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North Berwick's Golfing Pioneers. In 1891, in the same class at North Berwick Public School were Willie Anderson,
James Souter, George Livingstone, James Hutchison and George Turnbull. All emigrated and left their mark on American golf. In the junior
form was Jack Hobens who helped to draft the constitution of the Professional Golfers Association of America and in the year below, class
mates Fred McLeod and Daniel Kenny, were to become national champions.
Listed among the first forty golf professionals in the United States prior to 1898 are George Douglas, Tom Warrender, Harry Gullane, and
Willie Anderson and today they are recognised as the true pioneers of American golf. The list of the earliest Australian Golf Professionals
includes twins Alex and Jack McLaren, William Russell and brothers Alec and Duncan Denholm.
At the start of the twentieth century, the status of the golf professional was no better than an experienced caddie. Those early pioneers
who emigrated to the USA, South Africa and Australia were often restricted to a one year contract and seldom felt secure in their employment.
The calibre of the men from North Berwick was such that within a few years their reputation for being honest, and hardworking had increased
their standing dramatically. The clubs became proud of their 'Scottish Pro' and longer contracts were offered while many were encouraged to
have their wife and children join them. This is an alphabetical list of the amateur's and professional's from North Berwick who made their
mark on the game of golf.
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ALEXANDER AITKEN (1864-1944) Club-Maker,
Gullane, East Lothian.
Alexander Veitch Aitken, born 15th December 1864, at 8, Chalmers
Building, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, son of Thomas Aitken, upholsterer and his wife Elizabeth Veitch. In 1881, the family were living at 16,
Wright's Houses opposite Bruntsfield Links where Alex and his brother Thomas learned to play golf. Douglas McEwan the famous club and ball
maker worked from 36, Wright's Houses where the Aitken brothers were taught the art of club-making.
Their father Thomas Aitken Snr had his cabinetmaker and upholsterer's business at 22 Wright's Houses. He was a founder member of Bruntsfield
Allied Golf Club in 1856 and a member of the committee representing the interests of the Bruntsfield golfers when Edinburgh Town Council
sought to control play on Bruntsfield Links in 1886. This led to the opening of the Braid Hills Golf Course in 1889. The Aitken family moved
to 39, South Bruntsfield Place in 1886, then to 192 Morningside Road, with the upholstery business at 184, Morningside Road.
![[Wrights Houses]](images/wrights_houses.jpg)
In 1892 Alex Aitken started his own club-making business at 174, Morningside Road. That year he was appointed clubmaker to Royal Portrush Golf
Club, and in 1893 he opened a retail outlet at 3 Brighton Terrace, Gullane. Aitken continued to rent the property at 174, Morningside Road until
1896 when he moved to Gullane permanently and was living in Temple Croft, Templar Place until 1917.
Willie Anderson apprenticed as a club-maker with Alex Aitken at 174, Morningside Road. Willie's father Tom Anderson was head greenkeeper on
the West Links at North Berwick and the Anderson family lived at 10, Gillespie Crescent, Edinburgh. Willie Anderson emigrated to America in
1896 and won the US Open four times.
Wrights Houses, Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh
Alex Aitken produced a set of clubs in his workshop at Gullane for A. J. Balfour, the Prime Minister and in 1897 he was exporting clubs to P.
F. Murphy & Co in Boston, USA. There are some fine examples of Alex Aitken's club-making still in existence. Following WW1 Alex moved to 2
Lammerview Terrace, Gullane and he died 27th March 1944 aged 79 years.
Alex's brother Thomas Aitken was appointed professional at Great Yarmouth G.C (1892-1911). He was a PGA member in 1902 and 1911, and spent a
year at Stanwell (Shortwood Common), Stains. Tom moved to Gorleston (1912-17), then Northampton (1920-22), and Milford Haven (1922-30), before
settling at Gloucester (1930-32). Tom played an exhibition match with Percy Alliss at the opening of the Milford Haven course in 1933.
