March 25th (1916), the Anniversary of Brentwood Country Club.
Bostonite Bomber Mike Brady tied for first place twice in the U. S. Open in 1911, and again in 1919. He lost both times in playoffs. First against J. J. McDermott, and then to Walter Hagen, the long-shot winner.
From the 00s, teens, and 20s, Brady won the Western Open, Massachusetts Open, North and South Open, Metropolitan Open, Southern California Open, and many many other competitions and exhibitions.
Mike signed up as winter professional at Brentwood Country Club of Santa Monica in December 1917. The William Watson designed 9-hole golf course opened on March 25, 1916.
Brady won the 1918 Southern California Open at Los Angeles Country Club at Beverly Hills, representing Brentwood Country Club, and also won the opening competition of the Hotel Del Monte Links No. 2 at Pebble Beach in April 1918, winning by eleven strokes over second place man Harold Sampson!
Mike Brady left Brentwood to replace Walter Hagen at Oakland Hills.
Later he moved to Winged Foot.
Known for his bombing drives, Brady had a thing or two to say about them during his time at Brentwood, in a 1918 article in Golfer’s Magazine:
“Mike Brady, Massachusetts Open Champion, after a winter at Brentwood, near los Angeles, laughs when they talk of record drives down in Boston, where he was formerly located. Drives in Southern California are not measured by 300 or 400 yards, but by the 500. Edward (Ernest) Martin, the California professional, drove last winter to the edge of the green on a hole measuring 560 yards.
Brady had a putt for two on the eleventh hole at Brentwood, the hole measuring 470 yards. He drove the first green, 426 yards, as did his assistant. Few professionals can outdrive Brady when he is meeting the ball right, but in the early days of his stay in California he was outdistanced frequently.
Brady has recently joined the colors and is located on the Pacific coast. He is in the navy.”
From 1918 Golfer’s Magazine.
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