The Sargent family served the AAC with distinction for fifty-three years. After Stewart Maiden left the AAC, a succession of golf professionals, including Willie Ogg, Frank Ball, Billy Wilson, and Charlie Gray followed, but none left the kind of indelible imprint that the Sargents did. George Sargent became the professional at East Lake in 1932. Born in Epsom Downs, England, he learned to play golf early and immigrated to the United States as an established player and professional. He won the 1909 U.S. Open, setting a record for the lowest score, and did the same in the 1912 Canadian Open. His U.S. Open medal is on display at the entrance to the AAC’s golf shop, appropriately named in honor of the Sargent family. George served as president of the PGA of America from 1920 to 1926. While working at Chevy Chase Golf Club, he gave lessons to President Taft. From there, he moved to Interlachen and then Scioto.
Two years after Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam, he came to East Lake and remained there until his retirement in 1947. Harold Sargent, an assistant at the club, followed his father as club professional at the AAC upon George’s retirement. Harold served the golfing community as president of the PGA of America from 1958 to 1960 and was instrumental in bringing the 15th Biennial Ryder Cup Matches to East Lake in 1963. He moved with the club when it elected to go north in the 1960s. In 1979, his brother, Jack, became the professional at the new facility and served until 1985, just as the AAC was building its reputation for the new courses as a championship venue. The Sargent’s legacy continues. Rick Anderson, the past director of golf, trained under the Sargents and was one of the first golf professionals in Georgia to earn the Master Professional designation. As a result of his efforts, the AAC golf shop began to be listed regularly among the top 20 in the nation.
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