1938 also saw the birth of the santa anita open—held each year until 1955, in the middle of october, to celebrate the opening of the golf course and to start the official winter golf tournament season in southern california. prize money that first year was $1,000. frank moninger personally underwrote the first two tournaments. the santa anita golf club with the help of a few individual golfers underwrote the next few events. the county donated the golf course for the santa anita open. the course record established in the days of "the open" is 62 - held by ellsworth vines. lloyd mangrum won the first and second opens with 274 and 278. par at that time was 70.