| Emil Loeffler | |
| Fullname: | Emil Frederick Loeffler, Jr. |
| Nickname: | Dutch |
| Birth Date: | 5 June 1895 |
| Birth Place: | Oakmont, Pennsylvania |
| Death Place: | Oakmont, Pennsylvania |
| Spouse: | Hilda Loeffler |
| Children: | 3 |
| Status: | Professional |
| Prowins: | 4 |
| Masters: | DNP |
| Usopen: | 10th: 1921 |
| Open: | DNP |
| Pga: | T5: 1922 |
Emil Frederick "Dutch" Loeffler, Jr. (June 5, 1895 – March 19, 1948)[1] was an American professional golfer and golf course designer.[2] [3]
Loeffler was born on June 5, 1895, at Oakmont, Pennsylvania, to Swiss immigrants Emil Loeffler, Sr. and his wife Margaret, both of whom were born in Berne, Switzerland.
Loeffler had two top-10 finishes in major championships and had four wins in other tournaments. He had a long career as both course superintendent and head professional at Oakmont Country Club.
Loeffler started working as a caddy at Oakmont when he was 10. He was promoted to caddiemaster in 1912 and took over as the course's superintendent (greenkeeper) in 1916, a position he retained until 1948. Loeffler assisted in modification of the course, including facilitating addition of many hazards that became a hallmark of Oakmont. After the death of head pro Charley Rowe in 1927, Loeffler assumed that role as well. When he relinquished it in 1947, he was reportedly the highest paid pro in America. His replacement, young Lew Worsham, won the U.S. Open a month after he took charge at Oakmont.
Loeffler qualified for six U.S. Opens.[4] His best finish was at the 1921 U.S. Open with a 10th place finish.[5]
In 1921, the PGA Championship invited the top 31 professional finishers at the 1921 U.S. Open, along with the defending champion, to the tournament and as such Loeffler was invited. Loeffler finished in a tie for 17th place with his first round loss in match play to Cyril Walker on the 37th hole.[6] Loeffer's best finish at the PGA Championship was a tie for 5th (quarter-final finish) in 1922.[7]
Loeffler is credited with designing over 20 golf courses,[8] [9] including the former Alcoma Golf Club, which was renamed 3 Lakes Golf Course in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. In 2018, he was elected to the Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.[10]
Loeffler served in the infantry in World War I where he was wounded.[11] He was a corporal in Company E, 327th Infantry, 82nd Division, serving from September 20, 1917, to May 28, 1919.[12]
Loeffler died on March 19, 1948—at the end of a 65-day stay at Presbyterian Hospital—of respiratory failure due to pneumonia. He was a widower, his wife Hilda having preceded him in death in 1945.
| Tournament | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open | T35 | 10 | ? | ? | ? | ? | T49 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | T63 | |
| PGA Championship | DNP | R32 | QF | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |