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By Ken MacLeod
It’s hard to fathom that golfers may never have become familiar with the name Bruce Devlin if not for a two-week stretch of success in Oklahoma in May of 1963. But that was the theme of his first return in 63 years to Falconhead Resort in Burneyville this week, where he was feted in another remarkable display by Barbara Sessions, historian and curator of the museum at Falconhead that honors the unique contributions of Waco and Opie Turner but also all of Oklahoma golf.
Devlin, who resides in Weatherford, Texas, made the trip with son Kel, who is very familiar with many of our Oklahoma pros from a lifetime of competitive golf himself (played for Texas A&M and eight years professionally) and as a key industry figure in roles with Nike and other companies. Also on hand was Gary Martinolli, the editor of Australia’s Brassie Magazine. He has written extensively on Delvin’s career, is writing a book on him and his connection with Sessions led to the events of Wednesday and Thursday.
Devlin, now 88, toured the course and played a few holes on Wednesday before entertaining this writer and others with tales of the wonders of the Melbourne Sandbelt courses in Australia, his mercurial instructor Norman Von Nida whom he said may have been the best bunker player of all time, his unique relationship with Ben Hogan and much more. On Thursday Sessions had an exhibit, press conference and social hour with Devlin and all who wanted to attend titled The Devil Takes Oklahoma, in reference to his long-time nickname.
Had Bruce Devlin not won this $1015 in the 1963 Waco Turner Open, odds are he would not have gone on to win 30 times worldwide, design over 140 courses and be a longtime commentator for NBC. He visited Falconhead Resort for the first time since 1963 Wednesday-Thursday and he was a delight.
Of the third Waco Turner Open hosted by generous oil millionaire Waco Turner and his wife Opie from 1961 to 1964, Devlin remembered being in dire straits coming in. He had returned to Australia after an unsuccessful attempt at the PGA Tour in 1962, then started his 1963 season with six consecutive missed cuts.
Traveling with his wife Gloria, son Kel, then 3, and daughter Kerrie, 1, the family was down to its last $400. A career as a plumber awaited back home if he failed again to make it on tour. But after three rounds of the Waco Turner Open, he was tied for the lead with two other Australians. By the end of the day Sunday, he had slipped to eighth but still made $1,015, thanks to Waco’s bonuses for birdies and eagles. A tie for eighth on the PGA Tour last week made $603,200, but those were different days.
From there he played two weeks later in the Oklahoma City Open at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club, hosted by Ernie Vossler who went on to fame with the development of Oak Tree Golf Club and Landmark Land Company. He earned another $900 there and that gave him the cushion to keep going. Before the year ended Devlin had won the French Open, the New Zealand Open and was runner-up in the Australian Open. He went on to win 30 times worldwide including eight times on the PGA Tour, design over 140 golf courses and enjoy a long career as a commentator on NBC and ESPN, becoming a household name to millions of golfers worldwide.
“That week really was hugely important to me,” Devlin said. “It really allowed me to keep going at a time I might have had to return home with my tail between my legs. And then who knows.”
As talented as he was, it’s likely Devlin would have found his way back and been a success regardless. But what happened at Falconhead Resort certainly speeded the process along, just one of many remarkable tales Sessions has accumulated throughout her years of documenting the importance of the events on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour that were hosted by the Turners.
Devlin meets with attendees of his ceremony Thursday at Falconhead Resort.
Two memories that have stuck with Devlin through the years of Waco Turner were his garage with 10 or so white Cadillacs and that he would fly his plane right over the players’ heads on the 17th fairway.
In addition to recalling the Waco Turner Open, which Turner called the Poor Boys Open because it was held across from the Tournament of Champions, Devlin told stories about the generosity of the Nicklaus family, who boarded his family for seven weeks while he went overseas to play in 1962. Jack Nicklaus is writing the forward for Martinelli’s book.
Back in Texas, Devlin still plays some with his family and runs a small foundation that has a scholarship and supports other endeavors. He co-hosts a podcast called Fore The Good of the Game which interviews other great players about their careers.
Barbara Sessions explains one of the Bruce Devlin exhibits she created for his visit Thursday.
Martinolli provided the nudge that led to the presentation when he came across from Australia to visit Devlin in Texas and asked him if he had ever been back to Burneyville seeing as how it was such a crucial week in his career. Told no, he contacted Sessions and came up to learn more about the course and museum.
‘I met Barbara for about three hours and only had to say about five words,” Martinelli said of his enthusiastic host.
He connected all parties and Sessions and her husband Don took it from there, putting together a remarkable display honoring Devlin’s life and career for the occasion, which obviously moved both Bruce and Kel. That an eighth-place finish in a tournament 63 years ago can lead to an event such as took place Thursday is a credit to all involved and why golf is the sport of a lifetime.
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