Mike Mastovich
mmastovich@tribdem.com
JOHNSTOWN —
Don Cherry brought an abundance of talent to Sunnehanna Country Club in the mid-1950s.
Cherry certainly was a skilled golfer who won the first Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions in 1954 and was the runner-up the next year. Cherry later was in contention at the 1960 U.S. Open eventually won by Arnold Palmer, and he was part of three Walker Cup teams and played in nine Masters.
The Wichita Falls, Texas, native also could sing.
In fact, his million-selling song “Band of Gold” was a top-five hit on the Billboard chart in 1955, the same year he placed second at Sunnehanna. Cherry also had hits such as “Wild Cherry,” “Ghost Town,” and “Namely You.” He’s the only person ever to have a Top 10 song and a Top 10 finish in the U.S. Open.
“It’s interesting that Don Cherry was the No. 1-ranked amateur when he played Sunnehanna and he had a (top-five) record in the U.S.,” said James Hargreaves, co-chairman of the Sunnehanna Amateur.
Cherry will bring his act back to Sunnehanna to help commemorate the 60th anniversary of one of the nation’s best amateur golf events. He and his wife, Francine, will travel across the country and spend the week in Westmont for the Sunnehanna Amateur on June 13-16.
“We’re fortunate to have him back,” Hargreaves said. “I think it’s pretty unique that we’re able to have somebody back that’s won 60 years ago.
“The fact that he’s still doing a little bit of an act in Las Vegas at age 89 is impressive.”
Golden Memories: Cherry has fond recollections of his time at Sunnehanna, where he entertained golfers, tournament organizers and their families during the social gatherings held in conjunction with the Amateur.
He still has the gold jacket and trophy he earned for winning the 1954 Sunnehanna Amateur on display in his memorabilia room at his Las Vegas home.
“I’ve played at a lot of places and some of them you don’t remember much,” Cherry said during a telephone interview. “Sunnehanna, the name has always meant a lot to me. It’s a wonderful name to call anything. The people were so good to you, it was just unreal. You felt like with what you were doing, you couldn’t wait to get up in the morning and play.
“I remember what a great golf course it was. Born and raised in Texas, you play on that dirt all of your life.”
Cherry won the first Sunnehanna Amateur with a four-round score of 280, including a 3-under 67 on the first day. He was four strokes better than runner-up Don Hoenig.
The next year, he nearly was a repeat champion but lost by a stroke to Hillman Robbins Jr., who shot a 280 on the par-70 Sunnehanna Country Club course.
“The second tournament I had a 10-foot putt on the last hole to tie for that one,” Cherry recalled of a rare missed opportunity.
His return to Sunnehanna for the 60th anniversary actually was a result of new Sunnehanna professional Carl Seelman’s noticing a photo of Cherry hanging on a wall at the clubhouse.
Seelman and Cherry met when the golfer played at Las Vegas Country Club, where Seelman once was the head golf professional.
“Don’s an interesting, interesting guy,” Seelman said on Friday. “When I was the head pro at Las Vegas Country Club 15 years ago, Don was one of our members. He is an outstanding gentleman and a great golfer. He can tell some really good stories. He’s a great singer as well.”
Fast forward to Seelman’s initial visit to Westmont as a candidate to replace Sunnehanna club professional Joe Shorto, who retired in 2012.
“The first time I interviewed for this job, I walked through the clubhouse and who do I see? I see a photo of Don Cherry,” Seelman said. “I didn’t realize he played here. He was the first champion. When I got the job I called him up, and when I found out it was the 60th anniversary of his championship, I asked him if he’d come up. He was tickled pink.
“He’s going to spend the whole week here. He’s been practicing a lot so he can take that first tee shot. He’s been practicing his singing. He’s going to sing some songs.”
On the Record: Cherry signed a contract with Decca Records in 1950 and began his successful recording career.
He even had a gig as the voice of the catchy and immensely popular Mr. Clean commercial jingle from 1957-66.
Top entertainers of the day such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin were among Cherry’s friends.
The hectic pace of playing clubs and touring didn’t prevent Cherry from making his mark on the golf course.
He won the Canadian Open to qualify for a spot on the Walker Cup Team. Cherry won for the U.S. squad.
After the U.S. win in the 1955 Walker Cup in Scotland, Lord Brabazon, captain of the Royal and Ancient Association, addressed the crowd, saying, “Bing Crosby and Bob Hope tried to make it to the British Amateur Golf Tournament, but couldn’t qualify. We finally found a golfer who could play golf and also sing.”
Lord Brabazon then asked Cherry to sing, and the American delivered a moving performance of “I Believe” while standing on the steps of St. Andrews.
His recording and golf careers continued to gain notice.
Cherry was in the hunt in the 1960 U.S. Open before Arnold Palmer roared back from a seven-stroke deficit to a victory at Cherry Hills in Denver. The comeback established the Latrobe golfer as one of the game’s greats. Cherry finished ninth, four shots behind Palmer and two back of Jack Nicklaus. He considers both of the golf legends as friends.
Cherry’s golf resume includes nine Masters, eight U.S. Opens and three Walker Cup events.
He turned professional in 1962 and still continued singing in front of standing-room-only crowds in Reno and Las Vegas showrooms. He also toured throughout the country and appeared on many television shows.
Healthy living: How did he keep up such a grueling pace and still excel?
“I never drank in my life. I never smoked a cigarette. I was quite athletic,” Cherry said. “I didn’t need a whole lot of sleep to do those things I did. The fact that I could do those things made a difference too. I’d get up in the morning and play golf.”
His skills as a singer were noticed early in his childhood.
“My mother used to take me to church all the time when I was a little kid, 5 or 6 years old,” Cherry said. “I learned the songs, every one of them, when I was 5 or 6. I know you’re born with it. You really are.
“When I was 6 years old I heard a song when I was at a movie. We went out in the car and I started singing that song. I knew every word,” said Cherry, as he sang several lines of the tune over the telephone.
His vocal career started early, but Cherry found motivation to keep singing after the most tragic day of his life, Sept. 11, 2001, when his son Stephen was killed in one of the World Trade Center towers. Don had seen his friend Dean Martin’s life spiral after Martin’s son died in a plane crash. Determined to move forward and honor his son, Cherry sang to raise money for a memorial.
“Singing always helped to lift me up,” he said. “It made me feel better.”
Francine, his wife of 19 years, is Cherry’s most avid supporter. She can recite just about any interesting fact about his career or special milestones in his life.
She touts Cherry’s comprehensive website www.doncherry.us. Francine still is a big fan of Don’s silky smooth voice, going as far as playing two of his songs during a telephone call for this story.
Ironically, Francine was surprised when she initially learned of Don’s success on the links.
“I didn’t know he was such a great golfer, but I knew his singing was unmatchable,” she said. “I had his (Sunnehanna) jacket. I had his trophy. I had an article about him. It’s in our memorabilia room.
“He sang on the steps of St. Andrews after they beat the English,” she said of the Walker Cup. “My husband sang the song ‘I Believe’ and he got the biggest ovation.”
Cherry most likely will receive another spirited round of applause when he returns to Sunnehanna.
The first player to wear a champion’s jacket at Sunnehanna also was the first to entertain the club with his songs.
Sixty years have passed, but Cherry’s legacy remains.
“We’re bringing back the first Sunnehanna Amateur champion after 60 years,” Hargreaves said. “Not too many tournaments are in a position to do that.”