L. STUART ANDERSON (1870-1913) Irish Open Champion
Lennox Stuart Anderson, born 3rd September 1870 at 3 Tantallon Terrace, North Berwick,
son of Fortescue L. M. Anderson rector of St Baldred's Episcopalian Church and his wife Charlotte Fisher. L. Stuart Anderson was a member of
Tantallon Golf Club and North Berwick New Club. Playing off scratch he won both Club Gold Medal's in 1893 bringing to an end Johnnie Laidlay's
run of seven straight victories at the New Club Autumn Meeting. Two years earlier Anderson played in the Open Championship at St Andrews and
again in 1893 he entered the Open at Prestwick from North Berwick when he finished tied for nineteenth place.
During his amateur career he was a member of Falmouth Golf Club and won the Cornish Championship four successive years. He was twice runner-up in
the Irish Open Championship being defeated in the final by John Ball Jnr. in 1893 and by Harold Hilton in 1897. Anderson had the distinction
of registering a hole-in-one nine times, including the first and fourteenth (old) at North Berwick, tenth and fifteenth at Aberdeen, and the
fourth, fifth and eventh at Braids Hills. St. Enodoc and Tavistock respectively. He also scored the longest hole-in-one at the 328 yard hole
at Brae Burn USA.
For many years Stuart Anderson was secretary of Royal Portrush Golf Club where he died in 1913. His sisters Blanch and Helen (Maud) Anderson learned
to play golf on the nine-hole Ladies course at North Berwick before they joined the Ladies Golf Club. Helen married Canadian born George Gordon
Robertson in 1891, a Chartered Accountant with D. H Huie at 5a York Place, Edinburgh. They lived at 4 Shandon Terrace, Edinburgh and George was a
member of the Rhodes Golf Club at North Berwick, winning their Club Medal in 1895.
In 1896, Helen and George moved to London and Helen became a member of the Prince's Ladies Club on Mitcham Common where she was joined by her sister
Blanch. The professional at Mitcham was Jack White who was followed in 1897 by Philip Wynne both from North Berwick. In 1898 Helen won the scratch
prize at the Autumn Meeting which Blanch won the following year with a course record 76.
Helen, George and their two children lived in a house named St Baldred's on Mitcham Common. In 1905, Helen became the first Lady Golf Professional
in Great Britain and gave lessons to the members of Prince's Ladies Club, West Middlesex Ladies Club, and at a number of finishing schools in London.
Their father was rector of St Baldred's Church for over thirty years and the family lived at the Parsonage, 16 York Road, North Berwick. He was
an original member of North Berwick New Club and one of four trustees in 1880 whose names were taken from the Feu-right of the ground on which the
North Berwick clubhouse was erected.
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WILLIE ANDERSON Factfile
IAN ARUNDEL (1911-1988) Masterton
G C, New Zealand
John 'Ian' Arundel, born October 1911 in Marchmont
House, Kirk Ports, North Berwick, son of Arthur Arundel, a baker, and his wife Agnes Elliot. Ian Arundel lived with his family at 3, Victoria
Road and served an apprenticeship as a clubmaker with Ben Sayers & Son at the same time as Charlie Thomson who would later be appointed foreman.
Ian and Charlie where members of Bass Rock Golf Club in 1928. On leaving Sayers, Ian worked for Jack White the former Open Champion in his
workshop in Gullane before being appointed to Erskine Golf Club in Paisley.
During this period in his life, golf was secondary to football and after showing great promise as an amateur, Ian was signed up by Hibernian FC.
Later he was persuaded to give up football for a safer sport when he married Charlie Thomson's sister Ellen in 1938. They moved to Northwood
near London where Ian was assistant to Arthur Havers at Sandy Lodge G.C.and they lived at 84 Hallowell Road, Middlesex
At the start of WW2 Arundel enlisted in the 6th Battalion, Black Watch Regiment, rising to the rank of Sergeant Major, he served under Sir Bernard
Fergusson who later became Governor- General of New Zealand. Ian took part in the Italian Campaign at Monte Cassino where he was mentioned in
dispatches and wounded during the incident. At the end of the war he was posted to Greece during the period of Civil War in 1945-46.
