The Randall Rule: Bishopville's Thomas H. "Tommy" Randall

FMU Hall-of-Famer Tommy Randall (FMU Golf Photo)

This past week, a 17 year-old golfer from South Carolina fell victim to the Rules of Golf at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Lancaster’s Banks Steele was disqualified from the tournament when his caddie tossed his hat into the air to measure the wind, violating the rule that prohibits use of "an artificial object to get other wind-related information." In an age where distance measuring devices--unquestionably artificial--are permitted in USGA competitions, the rule appears somewhat inconsistent. However, as the saying goes, "them's the rules."

While the game of golf has been played for well over half a millennium, its first official code of rules was written in 1744 by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. These original 13 rules serve as the foundation for organizations such as the R & A and the USGA as they define the essential challenges of the game and preserve its integrity and longevity. Although the principles have remained the same, situations sometimes arise that necessitate changes to the rules, and when they do, they’re often tagged with the name of the player linked to the incident.

One such example is the "Dustin Johnson Rule," which removed the penalty for the accidental movement of a ball when it occurs on the putting surface. This rule was enacted after Johnson received a one-stroke penalty when his ball accidentally moved on the fifth green during the final round of the 2016 U.S. Open. Another is the "Lexi Thompson Rule," prompted by the public outcry after Thompson was assessed a four-stroke penalty when a viewer emailed officials that she improperly marked her ball during the third round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration. This change limited the use of video review in determining penalties, especially if the player had used their best judgment while playing the shot. There is also a lesser known rule that had an impact on junior golfers when it took effect at the 1959. U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. It was a rule that limited participation to golfers between the ages of 12 and 18--a rule that should go down in the annals of junior golf as the "Tommy Randall Rule."

On June 24, 1957, a toddler from Charleston, South Carolina named Thomas H. Randall, Jr. became the youngest entrant in the history of the U.S. Junior Amateur. His application, along with those of four other players under the age of 10, were sent in by Grant Bennett, a good friend of Randall's father and head professional at Florence Country Club in Florence, S.C., which was hosting one of the 49 sectional qualifiers that summer. The other players under 10 included A.J. Esposito, 7 year-old son of Charleston Country Club pro Al Esposito; Jack Lewis, Jr. and Kirk Ham, both 10 year-olds from Florence; and Bennett's sons Gary, 8, and David, 11, also of Florence. The USGA put out a press release, making their admittance the feel-good sports story of the week, and with little chance that Tommy would make the cut, they waived the requirement that he sign the form.

Tommy Randall, Jr. “signs” his U. S. Junior Amateur application as Tom, Sr. looks on. (Post & Courier photo)

Although news stories listed him as a three year-old, Tommy was really only two at the time. "I'm not sure if we just happened to be visiting Florence at the time," recalled Randall, "but somehow Grant and my dad decided they would enter me in the qualifier to increase the number of entrants." A record 1,064 applicants were set to compete for 128 spots in the tournament, and the sites with larger fields were allocated more slots. Thanks to its 36 entries, Florence received four qualifying spots that year, which were won by Columbia’s Jimmy Parks, and Florence Country Club's own triumvirate of Billy Womack, Buddy Baker, and John Orr. Of the small-fries, Gary Bennett led the way with an 88, while Lewis, Ham, and David Bennett all carded 90s. There is no evidence that either Esposito or Randall ever turned in cards.

Fortunately, Tommy Randall's story does not end there. It was only just the beginning.

A few years later, Randall's family moved to New Orleans, and it was there that he developed his love for golf, chipping and putting at the practice green while his dad played 36 holes at City Park Municipal Golf Course (now known as Bayou Oaks at City Park). Tom Randall Sr. was a superb athlete who some thought bore a striking resemblance to pro golfer Paul Harney. He played two years as a starting wingback for the Memphis State University football team before his college career was interrupted by World War II. During the war, he served as a cartographer under General Mark Clark as the U.S. Fifth Army advanced through Italy, and afterward, he enrolled in the University of Tennessee, where he played on the golf team. He continued to compete in local and regional tournaments wherever he lived, and qualified for the U.S. Public Links Championship no fewer than five times.

"My father was a stickler for pace of play," said Randall, "and he told me from the start that he would not take me out on the golf course until I could keep up." With that as his incentive, he practiced every chance he got and finally, at the age of ten, his dad invited him out on the course. He doesn't remember what he shot that day, but he does recall the first hole his dad let him play--a short par-3, which Randall promptly parred.

When his family returned to Charleston, Randall played his golf at Charleston Country Club, where he and his friend Byron Beck became fixtures on the practice range and putting green. He honed his game to competition readiness, and at the age of 14, became the youngest player to qualify for the Azalea Amateur when he finished runner up to Frank Ford III in Charleston Country Club's junior club championship. During this time, Randall also became friends with future Hall of Famer Beth Daniel. The two frequently played golf together, in addition to playing pick-up basketball games in the local high school gym. In fact, it was during a round with Daniel and head pro Tommy Cuthbert that Randall shot his personal-best score of 62.

In those days, Henry Picard--winner of the 1938 Masters and 1939 PGA Championship--was pro-emeritus at the club. He took a liking to the junior golfers practicing there, and would often come over to the practice tee and offer advice to Randall and his cohorts. Randall remembers him as a phenomenal ball-striker with a smooth, flat swing and "the best hands around the green I have ever seen," but it was Grant Bennett who helped take his game to the next level. Bennett, who still ran one of the region's premiere junior programs at Florence Country Club, taught Randall the complexities of the golf swing and how to shape his shots. However, the most important thing Randall recalls taking from Bennett was the importance of his work ethic, "He believed if you really wanted to beat your competitors, you have to outwork them on the practice tee and green."

