[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 81 (Friday, June 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1095-E1096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF THE LATE ROBERT TRENT JONES, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2000

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of one of the 
legendary figures in the world of golf, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. When 
Trent Jones died last week at the age of 93, he was regarded as the 
greatest golf course designer in history and the patriarch of the first 
family of golf.
  His accomplishments in golf course construction and design are 
stunning in both their scope and beauty. He created more than 350 
courses and remodeled more than 150 others. In a profession where 
designing a half-dozen well-regarded courses is an achievement, 79 of 
Trent Jones's courses were used for national championships including 
the U.S. Open. Every continent in the world hosts one of his courses, 
and he was fond of saying, ``The sun never sets on a Robert Trent Jones 
golf course.''
  The U.S. Open was played so many times on a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. 
course he became inextricably linked to this premier golf event. He was 
known as the ``Open Doctor'' because he frequently was called to change 
a course in anticipation of it hosting the world's top golfers at the 
Open.
  And while the ``Open Doctor'' was a name he was pleased to be called 
in public, he was just as proud of the names he was called by golfers, 
privately muttered under their breath as they finished a round on one 
of his courses. Trent Jones believed a golfer needed to attack a 
course--and the course should attack back. His courses were beautiful 
to look at, but a challenge to play. He believed par meant par. To 
break par one should be an extraordinary golfer.
  Golf is a game where stories and legends have a particular 
importance. Trent Jones enjoyed the stories professional golfers told 
about his courses and the challenge they presented. The great Ben Hogan 
called one of his courses a ``monster'' and at a reception for Hogan's 
U.S. Open victory Mr. Hogan told Mr. Jones's wife, Ione, ``If your 
husband had to play this course for a living, he'd be on the 
breadline.'' Twenty years later at another U.S. Open a professional 
golfer said the course was too difficult. When the pro was asked what 
the course was missing he said, ``Eighty acres of corn and a few 
cows.''
  In a now legendary story, at the 1954 U.S. Open, golfers were 
complaining that a hole Trent Jones had redesigned for the tournament 
was too difficult. Jones, himself an outstanding golfer, played the 
hole prior to the tournament with the club pro, the tournament chair 
and another golfer. Other Open golfers gathered around the tee in eager 
anticipation of tee shots going into a huge water hazard Jones had 
placed in front of the green.
  After the first three golfers teed off and made it to the green, Mr. 
Jones swung a 4-iron and promptly made a hole in one. Turning to the 
golfers around him he said, ``Gentlemen, the hole is fair. Eminently 
fair.''
  Mr. Speaker, in addition to all of these achievements, Robert Trent 
Jones, Sr. was the head of perhaps golfing's greatest dynasty. His two 
sons, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Rees Jones are also world famous golf 
course designers and are icons in the golfing world.
  Robert Trent Jones, Sr. died last week on the eve of the 100th U.S. 
Open at Pebble Beach in California. The tournament, won by Tiger Woods, 
was one of the most memorable played and signaled the arrival of an 
outstanding champion.
  One legend departing and one just arriving. Trent Jones would have 
understood the beauty and harmony of that. He knew that was

[[Page E1096]]

what the game of golf was about. He knew that was what life was about. 
And if you ever walk one of his courses, you will see that his work 
reflected those truths.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my House colleagues to join me in honoring 
the life of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and express our condolences to his 
two sons, Bobby and Rees and their families. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. 
and his wife, Clairbome, are distinguished members of my Congressional 
District and I consider them to be a part of my family as well.

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