Quinn dominated city golf scene

Bernard "Bun" Quinn was considered Watertown's Mr. Golf for many years. Beginning in the late 1930s, the Watertown native ruled the game in the city for nearly 20 years.

At 18, Quinn won his first of seven city golf titles. At the time, Quinn was the youngest city golfer to win the title. In 1935, a year before he won his first title, Quinn competed and won the city junior title.

Quinn also won the city title in 1940, 1945, 1948, 1951, 1952 and 1953. There is no doubt that Quinn would have won more city tournaments had it now been for World War II.

A year after the United States entered World War II. Quinn served in the Army. He served as a gunner in a tank battalion in Europe. In 1944, Quinn suffered a fractured leg, which ended the war for him. He received a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.

In 1953, Quinn became the Watertown Golf Club professional. When the golf club expanded to 18 holes in 1968, Quinn became the course superintendent, He resigned his position as club pro as he said taking care of the course in itself was a full-time position.

"Bun," as he was affectionately known by golfers and non-golfers, grew up down the street from the Jefferson Country Golf Club (now Ives Hill Country Club). Living so close to the course, Quinn started working as a caddie at the age of 9.

He carried the golf bags of several golfers over the spring and summer months. One of his favorite golfers to caddy for was another seven-time city champion Fred McGrann.

In a 1981 interview, Quinn recalled that Class A caddies back in the 1930s got 40 cents for nine holes and 75 cents for 18.

Quinn's love and knowledge of the game rubbed off on his sons Jim and Bob. Jim was a multiple city champion. Bob was a two-time city runner-up and a past club champion.

Quinn told a reporter, "But I never really taught them a lot. Just showed them a grip and they picked it up from there. But playing from daybreak to dark didn't hurt either."

In his latter years, Quinn's golf was usually limited to a Sunday match with his brother Tim and friends.

While golf may have been his main game, Quinn was an excellent bowler, too. He started bowling in 1938 and became the top-seeded city league bowler in the 1946-47 season. During the next 15 years, Quinn lost the bowling crown just three times.

In the 1946-47 bowling season, Quinn finished with a 191 average. His highest annual average during his bowling career was a 203. He rolled many 700 series over the course of his career.

In 1960, Quinn bowled a a 723 series in the Watertown Association tournament. In 1961, Quinn rolled his highest triple series ever with a 760.

Quinn died in 1993.

To read about previous selections to the Times' list of The North Country's Greatest Athletes of All Time, log on to www.watertowndailytimes.com.