Tiger Woods could just as well forget it if he was to participate at the Bismarck Country Club Memorial Day golf tournament. Shushing caddies and certainly no “Quiet Please” signs were allowed. In fact, reported the Bismarck Tribune on this day in 1920, at this so-called Jazz Tournament, players and spectators were encouraged to “do everything to disconcert the person actually making the shot with the sole exception of kicking the ball off the tee.” One ardent golf fan was even planning on bringing a fire siren so that “when his competitor tries to make a difficult shot, he will let out a blast that will frighten the tiny white sphere far from its course.”

Understandably, tempers could get hot at the tournament, but a committee would be standing by to settle disputes caused by ingenious plans to interrupt a player mid-swing.

By Tessa Sandstrom

Source: “Country Club folks will celebrate Memorial Day with Golf and Dance,” Bismarck Tribune. May 26, 1920.

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