Posts Tagged ‘pursuit of happiness’

JULIAN P. GRAHAM/COURTESY PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY LAGORIO ARCHIVES

Somebody you don’t know, but you should – Part 2 – Marion Hollins was an incredible athlete and visionary.  I would call her the Brian Jones of sports.  (Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones played any and every instrument he ever picked up proficiently)  Marion was a master golfer who won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in 1921.

Marion was considered the finest equestrian person of her day.  She also was an accomplished tennis player, marksman, swimmer and even a car racer.  No matter what sport she played she instantly became a dominating force.  What makes this more impressive is that she attained such greatness in the male dominated world of the 1920’s.

I think most of us are familiar with the cypress tree at Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula in California.  This is the home of the well-known Pebble Beach Golf Course.  The World Golf Hall of Fame architect, Alister MacKenzie designed the course.  But what is not commonly said is that Marion Hollins worked side by side with Alister to assist with design and approve Pebble Beach, Augusta and Pasatiempo.  What is amazing is that Marion Hollin’s name is not mentioned.

What’s even more amazing is at the time, Augusta’s Chairman, Clifford Roberts made it known to MacKenzie that Ms. Hollins was not welcome at Augusta.  To which MacKenzie replied:

She has been associated with me in three golf courses and not only are her own ideas valuable, but she is thoroughly conversant in regard to the character of work I like.  I want her views and her personal impressions in regard to the way the work is being carried out.  I do not know of any man who has sounder ideas.

Marion Hollins. From the George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress)

Alister MacKenzie came to develop the Pebble Beach Golf Course at the invitation of Marion Hollins.  The story behind the story is S.F.B. Morse was developing the Monterey Peninsula and asked Marion, who was now his athletic director, to help him develop a golf course.  Marion brought Alister MacKenzie in to design that course.  Together they worked side by side to develop one of the greatest golf courses ever played.  Today it ranks No. 2 on GOLF Magazines Top 100 in the United States and the World list.

In my opinion it was on the infamous 16^th hole that Marion solidified her place in golf history.  MacKenzie did not want to place the 16^th hole at that location.  He thought it was not possible to drive a ball to a green that far across the ocean.  So Marion said, “Let’s see.”  She dropped a ball, teed up and drove it over 219 yards across the Pacific Ocean to a spot where the 16^th hole now resides.  MacKenzie smiled and said, “OK, we’ll put it there.”

Somebody you don’t know, but you should – Marion’s accomplishments are vast and far reaching.  She was a champion in the world of golf as well as other sports.  She was trailblazer and the only known woman golf course developer who helped create three world class golf courses.  She was an amazing person and…

Somebody you don’t know, but you should – Long Live the Forgotten! ~ Sebastian St. George

 

Check out the previous Blogs in this New Series!

Somebody you don’t know, but you should – The Blog Series

Somebody you don’t know, but you should – The story of Harriet Quimby

Harriet Quimby with her Bleriot

Somebody you don’t know, but you should – The Blog Series – Since Somebody you don’t know, but you should – The story of Harriet Quimby was a tremendous success I decided this should become a blog series.  If you have not had the chance or this is first introduction, please go back and read The story of Harriet Quimby.  She was an utterly amazing woman and trailblazer.

Honestly, there should be a motion picture made about her life story.  Harriet Quimby was the first woman to get a pilot’s license in the U.S.  She also was the first woman to fly the English Channel alone.  If any movie studios or production companies are interested, please contact me on my contact page.  I have been developing this for a while.  I feel there are a tremendous amount of women who receive no recognition at all.  Their contributions are immeasurable!  People may forget… but history never does.  And guess what… I’ll find you and do my best to keep you alive!

One of my favorite things to do is research.  It’s one of my preoccupations to dig into archives and discover long lost information or historical data on fascinating people or subject matters.  I could go on for hours about this.  I love People that history has long forgotten.  But, the question is, history hasn’t forgotten them, we have!  These gems are like buried treasure that teach me so much about life, art and the pursuit of happiness.  They are priceless gems to enjoy.  I hope you love these blogs as much as I love researching and writing them!

These Forgotten have LONG fallen off the radar!  Put it to you this way, you wouldn’t even find these people misplaced in the cut-out bin filed under X or Z next to Abe Vigoda Live at the Hollywood Bowl.  Side note:  I love Abe Vigoda BTW – he is great!

Abe Vigoda as Fish on Barney Miller

I also wanted to take the time to thank everyone for all the great tweets, comments, emails, responses and support!  I love to hear from you!  Also if there is anyone you would like to me to consider to research and blog about for this blog series I am open to your suggestions.

Somebody you don’t know, but you should – The Blog Series will begin this week.  Thank you again for your support!

Somebody you don’t know, but you should –

Long Live the Forgotten!

~ Sebastian St. George

My Organic Garden has played a major in my life.  Many of you know how I am very passionate about organic farming and food growing.  My family has had organic gardens for well over 40 years.  Gardening is an excellent way to de-stress after a long hectic and busy day.  It also helps in getting one’s self reconnected with the earth.  Overall, it has a deep calming effect on one’s soul and well-being.

My family and I have been very grateful for growing many incredible fruits and vegetables.  Below you will see the 13 lbs. organic beet that I picked today.  We have experienced many miracles in our gardens.

My 13 lbs. organic beet

It’s seems that my organic garden is very popular.  Especially with the local residents, Larry The Squirrel and his four buddies love to raid our garden.

Larry The Squirrel

Let’s take a look at the origins of organic gardening in this county and how it has played a major part in America’s history.  Our Founding Fathers considered themselves first and foremost famers before being politicians.  It was only the conditions they faced as subjects of the British Crown that caused them to change in order to seek colonial freedom.  They were self-reliant and lived off the earth.  They understood the basic principles of life, living and the pursuit of happiness, which today seem almost non-existent.  In today’s technological age, many have lost and forgotten what these great men stood for, fought for and in some instances died for.

Andrea Wulf spoke about this in a recent article in The Los Angeles Times and goes into further detail her recent book entitled “Founding Gardeners – The Revolutionary Generation, Nature and the Shaping of the American Nation.”  She spoke of how the influence of gardening and farming helped to craft the images used by The Founding Fathers to bring about understanding and development of this nation.  It continues to be an amazing process, one that we are all part of today.

Pathway to Organic Love

I am very grateful to Steven Nahabedian and his company Fired Up Tiles (click to see his website) for providing us with all of the awesome themed tiles that you see in my garden.  Many of you are probably familiar with Fired Up Tiles as he is carried in a majority of health food stores and Whole Foods across America.

Many of the tiles represent a variety of themes, religions and beliefs.  In my garden, they are all united in peace, harmony and life giving presence.  These tiles also add a sense of style, fashion and practicality to my garden.  They illuminate and provide a vibrant energy to the area and allow me to find my way.  In essence, they provide a pathway to organic love.

Take a look below at the beautiful fruits and veggies that we picked today from My Organic Garden!

Organic Fruits & Veggies from my Garden