PGA Tour Event Was Held on the Jungle Golf Course

Of the 15,000 golf courses in America, relatively few can claim to have hosted a Professional Golfers Association event, but the 1930 St. Petersburg Open final round was held at the Jungle Country Club on the golf course that is now the Azalea neighborhood. The most famous professional golfers of that era left footprints on our neighborhood and across our lawns. (See related: Jungle Golf Course Superimposed on Current Street Map). 

Jock Collins, a relatively unknown golf professional from Dayton, Ohio, won the tournament and $1000. Gene Sarazen, who is now in the Hall of Fame, was tied for sixth and earned $58.33 before taxes. According to the newspaper clipping below, Babe Ruth and his wife Claire were among the spectators.

Dayton Daily News, March 6, 1930

St. Petersburg Times, March 6, 1930

Colorized version of above newspaper photo. The fifth green is now a home at 1114 Farragut Drive North.

Only a few of the golf courses that have held PGA events were later bulldozed and repurposed for residential property. Those of us with homes on the golf course are among the very few that can claim a PGA event was held on their lawn.