Better know as “Sandy”, Frank Tatum Jr. attended Stanford University and graduated at the top of his class He became a Rhodes Scholar and while in England earned a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) degree in 1949 from Oxford University. He then returned to Stanford and received a law degree from Stanford in 1950.
Sandy became a member of the Olympic Club for the first time in the early 1940s, as a non-resident on active military duty. He paid the princely sum of $1.80 dues per month for his golf privilege.
Sandy’s golf achievements include playing on the Stanford Golf Teams that won the NCAA team championships in 1941 and 1942. In 1942 Sandy was the NCAA individual winner as well. His golf standing was further established by winning club championships at Cypress Point, San Francisco Golf Club and here at.The Olympic Club.
Besides his playing accomplishments Sandy served as Chairman of the Championship Committee of the U.S. Golf Association from 1974-1977. He also served as President of the USGA in 1978-1980. He has been a sought after partner for many challenging initiatives and projects because of his visionary approach to problem-solving. He continues to work as a consultant on many golf courses in the Bay Area including Pebble Beach, The Links at Spanish Bay, Cypress Point, The Olympic Club and most recently the makeover of Harding Park.
When Harding Park was reopened in 2003, a plaque was installed in his honor at the first tee. It reads, “San Francisco honors Frank “Sandy” Tatum for his invaluable gift to the City – the renaissance of a treasured jewel- Harding Park Golf Course, August 2003.”
Sandy deserves many more plaques and he will certainly receive them. He worked on several U.S. Open championships that are remembered for the difficult set-up that has become traditional and the statement, “We are not trying to embarrass the best players in the world. We are trying to identify them,” is credited to him.
The Olympic Club Board of Directors awarded an Honorary Membership to Sandy in 2002.
The Olympic Club is indeed fortunate to have him as a member, not only for his athletic accomplishments, but because he is a very personable individual who has given much to the community and to the sport of golf in ways that involve working with others to achieve a common goal.
