Tom Vardon arrived in Minnesota in 1916 as the little-known younger brother of one of golf’s greatest champions, Harry Vardon, but over the next two decades his name became synonymous with golf instruction and golf course design in the Upper Midwest. Hired as the professional at White Bear Yacht Club in 1916, Vardon was one of the first professionals in Minnesota to spend his winters teaching indoors at his golf school in Saint Paul and among his students was Hall of Fame member Jimmy Johnston, who many believe was the greatest amateur golfer in Minnesota history. Vardon’s skills as a golf course architect were also much in demand throughout the Upper Midwest as he is credited with designing more than forty golf courses in the area with many of which are still being played.
