When the United States joined World War I in April 1917, professional sports in America were essentially halted. Fortunately for golfers, and fans of golf, famous professional and amateurs participated in exhibition matches and tournaments to support the war effort. The most famous, and important, single tournament was the PGA's War Relief Tournament held in late July 1917. The recently-formed PGA assembled 48 golfers for a New York tournament - a Who's Who of golfing elite including Walter Hagen and a teenage Bobby Jones. The 1st two rounds were stroke play were held at Englewood Golf Club. Then the golfers split up into four groups of 12 man teams for a team competition over the next 3 days at Baltusrol, Siwanoy, and Garden City. 

Offered here is an actual contestant's medal from the 1917 PGA War Relief Tournament from Englewood. This is unquestionably the most desirable of the World War I War Relief medals. The medal is not engraved with the name of the golfer, so we do not know to which of these 48 golfers it was issued. 

Since only 48 golfers participated in this tournament, it seems reasonable to presume that only 48 or so of these medals were ever produced. Compare that to the popular Red Cross 1917 Liberty Tournament medals. Those events, organized by the USGA, involved 485 different clubs across the United States (and an equally massive number of medals produced). 

This 1917 PGA War Relief Tournament medal is in very good condition. The medal is 1 1/4" diameter with the original red, white & blue ribbon attached. Engraved on the reverse "Englewood, 1917."