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Italian American professional golfer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Toney G. Penna (January 15, 1908 – August 6, 1995) was an Italian-American professional golfer and designer of golf clubs and gear.[1][2] He won four events on the PGA Tour between 1937 and 1947.[3] He introduced new lines of golf clubs and was the holder of four patents for golf clubs.[4][5] Many of these clubs are considered collectors' items: some are still in production. He also introduced the use of color to both clubs and to golf accessories, such as carrying bags.
Toney Penna | |
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![]() Penna in 1942 | |
Personal information | |
Full name | Toney G. Penna |
Born | Naples, Italy | January 15, 1908
Died | August 6, 1995 87) Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | (aged
Sporting nationality | ![]() ![]() |
Career | |
Status | Professional |
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Professional wins | 5 |
Number of wins by tour | |
PGA Tour | 4 |
Other | 1 |
Best results in major championships | |
Masters Tournament | T8: 1947 |
PGA Championship | T9: 1944, 1945 |
U.S. Open | T3: 1938 |
The Open Championship | CUT: 1954 |
Penna was born in Naples, Italy. He grew up in Harrison, New York and also lived in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio.[6][7] By 1946, Penna had moved to Delray Beach, Florida.[8]
Starting out in golf by being a caddy, Penna was known for his personality and individualism as much as for his golfing abilities.[9] He was often a critic of his high-ranking golf contemporaries, and published a table illustrating his thoughts about the strengths and weaknesses of each in his autobiography.[10] With a ready temper but also a sense of humor, Penna's work as a golf pro brought him into contact with Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope, among others.[5][11][12]
Perry Como was a long-time friend of Penna's. Before his permanent move to Florida, Como often came to golf with him on the weekends after completing his weekly television program.[13][14] After a tournament where Penna beat Como, he remarked that the only thing that was keeping him from returning to the large professional golf tours was his lack of hair. A week later, Penna received a package from Como; inside was a hairpiece and a note which said "Go!".[15]
Penna was a longtime employee and representative of the MacGregor Golf Company.[13] After years of working for MacGregor, Penna started his own company and manufactured his own golf clubs.[2] A stretch of road in Jupiter, Florida, where his company was located is named after him.[16] Penna used the spelling of his name as an attention-getter, and was known for having a taste for fine clothing.[17][18] Penna displayed an ability for concentrated problem-solving in improving golf club performance which led to his success as an equipment representative, a golf pro, and also as the producer of his own line of golf clubs.[10][19]
With his brother, Charley, Penna was associated with the Beverly and with the Calumet Country Clubs, both near Chicago; at one time both brothers were playing professionally.[20] Penna died in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in 1995 at the age of 87.[4]
this list is incomplete
Tournament | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T31 | T10 | ||||
U.S. Open | T55 | CUT | T28 | T3 | CUT | |
The Open Championship | ||||||
PGA Championship |
Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T10 | T19 | 22 | NT | NT | NT | T21 | T8 | 46 | T23 |
U.S. Open | 42 | T33 | NT | NT | NT | NT | T15 | T31 | T8 | CUT |
The Open Championship | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | ||||
PGA Championship | R64 | R32 | R32 | NT | R16 | R16 | R32 | R32 | R64 |
Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T21 | WD | |||
U.S. Open | CUT | ||||
The Open Championship | CUT | ||||
PGA Championship | R64 | R32 | R64 |
NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 8 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 11 |
Totals | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 35 | 29 |
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