Toney G. Penna (January 15, 1908 – August 6, 1995) was an Italian-American professional golfer and designer of golf clubs and gear.^[1][2] He won four events on the PGA Tour between 1937 and 1947.^[3] He introduced new lines of golf clubs and was the holder of four patents for golf clubs.^[4][5] Many of these clubs are considered collectors' items: some are still in production. He also introduced the use of color to both clubs and to golf accessories, such as carrying bags.

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Toney Penna
Penna in 1942
Personal information
Full name	Toney G. Penna
Born	(1908-01-15)January 15, 1908 Naples, Italy
Died	August 6, 1995(1995-08-06) (aged 87) Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Sporting nationality	Italy  United States
Career
Status	Professional
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	5
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	4
Other	1
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	T8: 1947
PGA Championship	T9: 1944, 1945
U.S. Open	T3: 1938
The Open Championship	CUT: 1954

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Penna was born in Naples, Italy. He grew up in Harrison, New York and also lived in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio.^[6][7] By 1946, Penna had moved to Delray Beach, Florida.^[8]

Starting out in golf by being a caddy, Penna was known for his personality and individualism as much as for his golfing abilities.^[9] He was often a critic of his high-ranking golf contemporaries, and published a table illustrating his thoughts about the strengths and weaknesses of each in his autobiography.^[10] With a ready temper but also a sense of humor, Penna's work as a golf pro brought him into contact with Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope, among others.^[5][11][12]

Perry Como was a long-time friend of Penna's. Before his permanent move to Florida, Como often came to golf with him on the weekends after completing his weekly television program.^[13][14] After a tournament where Penna beat Como, he remarked that the only thing that was keeping him from returning to the large professional golf tours was his lack of hair. A week later, Penna received a package from Como; inside was a hairpiece and a note which said "Go!".^[15]

Penna was a longtime employee and representative of the MacGregor Golf Company.^[13] After years of working for MacGregor, Penna started his own company and manufactured his own golf clubs.^[2] A stretch of road in Jupiter, Florida, where his company was located is named after him.^[16] Penna used the spelling of his name as an attention-getter, and was known for having a taste for fine clothing.^[17][18] Penna displayed an ability for concentrated problem-solving in improving golf club performance which led to his success as an equipment representative, a golf pro, and also as the producer of his own line of golf clubs.^[10][19]

With his brother, Charley, Penna was associated with the Beverly and with the Calumet Country Clubs, both near Chicago; at one time both brothers were playing professionally.^[20] Penna died in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in 1995 at the age of 87.^[4]

NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place