Arthur P. Weber (1995)

Born in 1920, Arthur Weber earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from City University in 1941 and was recruited shortly thereafter to be part of the now famous “Manhattan Project” – an elite group of scientists charged with development of the atomic bomb. He received a special commendation from President Truman for his work and subsequently taught nuclear engineering and opened his own consulting practice on Long Island. A man of many talents, he also became an Olympic caliber speed skater and an accomplished musician along the way.

It was on Long Island that Arthur Weber first made his mark on golf. He gained prominence as one of the founders of Old Westbury Golf and Country Club, which received national acclaim at the time for its non-discriminatory membership policies. He served as Old Westbury’s President from 1962-66, and held the office again in 1973.

Weber continued to serve amateur golf as a true volunteer on both national and local levels. He started with the Long Island Golf Association and was elected President in 1980. He became an elected member of the MGA Executive Committee in 1982, became Vice President in 1985 and President in 1987. Among his many MGA activities, Weber chaired the MGA Presidents Council Committee and spearheaded the formation of the MGA Green Committee. He was also behind the MGA’s involvement in the development of the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation, which funded and completed several important turf research projects.

After his tenure as MGA President, Arthur remained active in golf, particularly in the areas of golf course maintenance and environmental awareness. He had served on the USGA Green Section and as a member of their research team which oversees an extensive environmental research program.

In 1994, Weber developed an “Environmental Code of Conduct” for Old Westbury which became the first club in the United States to sport a formal program of environmental awareness in the operation and maintenance of its golf course. The Code has been widely used as a model by clubs and organizations nationwide, and has raised the public’s awareness of golf courses as “environmentally friendly.”

Arthur Weber was one of those individuals who was willing to combine his love of golf, and his talent and training, to make golf a better, safer game.