If you’ve checked out our WhereAbouts Long Island stories (if you haven’t yet, stop reading and click here), you know we had a chance to sit down with Jack Druga, the Head Golf Professional at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club to get his take on hosting the U.S. Open and what it’s going to take to win this year.
Jack is an amazing guy and a consummate professional in every sense of the word. And it came as no surprise to us how insightful he was when it came to the game of golf. What was a surprise, however, was a great story he shared about his first golf lesson with Lew Worsham – the winner of the 1947 U.S. Open at St. Louis Country Club.
Check out the video above to get the full story from Jack.
FUN FACTS: Jack has some remarkable connections to the USGA.
- He grew up in Pittsburgh and when he was a boy, he caddied at Oakmont Country Club, which has hosted more U.S. Open Championships (9), than any other club in history.
- He later worked as an assistant at Oakmont under the great Lew Worsham, who defeated Sam Snead in a playoff to win the 1947 U.S. Open at St. Louis Country Club.
- When Jack was named to his first job as a head golf professional (at the Creek Club on Long Island) he was hired by Joe Dey, who was a long time executive director of the USGA.
- While at The Creek Club, Jack qualified for the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah CC. He had previously played in the U.S. Junior and U.S Amateur championships.
- In 2006 Jack took the helm at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, a club that had just hosted the U.S. Open in 2004 and one of the five golf clubs that founded the USGA in 1894.
- Starting today, Shinnecock is hosting its 5th US Open.