Class of 1993

Jack Burke Sr.

Golf Professional / Teacher

Biography

Jack Burke, Sr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 28, 1888 and got into golf as a young boy caddying at the Philadelphia Country Club. He became a club maker at age 15 and worked as a professional at the Delaware County Field Club, Hershey Country Club, Philadelphia Country Club, Aronimink Golf Club, and the Old York Road Country Club. In his early twenties he moved west where he held head professional positions in Iowa, Illinois, Canada and Minnesota.

As a professional in St. Paul, Minnesota he tied for second in the 1920 U.S. Open and he won the Minnesota Open four times in five years (1919-1923).

Later in the 1920s he settled down in Houston, Texas. Jack Burke Sr., was the club professional at Houston's River Oaks Country Club, and hired a young fellow named Jimmy Demaret as an assistant pro.

Many give Burke credit for being the first to bring a real knowledge of golf to Texas. Burke won the Texas PGA championship in 1936.

Burke invented the all-weather grip for golf clubs. The grip was a rubber grip with cotton cord running through it. Burke had a patent on the idea and sold the grips through the Burke Par Company as the Burke Grip. He also was a cousin of Dave Marr, the winner of the PGA Championship in 1965.

Ben Hogan credited Burke, Sr. for shaping his downswing in the book: "The Secret of Hogan's Swing" by Tom Bertrand, Printer Bowler.

Burke returned to his roots in 1926 to finish third in the Philadelphia Open and in 1939, at the age of 49, he qualified for the U.S. Open that was being held at the Philadelphia Country Club where he started his career. In 1941 he won the PGA Seniors' Championship. Less than two years after winning the Senior Tour's oldest major Jack Burke passed away on February 2, 1943.

Legacy Video

Career Highlights

1920 U.S. Open Runner-up
1936 Texas PGA champion
1941 PGA Seniors' Champion
Invented the all-weather grip for golf clubs
Students included Babe Zaharias, Jimmy Demaret, Jack Grout, and Jack Burke, Jr.

Coming Full Circle

As a young boy in Pennsylvania, Jack caddied at the venerable Philadelphia Country Club, one of the first six clubs to become members of the United States Golf Association. As a professional, Jack played in 15 U.S. Opens between 1907 and 1940, placing among the top 30 on seven occasions. Remarkably, at the age of 49, he qualified for the 1939 U.S. Open held at the same country club where his golf career began as a child. His final U.S. Open appearance came in 1940, just one year before his son, the fellow future Texas Golf Hall of Famer Jack Burke, Jr., debuted at the major.

A Road More Traveled

Born in 1888 in Philadelphia, Jack began as a club pro in his home state of Pennsylvania before making stops in Iowa, Illinois, Canada and Minnesota. He settled down in Houston, Texas, in the late 1920s and became the club professional at Houston's River Oaks Country Club. There, he hired a young man named Jimmy Demaret, who later joined the Texas Golf Hall of Fame ranks, as his assistant pro. A Houston legend, he was bestowed the honor of hitting the first tee shot ever at Memorial Park Golf Course in downtown when it opened in 1936.

An Open Competition

In 1920, Jack posted his best major championship finish with a share of second place at a star-studded U.S. Open, just one shot behind British great and two-time major winner Ted Ray. Among the group tied for second was six-time Open Championship winner and 1900 U.S. Open champion Harry Vardon, golf’s first international superstar. Jack’s strong play included winning the Minnesota Open four times in a five-year span from 1919-23. He also claimed the 1936 Texas PGA Championship and the 1941 Senior PGA Championship and was the runner up at the 1913 Canadian Open.

Jacks of His Trade

While his feats on the course were impressive, his teaching is what gained Jack his greatest acclaim. His pupils included legendary female multi-sport athlete and golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias and pro golfer Jack Grout (who went on to become Jack Nicklaus’ first and only teacher) as well as Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke, Jr. Even though Jack passed away in 1943 at the age of 54, his legacy lived on through the success of his students. In addition, Ben Hogan credited Jack for shaping his downswing in the book The Secret of Hogan’s Swing.

Getting a Grip on a Golf Mind

While caddying, Jack also became a club maker at the age of 15. His affinity for clubs proved to be a prelude to the future when Jack invented all-weather grips for golf clubs. The rubber corded grip featured a cotton cord running through it to repel moisture away from the rubber and reduce slippage. Jack patented the “Burke Grip” and sold the grips through the Burke Par Company. A great golf mind, Jack is credited by many for being the first person to bring a real knowledge of golf to the Lone Star State. While growing up, Jack Jr. said golf pros and salesmen were frequently at the family dinner table trying to learn something about golf from his father.