This sneaky golf legend dishes on outwitting Bob Hope, making 15 holes-in-one and owning an impressive Cal Ripken-esque record

When you think of State Opens, you might have a friend or relative who qualified once and recall how thrilled they were just to participate. Now, imagine not only qualifying but also competing in 50 consecutive State Opens.

Well, meet Ed Whitman. Last month, the 71-year-old achieved what we believe to be a first—competing in his 50 straight New Jersey State Open. Whitman is the pro emeritus at Knickerbocker Country Club, where he was the head professional for nearly 30 years. His successor, Bill Hook, took a closer look at Whitman’s impressive record and wondered if it might be a first beyond just New Jersey, especially since Ed had already surpassed the state record. Hook and Kevin Purcell, the executive director of the New Jersey State Golf Association, investigated with other state golf associations, and they concluded nobody else has surpassed his streak. The closest record Purcell found was held by Doug Roxburgh, who competed in 53 consecutive amateurs in British Columbia, Canada.

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The best part? When we spoke with Whitman, he had no idea he was even close to setting such a remarkable record.

“All I know of my record is that I’ve played 50 consecutive opens. That’s all I’m aware of.”

Yeah, no biggie, Mr. Whitman.

Whitman has won the New Jersey Open four times—1991, 1995, 1996, and 2004. He considers his first win in 1991 the most memorable. "Rock Spring is always my favorite course to play. I played exceptionally well and won by 10 shots,” he recalls. This victory set the record for the lowest total in tournament history at the time, a record that held until the format changed in 2000. Whitman earned a lifetime exemption into the state open from his wins. 

Whitman’s impressive career extends beyond New Jersey. He qualified for four PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens—the second of which came at Pebble Beach 2000 when he was 48 years old. He suffered a heart attack two years later, which led the club pro to change his diet, which he credits for his longevity. With 15 holes-in-one (just five behind Tiger Woods) and 225 professional victories, Whitman is blessed with a treasure trove of legendary stories throughout his time in golf. Whitman highlighted one memorable moment involving Bob Hope that was too good not to pass along.

“Bob Hope’s eye doctor was a member at Knickerbocker. The story goes that he actually saved Bob's vision, so they became very close friends and had a standing game once a month. One day, one of the regular foursome couldn’t make it, so the doctor invited me.”

“I was supposed to come incognito as a 14-handicap golfer, posing as the doctor’s gardener to pull a fast one on Bob Hope and his partner. I showed up in plaid shorts and a polka dot shirt. The doctor asked me to hit some grounders and shanks at the practice tees, which I did. Bob said, ‘This is who you brought to play here?’ It was like a one-day skit—it was really hilarious.”

“I ended up shooting six under by the ninth hole of the match. The caddies were looking at my golf bag to see who this guy was, and nobody could figure out. Bob Hope's partner was furious; we beat them seven up over nine holes, and we were playing for $100 a hole. His partner jumped into my car, grabbed me by the shirt, and said, ‘Who the hell are you?’ I had to tell Mr. Hope afterward. So, the three of us knew the truth, but his partner had no idea. Watching him get so upset was hilarious.”

“We ended up going on stage with Mr. Hope that night, and he started his skit by putting the spotlight on us, saying, ‘These are the two turkeys who took us down today,’ and the whole place erupted.”

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Whitman may have charmed us with his stories, but it’s his dedication to the sport—he talked about arriving to work before the sun came up so he could practice, always focusing on the short game—and his humble unawareness of his own record that truly won us over. 

Whitman admits to battling health issues from Long COVID while competing in his 50th State Open this year at Plainfield. “I’m not a young guy anymore, so just walking is difficult,” he said. “I was dealing with long COVID while playing, but I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity as long as I wasn’t contagious.”

When asked if he still has the urge to continue beating his record, Whitman was hesitant but hopeful.

“I was kind of on the fence this year because of my illness. It’s not an excuse, just the way it was. The body breaks down as we get older, and I might need a knee or hip replacement between now and next year. If I’m in good enough shape to compete, I’d love to keep playing.”