Edgar R. Updegraff began honing his golf game at Boone Golf and Country.  He spent his days constantly around the game, caddying or playing.  Ed’s game developed quite quickly and by the age of 12 he was shooting in the 70’s with consistency.  His first major triumph in his career came with a win in the 1938 State High School Championship.  Ed continued his winning ways after high school by winning 3 Northwest Amateurs in 1940, 1941, and 1947, the North Central Amateur, and was the low amateur at the 1941 Waterloo Open.  World War II interrupted Ed’s career, but picked his game up right where he left it upon his return.  Ed became Dr. Ed and moved to Tucson, Arizona where he continued to dominate amateur golf. 

One of Ed Updegraff’s greatest achievements however, came in 1999 when Ed received the United States Golf Association’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award. This award is named for the amateur great and co-founder of the Augusta National Golf Club, and is given in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in the game.  The award seeks to recognize a person who emulates Jones’ spirit, his personal qualities and his attitude toward the game and its players. Other winners of the Bob Jones Award include, Ben Hogan, Patty Berg, Arnold Palmer, Glenna Collett Vare, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Betsy Rawls, Jack Nicklaus, and Nancy Lopez.

Bill Campbell, a past U.S.G.A. president and former Walker Cup teammate of Ed’s nominated him for the award and was quoted as saying:

“Whether winning or losing, he was the same unassuming, modest and courteous person.  Which is why his circle of good and lasting friends grew wider wherever he played.  His dry wit adds to the fun of being with him, on and off the course.  No player in any field is more popular.”

1938     Iowa High School Individual State Champion

1940, ’41, ’47     Northwest Amateur Champion

1941     Waterloo Open Low Amateur

1957 & 1959     Western Amateur Champion

1954, ’55, ’61, ’69     Southwestern Amateur Champion

1952, ’55. ’61, ’69     Arizona Amateur Champion

1962     Won the Sunnehanna Amateur

1963     Was captain of the  Americas’ Cup team

1963     Semi-finalist in the  British Amateur

1966     Finished 4th in the  Tucson Open

1967     Pacific Coast Amateur Champion(beating a field including Hale Irwin and Johnny Miller)

1981     U.S. Senior Amateur Champion

1999     Recipient of the USGA Bob Jones Award

17 U.S. Amateur Appearances

Played in 6 Masters and on 3 Walker Cup Teams

5-time Golf Digest selection as one of the ten best amateur golfers in the U.S.

1975 Walker Cup Team Captain. Team featured Curtis Strange, Craig Stadler and Lanny Wadkins.

Won 12 Tucson city championships and 27 club championships over 5 decades at the Tucson C.C., his home course.