won several Houston Country Club Invitationals.

Perhaps Mr. Rotan’s biggest golfing feat was playing on the 1923 Walker Cup Team. He was a new member to the team; however, that did not stop him from doing his best. He rallied from being down early to win the eleven of 12 holes in order to defeat Willis Mackenzie. In 1931, Rotan founded the G.V Rotan Company, which eventually became Rotan-Mosle. The company was the first Texas Investment firm to have a seat on the NYSE. George Rotan died at 56 years of age on April 17, 1943.

Legacy Video

The First Star in the Lone Star State

Perhaps the finest amateur golfer in Texas history, Waco native George Vanlandingham Rotan first entered prominence among the golf community at age 11 when he won the Huaco Country Club Championship, beating every adult in the field. Huaco Country Club was one of the five original members of the Texas Golf Association. Despite his success, George remained an amateur throughout his life, and won the Texas Senior Amateur Championship in 1939 and 1940. He attended Yale from 1904-07 and helped the storied program win the NCAA Championship three times.

Walker, Texas Golfer

In 1923, George earned a spot on the second-ever United States Walker Cup team that competed at the Old Course at St. Andrews. The 1923 U.S. team, which also included legendary amateur Francis Ouimet, won the title with George helping lead the way. George trailed a 36-hole singles match by six after just 14 holes before winning 11 of the next 12 holes to eventually win 5 and 4. The previous year, during the George A. Crump Memorial Cup at venerable Pine Valley Golf Club, the 6-foot-2 Texan set a course record score of 70 that stood for four decades.

No Need to Play 18

George won the Texas Golf Association Amateur Championship five times (1912, 1913, 1914, 1915 and 1919). Played as a match play, none of his matches ever extended past the 15th hole. George also won the Houston Invitational in 1914, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1925 and 1926. He also competed in two U.S. Amateur Championships, reaching the second round of match play in 1922 and the first round in 1927. Before Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson became Texas golf, there was George Rotan.

A Gentleman and a Golfer

The 1930 U.S. Amateur featured a chance for George to play the great Bobby Jones in the final at Merion Golf Club. However, during the second round of qualifying, George’s tee shot on the 14th unfortunately hit a spectator who was running across the fairway. Despite having just five holes to finish, George instead withdrew from the competition and, concerned for the injured spectator’s safety, accompanied him to Bryn Mawr Hospital. With George bowing out, Jones went on to win that Major, and wrapped up his 1930 Grand Slam.