From caddie to outstanding amateur, from professional to the South’s most respected instructor, J. C. “Jake” Fondren truly “did it all” in the world of golf. Born in Reform, Mississippi, in 1909, Fondren moved to Memphis with his family in 1919. He started as a caddie at the nine-hole Overton Park Golf Course at the young age of ten. A decade later, Fondren became the youngest pro in Memphis, taking the job at Overton. Golf prospered at the public courses as a result of his efforts, dedication, and enthusiasm. Fondren then went on to serve in the Army during World War II and was discharged in 1946. That same year he became head professional at the Colonial Country Club. In 1947 Jake and his brother, the late W. D. Fondren, started the Overton Park Open and Clinic for kids. Dubbed the “Little Pro” for his small physical stature, everything else about Jake Fondren was big. He was a fierce competitor but always a gentleman with a heart as large as all those golf courses he conquered.
