Charlie Bassler, a life-long resident of Catonsville, MD, started in golf as a 14-year-old caddie at the Rolling Road Golf Club and would go on to become the most successful Maryland Open Champion. After serving in World War II, he returned to golf, turned pro in 1946, and became the head professional at Rolling Road Golf Club from 1948 through 1958. Charlie dominated the Maryland Open by winning seven times (1948, 1950, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1965). No other player has won more than four Opens. Charlie regularly played in the Eastern Open; a PGA Tour stop at Mount Pleasant Golf Course in Baltimore. In 1962, he finished tied for second behind Dick Mayer.
Bassler was known as a big hitter and swing stylist, “Golf Digest” featured Charlie in their initial issue in an instructional piece about driving the ball. Bassler qualified for six U. S. Opens and thirteen PGA Championships. His finest PGA match play performance came in 1951 when he won four matches before losing in the semi-finals to Sam Snead, the eventual winner.
Bassler won the District of Columbia Open in 1949 and 1952, both at Indian Spring CC. Charlie defeated Roger Peacock in a playoff to win the 27-hole 1951 Annapolis Roads Open by firing 37-36-33 and the 1961 and 1962 Salisbury Open titles. In 1962, he shot 69-68 to win by seven. He won the Middle Atlantic PGA Match Play Championship five times: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, and 1962. He defeated Walter Romans (twice), Bill Collins, Andy Gibson, and Dick Sleichter. His trophy shelf also includes the Middle Atlantic PGA Section Championship five times: 1952, 1953, 1957, 1959, and 1960. He is the only person to triumph in the Section Championship more than three times. Between 1948 and 1960, except for 1956, Charlie won either the Maryland Open or the Middle Atlantic PGA Section Championship.
Mr. Bassler was inducted into the 1980 Class of the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame. The Middle Atlantic PGA began naming a player of the year in 1955, a title Charlie collected five times, an accomplishment which has been unequaled.
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