John Montague (golfer)

John Montague (August 25, 1903 – May 25, 1972) was an American golfer, who also played some minor-league baseball. Under the name LaVerne Moore, which was his original birth name, he was charged with armed robbery and assault over a 1930 case in upper New York State. He was acquitted in a 1937 trial.[2]

John Montague
Montague in 1937
Personal information
Born	August 25, 1903[1] Syracuse, New York, U.S.[1]
Died	May 25, 1972 (aged 68)[1] Studio City, Los Angeles, U.S.[2]
Career
Status	Amateur

In 1939 Montague won a one-hole golf match against Bing Crosby, using a shovel, a baseball bat, and a rake instead of golf clubs[2]

Montague's life was covered in mystery and numerous stories about his extraordinary golf skills and physical strength. At the time of his arrest he lived with Esther Plunkett, and friends believed they were married.[3][4] After leaving the jail, he could not regain his previous golf shape, due to gained weight and lack of practice. Hence he focused on his real estate business and private golf matches with celebrities. His 1937 charity game against Babe Ruth, Babe Didrikson, and Sylvania Annenberg drew approximately 10,000 spectators.[5] Montague qualified for the 1940 U.S. Open, but performed poorly there. He died of heart problems, in obscurity, at a residence motel in Studio City, California.[2]

References

1. Montville, Leigh (2008). The Mysterious Montague: A True Tale of Hollywood, Golf, and Armed Robbery. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-7679-2650-8.
2. Montville, Leigh (June 2008) Montague the Magnificent. Smithsonian Magazine
3. File:John Montague with wife 1938.jpg
4. Boone, Robert (March 13, 1988) Strange Case Of John Montague: Golf`s Lost Legend. Chicago Tribune
5. Talbot, Gayle (November 15, 1937). "Stampeding golf crowd stops charity golf contest in New York". Ottawa Citizen. Canada. Associated Press. p. 18.