Georgia Golf Hall of Fame Member

Tommy Barnes

Inducted 1989

Thomas William Barnes was born in Monroe, Ga., on November 9, 1915.  A lifelong amateur golfer, Barnes qualified for the U.S.  Amateur 16 consecutive times.  He won the 1935 and ‘37 Atlanta City Amateur, and the Bobby Jones Four-Ball and Dogwood Tournament five times each.  During his college years, he captained the 1937 and ‘38 Georgia Tech teams.  In 1941, he captured the Georgia Amateur title.  He took the Pan-Am title in 1944, while serving in the U.S.  Navy.  Other titles include the 1938 and ‘46 Southeastern Amateur, 1946 Southeastern PGA Open and 1947 and ‘49 Southern Amateur.  Barnes played in the 1950 Masters Tournament.  In 1988, at age 73, Barnes shot a 62 at East Lake Country Club, breaking Bobby Jones’ 1922 record of 63.  Barnes served as a GSGA Director for 18 years, was the USGA Southeastern Sectional Committee Director for 14 years, directed the Southern Golf Association, and served as president of the Atlanta City Golf Association.  Barnes was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981, the Southern Golf Hall of Fame in 1987, and Atlanta Athletic Club Hall of Fame in 1995.  He died on September 20, 2007, at age 91. The GSGA’s overall Player of the Year Award is named after Barnes.