Jack Hobens

John Owen "Jack" Hobens (25 October 1880 – 25 March 1944) was a Scottish-American professional golfer. He was born in Dunbar, Scotland, to Thomas Hoben and Elizabeth (Annie) Owen. He learned the game of golf by starting out as a caddie. Jack had five brothers and a sister.

Both of his parents were alcoholics, so young Jack, being the eldest, was often tasked with caring for his younger siblings. From the age of eleven he was a licensed caddie and was granted his professional ticket at the West Links Golf Club on 13 December 1894 at the age of fourteen.

Early life Hobens entered the 1899 Open Championship at Royal St George's Golf Club located in Sandwich, England. After shooting a disappointing 90 in the first round he withdrew, but the experience he gained competing against Harry Vardon, James Braid and Willie Park, Jr. would give him confidence to continue his aspirations to be a successful golf professional. Hobens emigrated to the United States in January 1900 and was accompanied on the journey by Tom Anderson, Sr., the former North Berwick head greenkeeper and his son, Thomas Jr., the brother of U.S. Open champion Willie Anderson.

Hobens was appointed pro at Yountakah Country Club in Nutley, New Jersey, and Tom Anderson, Sr. took up a position ten miles away at Montclair Country Club. In April 1901, Hobens moved less than five miles to Glen Ridge Golf Club and George Thomson from North Berwick took over at Yountakah. In 1907 Hobens married an Irish girl, Delia Agnes Lally (1881–1969), and together they would have a house full of children, eight in all. At the time of his marriage he changed his surname from Hoben to Hobens.

PGA of America founding member On 17 January 1916, Rodman Wanamaker, a keen amateur golfer and heir to the Wanamaker department store fortune (now Macy's), held a meeting at the Taplow Club, in the Hotel Martinique on the corner of Broadway and West 32nd Street in New York City for the purpose of forming the Professional Golfers' Association of America. The luncheon was attended by several leading amateurs and 35 professionals, including Hobens. The entire group comprised the 'Charter Members'.

In the winter of 1916, Hobens was employed in the golf department on the top floor of Wanamaker's store in New York. John D. Dunn was head of the 18-member teaching staff, and the list of instructors read like a who's who of golfers from the period and the facility was the largest of its kind in the city.

Playing career (From left to right): Isaac Mackie, Jack Hobens, Alex Ross, and George Thomson at the 1904 U.S. Open

For seventeen years, Hobens—who was sometimes called "Pop" —served as the head professional at Englewood Country Club. He would go on to enter many U.S. Open tournaments during his playing career, often finishing in the top ten. He was described as a long hitter of the ball and generally deadly on the green. He had a wonderful opportunity to win the 1907 U.S. Open at Philadelphia Cricket Club. He was the third round leader but finished poorly with a 12-over-par 85 in the final round. In the second round of the tournament he made the first ever U.S. Open hole-in-one by holing his tee shot at the 147-yard 10th hole.

Hobens won the 1908 Metropolitan Open at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey by one shot over Alex Campbell and won the first prize of $150. In 1909, the U.S. Open was played at Englewood Golf Club where he was the professional at the time and he played well, finishing tied for fourth place. Hobens finished second in the 1906 Western Open which at that time was considered a †major tournament.

In the Eastern Professional Golfers Association Four-Ball Tournament held at Rumson Country Club, Rumson, New Jersey, on 9 August 1911, Hobens was paired with Jack Dowling. They won the event easily by posting a round of 68 and beat the second place team of Jack Jolly and Tom Anderson, Jr. who carded a round of 74. The winners received a gold medal and $125 in prize money.

While serving as the head professional at the Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly, New Jersey, Hobens provided golf lessons to the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh and his family.

Later life and family Hobens was afflicted with a physical disability and retired at the age of 60. He and his wife Delia had eight children, five daughters and three sons. At the time of his death, all three sons were serving in the Marine Corps in World War II. All three survived the war.

Death and legacy Hobens died on 26 March 1944 at his home in Englewood, New Jersey. In 2004, the PGA opened a historical center at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where Hobens was one of the original inductees into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame. His granddaughter, Barbara Hobens, as well as her family, were invited guests at the PGA's 90th anniversary celebrations at the Radisson Hotel Martinique, New York City, in 2006.

Results in major championships Note: Hobens never played in the Masters Tournament.

NYF = tournament not yet founded NT = no tournament WD = withdrew R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place