This amateur Fort Worth golfer was a world champion. His ‘handicap’ will surprise you

Most amateur golfers have a handicap. But few have the handicap that golfer Marvin Shannon had: He was blind.

And during one sweet spot in time in 1941, he turned that handicap into a world title.

Marvin Boyd Shannon was born —sighted — in 1903 to Samuel David Shannon and Mary Shannon of the pioneer North Side family. At age 12 Marvin suffered a serious illness. By age 13 he was blind.

He graduated from the Texas School for the Blind and University of Texas law school. He began his law practice in 1928. But the illness that had blinded him as a youth had left him weak as an adult.

In 1938, to restore his health, Shannon did what any blind person would do: He took up golf.

Shannon hired Skeet Fincher, the pro at Rockwood golf course, to teach him the game.

Fincher had never given golf lessons to a blind person. But Shannon was determined to learn, which made Fincher determined to teach. Fincher first taught Shannon the basics of a proper swing for shots ranging from drives to chips to putts.

But Shannon could not see the ball or the tee.

For days he swung and missed.

He — and Fincher — felt like giving up.

Skeet Fincher became the golf whisperer. He talked to Shannon in a low voice as he positioned Shannon to address the ball, as he positioned Shannon’s club head at the ball at the proper angle. He taught Shannon how to swing for various distances.

Shannon recalled: “At the end of three months I went out on the [Rockwood] course.”

“My score for the first nine holes was 118,” Shannon recalled.

Then Shannon heard the story of Clint Russell. In Duluth, Minnesota, in 1924, Russell, an amateur golfer, had lost his sight in an accident. In 1925, Russell resumed the game of golf as a blind man. By 1930 Russell was shooting lower scores than he had as a sighted golfer.

Inspired, Marvin Shannon became determined to someday challenge the world champion.

Shannon — accompanied by Fincher — played nine holes a day, sometimes 18, even 27. Every day.

By early 1941 Shannon had broken 90 at Rockwood.

He was ready.

He challenged Clint Russell to a world championship game.

When the two met on the champ’s home course, Shannon was a blind man who took up golf. Russell was a golfer who became blind and resumed golf. Shannon was definitely the underdog.

And indeed Shannon lost the contest. But Shannon and Russell agreed to a rematch on Shannon’s home course in October.

Marvin Shannon had played hundreds of rounds at Rockwood. But this round was different. As the two players and their coaches moved around the course on Oct. 26, 1941, they were accompanied by 1,500 spectators.

Now each time Shannon hit a tee shot he could gauge how well he had done by the reaction of the crowd — applause, moans, cheers.

Marvin Shannon won the match, 8 to 7. He was the new world champion of blind golf.

At a ceremony, Star-Telegram publisher Amon Carter handed Shannon a large trophy.

Marvin Shannon would die in 1974 after many more achievements (including being elected to the city council) in his life. But surely one of his most cherished was that sweet spot in time when he was handed the prettiest trophy he never saw.

Mike Nichols blogs about Fort Worth history at www.hometownbyhandlebar.com.