Significant 1918
Jerome Travers-Bobby Jones-Chick Evans
Red Cross Medal
In 1918, the United States was involved in World War I and all major athletic events were canceled. In fact, the British Open and British Amateur were canceled for four years each, and the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur for two years. Sensing a money making opportunity, however, the American Red Cross staged some golf exhibition matches and charged admission to help raise money for the war effort. These matches mark the first time in history where spectators were charged money to attend a golf tournament.
Even though he was only 16 years old, a full 5 years before he would win his first Major Championship, the teenage golf prodigy Bobby Jones was invited to participate in some Red Cross golf matches. Truth be told, the young Bobby’s appearance in these matches may have had just as much to do with his fellow Eastlake prodigies Perry Adair and Alexa Stirling. Both Adair and the female Stirling were better golfers than Bobby Jones in 1918, and the three of them often competed in the Red Cross matches together, usually along with a 4th competitor.
Quite significantly, the offered medal is not from an event featuring Adair and Stirling. Rather, the 16 year old Bobby Jones competed with the great Jerome Travers and Chick Evans, as well as Max Marston. Clearly Travers and Evans were the two big draws for this exhibition match, as few spectators in Philadelphia would’ve had any idea who Bobby Jones was in 1918. The match paired Bobby Jones and Chick Evans vs. Jerome Travers and Max Marston. Bobby Jones fans will find this quite interesting, as Jones and Evans did not particularly like each other. The match was held in Philadelphia at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club.
Offered here is the original Red Cross medal presented to Jerome Travers for his participation in this match to support the war effort. The front of the medal announces this as an “American Red Cross Prize Medal” and proudly displays the Red Cross logo in red enamel. The reverse contains the engraving
Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
Philadelphia
-----
Charles Evans Jr.
Robert Jones
-vs-
Jerome D Travers
Max Marston
Sept 22nd 1918
This is Jerome Travers’ personal Red Cross Medal from this historic exhibition. It was obtained directly from Mrs. Jerome Travers. The bronze and enamel medal measures 2” in diameter, and comes in its original case. Bobby Jones’ copy of this exact medal is on display at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, NJ alongside Jones’ other personal medals. In our Summer 2014 Auction, we sold a very similar 1918 Red Cross medal for $19,581.
Letter of Authenticity from Mrs. Jerome Travers.