Nicknamed "The Squire" for his fashion sense and knickers he wore on the golf course. Was christened Eugenio Saraceni, but at the suggestion of Brooklawn CC assistant pro Al Ciuci, he had his name legally changed. "Eugenio was not a bad name for a violinist but a rotten name for an athlete. And Saraceni was too long, and everyone used to irritate me by mispronouncing it."

His father, Federico, an immigrant carpenter from Rome, Italy, was against his son pursuing golf as a career. Became interested in golf after suffering from pleurisy, with doctors advising him to find less strenuous work than working as an apprentice carpenter with his father.

Became associated with the game through caddying as an 8-year-old at Larchmont CC. Later worked at Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., as a 10-year-old, where he and future TV star Ed Sullivan were caddies–Nos. 99 and 98 in the caddie room, respectively. At Apawamis, he was the personal caddie to noted amateur and advertising man Frank Presbrey. Dropped out of school after the sixth grade.

Siena College established The Gene and Mary Sarazen Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to 20 Siena students, and more than 100 students have graduated with the help of the scholarship from the Loudonville, N.Y., school.

In 1999, the Gene Sarazen Cup became the permanent trophy awarded to the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship, a tournament later renamed the Cadillac Championship.4