Lou Barbaro

Louis Barbaro (July 3, 1916 in Harrison, New York - October 11, 1976 at the Paul Kimball Hospital in Lakewood, New Jersey) was a professional golfer and club pro.

Lou's parents were immigrants from Barile, Italy, named Daniel "Donato" Barbaro and Carmella Teresa Paternoster Barbaro. Lou was one of seven sons. All of Lou's six brothers (Emelio "Zip", Henry, Joe, Tony, Mike, and Dan "Nick") loved golfing and caddying also.

Lou became the golf team captain for Harrison High School since Lou's sophomore year, and for 3 years following with Lou as their Captain, Harrison High School's Golf Team remained undefeated. On July 25, 1933, Barbaro (age 17) became the Westchester County Caddie Golf Champion, turning in 150-total for 36 holes at the Green Meadows Golf Club located on North Street in Harrison, New York.

Barbaro, at the age of 23 years old, won the Providence Open (Providence, Rhode Island) on September 28, 1941, with a record 273, which was 15 under par and at least 6 shots or more ahead of Sammy Byrd, Sammy Snead, Gene Sarazen, Tony Penna, Herman Barron, and Lawson Little, etc. He gave the mere $1,200 Providence Open winnings to his younger brother, Tony to pay for medical school.

In 1942, Lou won the Panama Open.

Lou became a pro at the Green Meadows course in Harrison, New York at the age of 19.

At the age of 21, Louis Barbaro, was the youngest documented Golf Pro known. Lou had started golfing when he became a caddy 13 years prior at the age of 8 years old in Harrison, New York.

Only one year after becoming a member of the National Professional Golfers' Association, Lou beat the notoriously-tough Winged Foot Golf Club's (of Mamaroneck, New York) record scoring 69, 3 under PAR. He played the first eight holes in 35, four above the regulation. He had bogies on the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th holes, and was all for quitting. But, comes a 9th and a birdie, the 10th and a birdie, the 11th and a birdie, the 12th and another birdie, the 13th and a PAR, the 14th and an eagle, the 15th and a birdie, and the 16th still another birdie!

To recapitulate, Lou's score at Winged Foot was eight under PAR for eight consecutive holes, the 9th through the 16th, and that does not happen every day to any golfer on any eight holes. The 14th hole eagle was something in itself; it was a PAR four, 383-yarder. Louis smashed his tee shot straight down the middle and then holed a niblick from more than 100 yards out. In the newspaper article documenting this, they quoted "Gee whiz, he must have a magnet, or something." That day, Barbaro had four pars, seven birdies, one eagle, and six bogies; and the wind was blowing at a good clip (approximately 35 miles per hour) throughout the afternoon! Some of the golf fans present at the Winged Foot record-breaking tournament, had never seen a game of golf played like that before or since that day.

Lou married Gretchen Gabler at the First Baptist Church Of White Plains in White Plains, New York on 2/9/1946. The couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Galgano of White Plains. Lou and Gretchen had three children, Stephen; Louis, Jr.; and Christine.

Although Lou was obviously talented at golfing, he put his family first and chose not to "hit-the-road" and tour too often, as he took his responsibilities as a husband and father more seriously than becoming "renown" for his golfing.

On May 20, 1949, Barbaro and teammate Bobby Jacobson were co-winners of the New Jersey State Pro-Am match-play championship held at Plainfield Country Club, after having twice been runners-up in the event. [SANDERSON-LEE TIE FOR MEDAL WITH 72", "The New York Times", May 21, 1949. pg. 16.] In the 1950 tournament, held at Barbaro's Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, New Jersey, the pair were in a three-way tie for the championship. ["THREE TEAMS TIE AT 67", "The New York Times] , June 21, 1950. pg. 37.] The duo won the tournament outright in 1951. ["Jacobson-Barbaro Capture Crown In New Jersey Amateur-Pro Golf", "The New York Times", August 27, 1951. pg. 33.]

