One of the early multiple winners of the Maryland Open was PGA Professional, Albert Houghton from Glen Echo, Maryland. Known as the “Silver Fox”, Al was initially exposed to the game when he caddied at the age of 10 for President Woodrow Wilson. In the ’20s, before turning pro, he won several Amateur Championships, including the D.C. Public Links and making it to the semi-finals of the USGA Public Links. Al was Kenwood’s second head professional, serving from 1931-1936 when he left for the same position at the Cavalier C.C. and Hotel in Virginia Beach. He served his country during World War II, then returned to become Head Professional at Prince George’s County Club for more than 20 years.
In 1932, the Silver Fox won his first Maryland Open title with scores of 71-73-144 for the 36-hole Championship played at Columbia Country Club. Houghton followed his 1932 championship with wins in 1933, 1934, and 1936, and was the runner-up in 1940. In 1940 he won the District of Columbia Open at Congressional. In regional events, he won at Bedford Springs three times: 1933, 1939, and 1940, and the Mid-South Open and the Tidewater PGA Open in 1936.
He may be the only player to compete in the four national events of his generation: the USGA Public Links Championship, the US Amateur, the US Open, and the PGA Championship. Nationally, Al played in five PGA Championships, and six U.S. Opens, making the cut three times.
Al had quite the entrepreneurial spirit. As a golf promoter, he organized the National Capital Open at Kenwood Golf & Country Club from 1931 to 1934 as a PGA Tour stop. Al revitalized the Tour stop following World War II at Prince George’s C.C.
He is widely credited for increasing purses in the MAPGA, and the membership elected him President for the first time in 1950, then re-elected him in 1956, and again in 1965. The MAPGA membership sent him to eleven national meetings as their delegate.
The Maryland Sports Hall of Fame inducted him in 1969.
Comments