Now, not only is the area dotted with many championship courses, but Gainesville is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Aaron's classic victory at the world renowned Masters Golf Tournament with a permanent display and video at the Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University.
The 4-year-old History Center has a Sports Hall of Fame with 103 photos of area athletes who have gained national recognition, Aaron among them.
"But it seemed fitting that Tommy Aaron would have a special place in our sports history," noted Jeb Bates, chairman of the committee sponsoring the exhibit and holding a Tommy Aaron Tribute Dinner March 28.
"He won the Masters, which is the pinnacle of golf in America; he won the Canadian Open; and the Lancome Tournament of Champions in Paris. In 1972, he helped lead the U. S. golf team to victory in a tournament against Japan. He was named to the Walker Cup Team, composed of the best amateur golfers in America chosen to represent the United States in international competition. He was selected for the Ryder Cup Team, which represented the best U. S. Professionals. He has been inducted into the University of Florida's Athletic Hall of Fame, the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. His golfing recognition was not only in the United States, but also worldwide."
Tommy Aaron's father, Charles Aaron, was a golf enthusiast and encouraged his son to play the game regularly. Young Tommy was an all-around athlete and Gainesville was a football power, so it was natural that he came out for football and basketball, and he would probably have played baseball except spring was his time for golf. He was quarterback on one of Gainesville's great teams, and was recruited by several colleges. But he went to Florida, one of the only schools in the region with a golf program.
Aaron had made his mark in golf while still in high school. In 1954 he was a finalist in the U. S. National Junior Championship; and in 1955 became the Georgia high school golf champion, as well as winning the Georgia Open.
Playing for the University of Florida, Aaron in 1957 became the Southeastern Conference individual golf champion, and Georgia state amateur champion. In 1958 he repeated as the SEC individual golf champion; became Southeastern Amateur Champion; and runner up in the U. S. Amateur. It was in 1959 that he was named to the Walker Cup Team. He played one more year as an amateur and in 1960 became the Southeastern Amateur Champion, Western amateur champion, and the Georgia State Champion.
Then started a long series of golf tournaments in which Tommy Aaron was always in the top tier of winners, always among the top money winners year after year,
but the top prize eluded him. Then in 1969 he won the Canadian Open in a playoff against Sam Snead. In 1970 he won the Atlanta Classic in his home state, and a professional tour event in Japan. In 1972 he won the Lancome Tournament of Champions in Paris, France.
And then in 1973, at the apex of his career, Tommy Aaron won the Masters Golf Tournament, the world pinnacle of golf itself.
Many professional golfers, especially those from smaller cities, moved to larger cities or more well-known golf communities. But not Tommy and Jimmye Aaron, his wife.
"This is home," Aaron said. "It is a special place."
The Aarons have established the Tommy Aaron/Charlie Aaron Foundation Scholarship fund, through the North Georgia Community Foundation, to provide scholarships for young golfers in the area to go to the school of their choice, to study for the career of their choice, knowing the experience with golf will "provide the discipline and ability to succeed in life."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/207885