Randall played his high school golf at St. Andrews High School, where he and Beck led Coach Jim Velek's Rocks to three consecutive conference championships. In 1972, he won the Azalea Junior Championship and won his age group at the South Carolina Junior PGA Championship. He went on to play four years of college golf at Francis Marion College (now University), where he was joined by high school teammate Byron Beck and played on teams that included Crues Bell, Tommy Register, Billy Hoylen, Dick Ewing, Jimmy Martin, and Marion Fowler, among others. Together, they led Francis Marion to three NAIA District 6 championships, and played in three NAIA National Championship tournaments, finishing seventh in 1974, fourth in 1976, and tenth in 1977.

Individually, Randall led Francis Marion in scoring average all four years and was voted the team's most valuable player three times. He won NAIA All-American honors in 1976 when he finished fourth individually in the NAIA championship, and again in 1977 when he finished fifth. He also finished runner-up in the South Carolina Intercollegiate Championship in 1977 and won the 1976 Coastal Empire Classic, defeating future U.S. Amateur runner-up Parker Moore by four strokes. He qualified for the 1977 North-South Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C., but was beaten in the first round by Wesley Mohr, who coincidentally wound up losing to fellow FMC alum Gary Bennett in round three.

Randall has fond memories of his coaches at Francis Marion: Tim Watson--who doubled as the school's basketball coach--was fun to be around and helped the team stay loose and relaxed; and

Dr. Jim Von Frank, also a philosophy professor, who helped him with his mental game and time-management skills. Randall and a core group of his teammates still celebrate "Von's" birthday each year by playing a round of golf and going out for dinner with their spouses.

After receiving his degree in Business Administration from Francis Marion in 1977, Randall went to work for First Citizens Bank in Charleston. In 1983, he moved to Bishopville to work as an accounting supervisor for National Can Corporation--now known as Ardagh Metal Packaging--where he worked for 42 years until his retirement this past May. He continued to play competitively, winning the Oakdale Invitational three times and achieving multiple top-5 finishes in the Azalea Amateur, the SCGA State Amateur, and the SCGA Mid-Amateur tournaments. In 1991, he was picked by the SCGA to play in the Palmetto Cup matches, and in 1996, he was honored by his alma mater, when he was inducted into the Francis Marion University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Randall still loves to practice as much as he loves playing, a trait instilled in him by Grant Bennett, but he attributes his love for the game to his dad. "He was always my number one supporter and sacrificed a lot for me to play many junior events growing up," he said. The two played together countless times, and even competed against one another in stroke play tournaments, but in 1974, the duo became the first father and son in SCGA history to square off against one another in a match play event, when Randall defeated his dad at the South Carolina Match Play Championship. "I won 5 & 4," said the younger Randall, "but I always felt that my dad didn't have his heart in trying to beat me that day."

He also recalls a match he and his dad played at King's Grant Country Club in Summerville against Maury Finklestein and retired touring pro Randy Glover. As Randall tells the story, Glover--who won the 1967 Azalea Open while on tour and recorded a then-record 19 putts during the final round of the 1965 St. Paul Open--putted with an HBA Spalding putter and loved them so much he would buy every one he could get his hands on. "At the time, I was also putting with an HBA," recounts Randall. "I made everything I looked at that day, including a 25-foot, left-to-right-breaking dagger that clinched the match on the 18th hole. When we shook hands, Randy looked at me and said, 'Congratulations. I guess this is a bad time to ask you if you would sell your putter,' to which I responded, 'Yes! My putter is definitely not for sale today!'"

Although Randall never chased fame and fortune in the game, I doubt if he'd trade a minute of his life in golf. After all, how many of us have shot a 62, gotten driving range tips from a major champion, played pick-up basketball with an LPGA Hall-of-Famer, and beaten a former PGA tour winner head-to-head? Now that he's retired, Randall has more time to spend at Hartsville Country Club, where he is now a member. He has remained active over the years, which has enabled him to continue competing, and though he has graduated up to the Legends division, he still runs into several of the guys he played against in junior tournaments and in college. He also keeps up with several of his high school and Francis Marion teammates, particularly Byron Beck, whom he has known since he was 12 years-old. He and Beck have been playing golf together for 58 years and still team up to play in four-ball events across the state. Theirs is one of the many friendships that keep him playing a game he has loved for the past 62 years.

Nowadays, instead of using a minimum age requirement, the USGA uses handicap indexes to limit fields for the U.S. Junior Amateur. The "Tommy Randall Rule" is off the books, but that's okay with Randall. He'd probably tell you he'd rather be remembered as a good husband and father ("I chose vacation time for family and not golf."), a good son ("My Dad was the reason I started playing golf."), a good businessman, a good friend, and maybe even a good basketball coach ("Basketball was always my first love...I was just better at golf!). For the next generation of junior golfers, Randall has the following kernels of advice: start early, practice with a purpose, spend time practicing your short game, and above all, enjoy the game and be patient. "Improvement in golf is incremental," he says, "and like everything else in life, you must put in the work to get better." I think we can all agree, that's a good rule to live by.