Charles Harrison: Impactful Atlanta Sporting Life

The Atlanta East Lake legend Charles Harrison has died this week at 94. A giant of amateur golf, a friend of Bobby Jones and a champion on and off the golf course.

“I want the kids out there to know, there was a time when golf was a gentleman’s sport, not all about money and sponsorship deals, it was about the passion of golf, the sport itself,” Mr. Harrison’s nephew, Jared Paul told me.

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame member, First Tee Program Director, Masters Competitor and Georgia Tech alum of legend.

He famously supported and teamed with African American golfer, George Johnson at East Lake (Atlanta Athletic Club) in 1963, for US Open qualifying. The first black man to compete at the Atlanta course. 

The club celebrated players with a grand buffet. Mr. Harrison invited Mr. Johnson to have lunch with him inside the all-white club. 

It took Bobby Jones to save the Harrison membership from cancellation, as the great man supported Mr. Johnson’s US Open bid too.

Not long ago, I sat on the porch of Meadow Nook, Harrison’s 169-year-old home and the second oldest residence in the city, as he shared stories of Atlanta, Augusta, and the South.

Yarns of Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood coming over to his home while walking East Lake.

 Every Harrison footstep seemed to have an Atlanta story, every artifact, in his ancient home, a local anecdote. 

The butcher block in his kitchen was rescued from East Lake Golf Club.

“Bobby Jones ate steaks that were cut on this block,” said Mr. Harrison, “Now, it is just art we keep, we don’t use it.”

Along with wife Sylvia, the couple renovated 20 homes in the East Lake area. 

Atlanta Developer Tom Cousins, Mr. Harrison’s cousin, devised the East Lake Foundation creating Purpose Built Communities and restored the golf course to its former glory.

I asked Mr. Harrison, “Do you remember the first time you saw and met the great Bob Jones across the street?

“My daddy said, if you ever see Bobby Jones practicing, don’t bother him or speak to him, just watch him, you’ll learn, he is the greatest golfer to have ever lived. He would practice in front of what is now #10, hitting balls into the 18th fairway. He spoke to us—-how are you doing? are you playing? My first meeting was unforgettable, he was such a gracious person.”

And of course, Charlie Harrison will forever be remembered for a round he played at Augusta National on April 1, 1960.

Friday before Masters Week, a practice round with Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and the Australian Norman Von Nida.

“Arnold approached me about playing with Mr. Hogan for money, I agreed and introduced myself in the locker room to the great man, he never looked up,” recalled Mr. Harrison with a smile.

Charlie Harrison fired a 65, beating Palmer by 8, Hogan by 7 and Von Nida by 9.

“At the turn, Mr. Hogan asked me where we stood in our bet—-you are down 4, I shot 31 to Hogans 35.

The immortal Texan paused, then with his deep bass voice replied, “Then I guess, I better press you on the back side.”

Mr. Harrison replied immediately, looking at Mr. Hogan, “I wish I had a recording of that.”

Victory at Augusta that day meant winning $10 from Hogan and $25 from Palmer on a team bet.

What’s was it like living across the street from East Lake Golf Club?

“Looking at the house through the fence was Clint Eastwood. After he played, he wanted to see the house, I took a picture with my phone.”

Another avid golfer, the late Sean Connery, James Bond 007 also wanted to see the second oldest house in Atlanta.

94-year-old Charlie Harrison, an Atlanta treasure, an irreplaceable life stilled by death.

Golf Digest once described Charles Harrison as a “Georgia golf icon, a career amateur who is in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.” The Georgia Tech legend qualified for the U.S. Amateur 16 times and played in two Masters.” Mr. Harrison died this week at 94, his Atlanta sporting life mirrored the city, metro and the region.