Joe Roseman

Joseph Aloysius Roseman, Sr. (June 15, 1888 – February 29, 1944) was an American professional golfer, golf course architect, and inventor of golf course mowing equipment. He designed at least 50 golf courses and made alterations on over 100 more. Roseman had two starts in golf majors – the 1919 and the 1920 PGA Championship.

In 1922 he became the first president of the Illinois PGA. Roseman died in 1944 in Glenview, Illinois.

Early life Roseman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 15, 1888. He grew up in the East Falls section of the city and began his career in golf as a caddie at the Philadelphia Country Club. He turned pro at the young age of just 15. Later he adapted a Ford Model T to serve as a tractor to pull the mowers. He left Westmoreland in 1928 to handle his golf course design business. In total, he is credited with the design of more than 50 golf courses and made alterations on at least 100 courses. He worked with Jack Burke, Sr. in the design of golf clubs and also collaborated with Burke in the operation of an indoor golf school in Des Moines around 1918.

1920 PGA Championship In the 1920 PGA Championship, contested from August 17–21 at the Flossmoor Country Club outside Flossmoor, Illinois, a suburb south of Chicago, Roseman met Louis Tellier in a first round match. He was not playing his best golf and was soundly defeated in the match by the score of 10 and 9. Roseman took home $50 in prize money. He is remembered as an inventor of golf course mowing equipment in the early 20th century and as an important golf course architect. He is known as the "father of the modern mower".