The lone successful quest for the ``impregnable quadrilateral,'' the Grand Slam of Golf, began in Augusta in 1930 when golf legend Bobby Jones stroked his way to a 13-shot victory in the Southeastern Open.

``He won that one and he never lost another golf tournament until he retired,'' golf historian and Jones biographer Sidney L. Matthew said during Wednesday's dedication of a Georgia Historical Society marker.

The marker, to be installed near the Forest Hills Golf Club, explains how Jones went on to victories that year in the British Amateur, British Open, U.S. Open and U.S.Amateur -- golf's Grand Slam and a feat yet to be repeated.

A lifelong amateur, Jones won four U.S. Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, three British opens and one British amateur, but he called his performance in Augusta that year ``the best tournament I ever turned out in my life.''

On Wednesday, about 80 people gathered at Augusta State University to hear Matthew -- author of numerous books about Bobby Jones -- retell the story of the famous Grand Slam year that began at the clapboard Forest Hills clubhouse.

``Augusta is steeped with memories of Bob Jones,'' Matthew said. ``Jones knew back in 1926 that a record built on mosts was doomed to fail. But the Grand Slam withstood the test of time.''

How good was Bobby Jones?

``He won 42 percent of the major championships he was in,'' Matthew said. By comparison, Hogan won 27 percent, and Jack Nicklaus won 18 percent.

``Jones' one weakness, that he openly admitted, was that he never won any tournament running away, except that Southeastern Open here in Augusta,'' he said. ``His other wins were won by a stroke and a fraction.''

The ceremony to dedicate the historical marker kicks off renewed efforts to preserve and restore the clubhouse, which was earmarked a year ago for demolition.

Preserving a clubhouse is preserving a golf tradition -- and memories of someone who richly deserves to be remembered, Matthew said.

``Bob Jones was a hero after 5 o'clock; he was the genuine article,'' he said. ``He had his priorities in order: God and family always came first.''

He congratulated Augusta State and groups working to renovate the clubhouse in Jones' memory. The historical marker, he added, is a great first step.

``That's what you're doing today,'' Matthew said. ``You're reaffirming that Bob Jones is a hero worthy to teach your sons and daughters what he had.''

Although the marker was dedicated at the Augusta State campus off Walton Way, it will be installed at its permanent location at Comfort Road and Magnolia Drive, near the clubhouse.