On October 10, 1952, Lou won the New Jersey State PGA Championship. [Orcutt, Maureen. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20F16FC3558107A93C3A8178BD95F468585F9 "Barbaro Comes From Behind to Capture New Jersey P. G. A. Title by 2 Shots; HOLLYWOOD PLAYER FINISHES WITH 283"] , "The New York Times", October 11, 1952. Accessed June 2, 2007. "Lou Barbaro of Hollywood, playing at a one-under-par clip, came from behind to win the seventy-two-hole New Jersey Professional Golfers' Association championship over the Forsgate Country Club course today with a 283."] [ [http://newjersey.pga.com/index.cfm?content=dcms&option=Awards&edit_id=4920 Section PGA Championship Winners] , New Jersey Professional Golfers' Association. Accessed June 2, 2007.]

Lou was a two-time winner of the New Jersey State Open, in 1953 ["BARBARO CAPTURES JERSEY OPEN TITLE; Sanok 2 Strokes Back at 285, With Greiner and Thomas Sharing Third on 289's", "The New York Times", July 11, 1953. p. 15.] and 1959. [White Jr., Gordon S. "Barbaro Captures Jersey Open Title by 2 Strokes, Going Under Par Twice; HOLLYWOOD PRO VICTOR WITH 278 Barbaro Cards 69 and 66, Beating Defender Mengert -- Mosel Third at 281", "The New York Times", July 19, 1959. p. S6.] [ [http://www.njsga.org/uploads/openhist.pdf NJSGA Open Champions: C.W. Badenhausen Championship Trophy] , New Jersey State Golf Association. Accessed June 2, 2007.] He won the Panama (Frigidaire) Open in 1942. [ [http://www.positivetourism.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=1073 Panama set to resume its strong golf history] , PGATour.com, January 24, 2007. Accessed June 2, 2007.] In 1968, he was the winner of the National Quarter Century Tournament at the PGA Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. ["Barbaro of Jersey Captures Golf Playoff Against Ball", "The New York Times", January 15, 1968. pg. 36.]

Lou was enshrined in the New Jersey PGA Hall of Fame in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey on March 31, after he died. [Edelson, Stephen. [http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20070524&Category=SPORTS04&ArtNo=705240477&SectionCat=SPORTS06&Template=printart "Those cherished course records"] , "Asbury Park Press", May 24, 2007. "Former Hollywood head pro Lou Barbaro, a member of the New Jersey PGA Hall of Fame, has the course record at both Beacon Hill and Jumping Brook."]

Lou still holds the course record at both Beacon Hill and Jumping Brook.

A plaque hangs in Lou's honor on the door of the Hollywood Golf Club Pro Shop in Deal, New Jersey. The plaque has a picture of Lou and under it reads: "In Memory Of LOU BARBARO who, from 1947 until his untimely death in 1976 was our Devoted Friend and Golf Professional. His accomplishments on the golf course are noted in the Record Books. But Lou Barbaro was much more than a fine player and teaching professional. He was a walking advertisement for the game of golf and a credit to his profession. He taught us that "It's nice to be important; but it's more important to be nice." We will miss him always."

A signed photograph of Bob Hope says, "To Louis, You did your best to make me a good golfer, but you're no "Miracle Man." Best Wishes, Bob Hope."

Lou was an Army Sergeant in World War II.

Lou was the past-president of the New Jersey Professional Golfers Association.

These are only a few of the quotes that Lou's sons heard from other professional golfers:

Ben Hogan (who practiced golfing 10 to 12 hours per day) said that Lou Barbaro was the closest naturally-gifted golfer he had ever seen, as Lou never really had a lesson, yet had a perfect swing. Hogan who lived in Fort Worth, Texas used to travel and pay to play golf/practice with Lou, only for Lou to beat him every time.

Sam Snead said that he thought that Lou was the best iron player he had ever seen.

Barbaro died on October 11, 1976, and was a resident of Oakhurst, New Jersey at the time of his death. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0F16F73F5A167493C1A8178BD95F428785F9 "LOU BARBARO IS DEAD; WON JERSEY GOLF TITLE"] , "The New York Times", October 13, 1976. Accessed November 26, 2007.]

References