An accomplished player at the University of Colorado in the early and mid-1960s, John Hamer had some aspirations of eventually becoming a PGA Tour player. And he certainly had some game. At the 1963 Colorado Golf Association Stroke Play Championship, Hamer posted a very respectable score of 6 under par for 72 holes. The only problem was, there was one player better than him in the field — a guy named Hale Irwin, who was 15 strokes in the distance.
“I remember thinking there was probably a few other guys out there like Hale, so that ended those thoughts (of turning pro),” Hamer said. “If I had known how good Hale was, though, I might have tried it.”
While Hamer couldn’t measure up with the future winner of three U.S. Opens, he’s certainly more than held his own in the state amateur ranks since then. He owns 10 CGA state titles, including four individual championships. His resume includes victories in the 1969 and ’70 CGA Stroke Play, the 1992 and ’96 CGA Senior Stroke Play, six team titles, and qualifying for the 1993 U.S. Senior Open at Cherry Hills. He also finished third in the Colorado Open in 1969, the year he was named state amateur of the year. Since 1960, only four golfers have won consecutive CGA Stroke Play titles, with Hamer joining Irwin, Bob Byman and Kane Webber.
Hamer, born in Jackson, Miss. in 1942, but an alumnus of Lakewood High School and CU, kept his game at a high level while working as an investment advisor in Boulder. In addition to his many statewide accomplishments, he has quite a record at his home course, Boulder Country Club. Competing against players such as Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Les Fowler and 1962 CGA Match Play champion Ray Pierson, Hamer won 15 BCC club championships.
“His record of championships won speaks for itself and his conduct on the course speaks to his character as a gentleman, one who is truly worthy of being a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame,” noted Gary Longfellow, himself a member of the Hall.
