Class of 1980

Gus Moreland

Amateur Player

Biography

Like Bobby Jones in the 20's, Gus Moreland was a career amateur and a world-class player in the 1930s. He lived in Dallas, but he went outside his home turf to mark an incredible string of victories, to wit: 1929 Moreland beat Ben Hogan in the final of the Southwestern Amateur in Shreveport, Louisiana; 1930 Moreland beat Byron Nelson on the 38th hole in the Glen Garden invitational in Fort Worth; 1932 Moreland beat Johnny Goodman in the final of the Houston Invitational at Houston Country Club; 1933 Moreland beat Lawson Little in the Trans-Miss at Broadmoor Country Club; 1934 Moreland beat Francis Ouimet in an early round at the British Amateur.

Moreland was twice named to the Walker Cup team and never lost a match. He had two exemptions in the first Masters Tournament in 1934, as he was a Walker Cupper and had finished seventh place in the 1933 U.S. Open at North Shore (IL). No, he wasn’t the low amateur, because an amateur, Johnny Goodman, won this U.S. Open. Moreland won the Houston Invitational three years in a row. He also won three Texas Amateur Championships and one Illinois title. Regrettably, few remember his classic cross-town Dallas duels with Ralph Guldahl. They were inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in the same year. In 1963, at the ripe age of 53, Moreland turned pro and took a club job in Pampa, Texas. He also worked at a club in Peoria, Ill., his second home, and he did a stint in Houston at the Westwood Country Club.

Birthplace: Lancaster, Texas

Born: June 15, 1911

Died: February 3, 1998

Legacy Video

Inductee Highlights

1929 Southwestern Amateur Champion
1930 Glen Garden Invitational Champion
1931, '32, '33 Texas State Amateur Champion
1932, '33, '34 Houston Invitational Champion
1932 and 1933 Trans-Miss Champion
1932 Western Amateur Champion
1932 and 1934 Walker Cup Team
Finished 7th in 1933 U.S. Open Championship
Played in First Masters Tournament 1934
1938 Medalist U.S. Amateur Championship
1940 Ilinois State Champion

Keepsake Book

Gus Moreland and his family took the time to save news articles and photos, and here is how his legacy book came about.

1934 Masters Tournament

Gus Moreland had two exemptions into the first Masters Tournament in 1934. He was exempt as a member of the Walker Cup Team and for his play in the 1933 U.S. Open, where he came in 7th at Northshore Country Club in Glenview, Illinois.

Players from Left to Right:

Back Row: Walter Hagen, Horton Smith, Phil Perkins, George Jacobus, Byron Nelson, Al Espinosa, Errie Ball, Jug McSpaden, Denny Shute, Freddie Haas, Al Waltrous, Leo Diegel, Gene Kunes, Dick Metz, Willie Klein, John Dawson, Jack Munger, Wilford Werle, Gus Moreland, Ky Lapoon, Ralph Stonehouse.

Center Row: Andy Kay, Tommy Armour, Jules Huot, Bill Schwartz, Bill Melhorn, Freddie McCleod, Jock Hutchinson, Frank Walsh, Craig Wood, Ray Mangrum, Clarence Clark, Jimy Hines, Mike Turnesa, Joe Turnesa, Vic Ghezzi, Abe Espinosa, Walter Kozak, PatTiso.

Front Row: Jimmy Foulis, Tony Manero, Bobby Cruickshank, Gene Sarazen, Charlie Yates, Paul Runyan, Bobby Jones, Olin Dutra, Johnn Farrell, Willie McFarlane, Jimmy Thompson, Harry Cooper, Johnny Revolta, Henard Picard.

1934 Master Champion - Horton Smith (284)