Questions: Random | Recent| Categories
In what city was the Bob Hope Classic played for more than 40 years?
Category: Celebrities, Sportspeople and Entertainment in Golf
http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/
Clue
Bob Hope was an avid golfer and he took over an existing tournament after winning the Pro-Am portion of that tournament in 1962 with Arnold Palmer as his partner.
Answer
Palm Springs. The Palm Springs Desert Classic was renamed the Bob Hope Classic in 1965 and was a popular Pro-Am for many years. The same tournament, as at Feb. 2019, is now called the Desert Classic.
More interesting reading and links of interest
- The first official Bob Hope Desert Classic was in 1965 and was won by Billy Casper by 1 shot over Arnie Palmer and Tommy Aaron.
- The tournament changed names a number of times while associated with Bob Hope. In 1965 it became the Bob Hope Desert Classic. For two years in 1984 and 1985 it was simply the Bob Hope Classic. From 1986 to 2008 it was known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic before once again reverting to the Bob Hope Classic for 3 years until the final ’Bob Hope’ tournament in 2011.
- Over the years the tournament raised more than $37M for over 40 charities.
- Bob Hope’s lowest handicap was 4. He played in the 1951 British Amateur.
- This article in Sports Illustrated soon after Hope’s death gives an excellent insight into Bob Hope and how he loved his golf.
- The short video below with highlights of the Bob Hope Classic has everything from U.S. Presidents to a round of 59 to celebrities and their golf.