Hope Valley in Durham in Durham County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

John Byron Nelson

(1912-2006)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 31, 2023

1. John Byron Nelson Marker

Inscription. While many golfers recognize the Big Three as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player, in the world of professional golf that title originally belonged to Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Byron Nelson. These three giants dominated the 1940's, capturing a combined 198 PGA Tour wins. Byron Nelson, in his short seventeen-year career, personally won an astounding 52 events. In 1945, Nelson won eleven straight PGA Tour events. That record, in the words of Arnold Palmer, may never be broken.

During that momentous year for professional golf, Hope Valley Country Club's Donald Ross-designed course was host to Nelson's fourth consecutive win. It was a cloudy and overcast Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, when Byron Nelson, Sam Sneed, and Sammy Byrd began their final round at the Durham Open. Byrd had a one-shot lead over Nelson as they entered the final round. But as the Durham Open came to an end, Byron had finished a historic round, shooting 65 on the lightening fast greens and setting a new course record. As the only player in the field to finish under par for the tournament, Nelson resoundingly won the Durham Open by five strokes. Netson collected $6,666 in war bonds for the win.

On October 19, 1990, Byron Nelson returned to Hope Valley to remember that historic weekend and unsurpassed season. The plaque on the eighteenth hole

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commemorates the dedication ceremony and Byron Nelson's eleven consecutive PGA Tour victories.

Welcome to Hope Valley Country Club.

[Caption] John Byron Nelson (1912-2006) Pictured here at Hope Valley Country Club in 1990

Erected by Hope Valley Country Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is April 1, 1945.

Location. 35° 56.851′ N, 78° 57.059′ W. Marker is in Durham, North Carolina, in Durham County. It is in Hope Valley. Marker can be reached from Cornwall Road east of Dover Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is behind the first tee at Hope Valley County Club. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3129 Cornwall Rd, Durham NC 27707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. James E. Shepard (approx. 1.9 miles away); Louis E. Austin (approx. 2.4 miles away); John Merrick (approx. 2.4 miles away); Last Shots (approx. 2.6 miles away); Robert Franklin Durden (approx. 2.9 miles away); Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans (approx. 3 miles away); College Heights Historic District (approx. 3.3 miles away); a different marker also named College Heights Historic District (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durham.

Also see . . .

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 31, 2023

2. John Byron Nelson Marker

Featured plaque is between the benches.

Byron Nelson in 1945: 18 Wins, 11 in a Row, All His Scores and Finishes. Nelson played 30 tournaments on the PGA Tour in 1945. He won 18 of them, easily the highest number of single-season wins in tour history. At one point, Nelson won 11 tournaments in a row, again, easily the all-time best. He set scoring records, some of which stood for decades. (Golf Compendium) (Submitted on September 14, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

John Byron Nelson (1912-2006) image. Click for full size.

Acme News Service via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain), 1944

3. John Byron Nelson (1912-2006)

His 1945 PGA Tour season is still considered the among the best individual performances.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 54 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 14, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.