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Although golf has been played in central Pennsylvania since the late 1890s, the game didn't gain a strong foothold in our area until the 1920s when new courses like Blairmont, Park Hills, Tyrone and Summit Country Club opened to the public.
With plenty of quality courses in place, top-level completion naturally followed. Since the 1920s, enough competition has occurred to allow the area's top golfers to distinguish themselves.
The following is a list of the top golfers in the greater Altoona area for each decade over the past 100 years.
1920s: Lawrence Canan
Known as "Blondie" to his friends, Canan grew up on Altoona's Third Avenue, but he spent much of his youth at Juniata's old Altoona Cricket Club course.
He was a golf prodigy, setting the club's course record as a teenager.
After high school, Canan enrolled at Harvard and captained the school's golf team as a senior.
Following graduation, Canan enlisted in the Army Air Corps and saw significant action in Europe during World War I.
After the war, Canan returned to Altoona, settling into business and playing golf.
During the 1920s, the Altoona Cricket Invitational was an event that drew national attention, and Canan was determined to dominate the tournament.
During the decade of 1920s, Canan took home the trophy in this prestigious event an amazing eight times.
The only other significant local tournament at that time was the newly organized Central Counties championship. Canan also won this tournament in 1927.
During the 1920s, there was no better golfer in our area than Lawrence Canan.
(Honorable mentions: Alton Nonemaker, Park Hills, and Tom Norton, Blairmont)
1930s: George Wilson
Tyrone native George "Bud" Wilson became one of the area's best golfers as a member of both Tyrone and Blairmont Country Clubs.
Born in 1902, Wilson made his mark as a winner of the prestigious Altoona Cricket Club Invitational in 1931. He also captured five club championships at Tyrone Country Club, as well as four at Blairmont.
The president of Tyrone's Wilson Chemical Company also won the Central Counties Individual title in 1931.
(Honorable mentions: Sam Runzo, Summit, and Scotty Balfour, Park Hills).
1940s: Dr. William Hughes
Known to many in our area as the long-time head coach for Saint Francis men's basketball, Hughes was also a very talented and successful golfer.
The Hollidaysburg dentist won a record 13 club championships at Blairmont Country Club.
Despite years lost to World War II during the 1940s, that decade would see Hughes dominate play in Blairmont's prestigious Invitational tournament, winning two titles and finishing in the top four in every tournament played.
(Honorable mention: Red McMahon, Park Hills)
1950s: Babe Matlack
Jacob "Babe" Matlack was a natural athlete who starred in baseball, basketball and football while attending Juniata College.
After serving in World War II, Matlack settled into a career in the insurance business while taking up golf.
His athletic prowess served him well as Matlack excelled at the sport, winning a total of seven Blairmont club championships.
Matlack would also go on to win the 1952 Central Counties Individual title.
(Honorable mentions: Don Moran, Blairmont, and Dr. Ken England, Park Hills/Iron Masters)
1960s: Scott Stultz
During the 1960s, Scott Stultz became the first four-time winner of the Blairmont Invitational. He was also a standout golfer on Penn State's Nittany Lion golf team.
Known as a fierce competitor, Stultz also counted five club championships and a Park Hills Classic title among his victories. (Honorable mention: Bob Palmer, Park Hills, and Ken Moran, Blairmont).
Note: The best local golfers, from 1970 through the present, will be featured next week.