Lesson 1: Bobby Jones: The Amateur Who Beat Everyone
Bobby Jones was the greatest golfer of his era — maybe the greatest amateur golfer who ever lived. He won 13 major championships between 1923 and 1930, all while remaining an amateur (meaning he played for love of the game, not for money).
In 1930, Jones did something nobody had done before or has done since: he won all four major championships in the same year. This was called the Grand Slam — and after achieving it, Jones retired from competitive golf at age 28.
Jones also founded and designed Augusta National Golf Club — home of the Masters Tournament. One of the most famous courses in the world exists because Bobby Jones wanted to build his ideal golf course after retiring.
Jones was known not just for his talent but for his character. He once called a penalty on himself in a major championship that cost him the tournament. When he was praised for his honesty, he said: ‘You might as well praise me for not robbing banks.’
Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930 — all four majors in one year — then retired at 28. He also founded Augusta National.
Draw a timeline of Bobby Jones’s golfing career from his first major win (1923) to his retirement (1930). Mark each major championship he won on the timeline. Then write one sentence about what Bobby Jones’s quote about honesty (‘You might as well praise me for not robbing banks’) means to you.
The honesty quote is one of the most powerful things any golfer has ever said and deserves time. Don’t rush past it. Ask your child: ‘What did he mean? Do you agree?’