Please join us for the 20th Annual University of San Francisco/Swanson Memorial Golf Tournament
Monday, May 3rd The Olympic Club
Schedule
10:00 AM Registration
11:30 AM Shotgun Start (Lake)
12:00 Noon Shotgun Start (Ocean)
5:30 PM Cocktails/Silent Auction
6:30 PM Dinner and Awards
Tee/Green Sponsorship- $300 (Need not play to be a sponsor)
For more information please call (415)422-2875
Historic Lake Course
Entry: $500
Site of...
Four U.S. Opens (1955, '66, '87 & '98)
(Lake Course entries limited to first paid 128 golfers)
Scenic Ocean Course
Entry: $400
The Tom Weiskopf 18 holes "Spectacular"
Price includes Green Fee, Lunch, Cart, Prizes, Cocktails and Dinner
Of Golf, Friendship And Johnny Swanson
What would golf be without its stories? From Scholarly accounts of the "Royal and Ancient" game's origins in the British Isles to the yarns that will be spun in the Olympic Club on the 3rd of May, 2004, no round is really complete without a gathering of friends, old and new, around that legendary 19th hole.
No one could enrich that tradition any more than USF's own Johnny Swanson.
Writing about Swanson in the San Francisco Examiner shortly before John's death, Sports Writer Are Spander described him this way: "John Swanson is one of those poignantly irreverent individuals who understand that when you get down to basics, there isn't much more to life than a good laugh and a long putt.
"He never met a golfer he didn't like, or couldn't deprecate, whether it was a high handicapper from his home course, San Francisco's Olympic Club, or a pro from the tour, like Jack Nicklaus or Tom Weiskopf.
John was open-handed, open-mouthed and open for suggestions, not the he would listen to anyone else's advice. But damn, he could sure give plenty, tattooing you with a needle as quick as it was sharp."
Swanson was not only sharp of tongue but open of heart and pocketbook. Among his pals was golf pro Tom Weiskopf: "I'd be walking around Pebble Beach and people would come to John and thank him for doing things for them 20 years earlier...he sent numerous students through college-just because he wanted to see them in school."
Swanson knew from hard times. His own college days coincided with America's Great Depression and he worked his way through USF while earning plaudits as one of the finest halfbacks ever to wear the Green and Gold. He never forgot those days-or his hilltop school-in later life when he and his wife, Ora, operated successful bowling establishments. When the USF golf tournament committee first met to design the format for this event, it was a natural to combine John's greatest passions, fun, fellowship and aid to others. The formula has worked. Going into this year's event, "The Swanson" has generated some $350,000 for scholarships for USF student-athletes. He'd probably frame it in the form of a wisecrack. But we think John would be pleased.