Following the armistice Ian returned to being a golf pro at Northwood but like many was disillusioned with life in Britain and wanted to make a
new start. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1953 and was appointed golf pro at Russley Golf Club, Christchurch. One of his pupils, Ross Murray
represented New Zealand on several occasions. Ian was also football coach to the Christchurch senior football team 'Rangers'.
Ian, always smartly dressed in plus-fours, won the New Zealand Professional Plate at the Professional Championship in 1953 and played in exhibition
matches with Norman Von Nida and Bobby Locke. After five years he moved with his wife Ellen and daughter Joan to Invercargill for a short
period before being appointed to Masterton G.C on North Island. During his eleven years at the club, junior golf in Wairarapa flourished to the
point when Ian have 130 pupils under his care. Robbie Douglas a clubmaker with Ben Sayers Ltd was offered the position of assistant to Ian Arundel
at Masterton but due to family commitments he declined.
Arundel's small workshop at Masterton in Lansdowne attracted clubs for repair from all over New Zealand as his reputation followed him. Local golfers
spoke glowingly of Ian Arundel clubs, made specially for them and still going strong after many years of use.
He moved to Auckland to a position with Remuera G.C. and in the mid-seventies he returned to Masterton with a view to retire, but he continued
to work in golf, firstly with Carterton G.C and latterly back at Masterton. On the day he actually died 10th November 1988 he was coaching golf
on the course at the age of 77 years. Noel Preston, a golf historian, writing in the Wairarapa Times-Age " His skills as a clubmaker and club repairer
were widely recognised but it was as a golf coach that he was pre-eminent. In fact many would regard him, at his height as the best in New
Zealand". Ian Arundel's ashes were returned to Scotland and scattered on the 14th fairway of his beloved West Links at North Berwick.
His father Arthur Arundel was captain of the Rhodes Golf Club in 1919 and winner of the Maxwell Shield in 1909. Ian's adopted brother Rab Arundel
was a member of Tantallon Golf Club and winner of the prestigious Esmond Trophy in 1974. The Arundel family continue to resided in North Berwick.
JOHN S. M. ARUNDEL (1894-1972) Euclid
Country Club, Michigan, USA
John Stevenson Moodie Arundel and his twin brother
James were born on 4th March 1894 in North Berwick, sons of Thomas Arundel, a master plasterer and his wife Margaret Moodie. The family lived at
Braeside (now Springhill), 2, Clifford Road, North Berwick where his father had a builders business. Thomas Arundel constructed the Bass Rock
lighthouse in 1902, and the company motif can be seen today embedded in the pavements in the Quadrant.
On leaving school, John apprenticed as a club maker before emigrating to the USA. He sailed from Southampton on the S.S. Philadelphia and
arrived in New York on 25th October 1920. His contact in America was Mrs. Donaldson, 110 E. 83rd St. New York. Jock Arundel was appointed
golf instructor at Meadowbrook Country Club, Northville, a district west of Detroit in Michigan (1924-28). In 1929 he moved to Euclid Golf
and Country Club, Kawkawlin, MI. John Arundel died, 25th June 1972 at Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.
ROBERT AULD (1871-1939) Dunbar Golf Club, UK
Robert Auld, born 23rd March 1871, 7 High Street, Fisherow, Musselburgh, son of
William Auld, lamplighter and his wife Mary Logan. Robert Auld was appointed Professional and Clubmaster at Dunbar G.C in May 1902 and
remained there until he retired in 1938. Auld apprenticed as a clubmaker with James Hutchison at North Berwick and was a scratch medallist
of Bass Rock Golf Club. At the time the resident club-makers at Dunbar were J & A.Dickson of Comiston Road, Edinburgh and the club cancelled
their contract. The committee asked Ben Sayers, Laurie Auchterlonie, James H.Hutchison and Willie Park to suggest a replacement and Hutchison
recommended Robert Auld. He worked from 142 High Street, Dunbar and some fine examples of his clubmaking still exist, stamped with Rt Auld.
He married Annie Barr and their son William Auld was later assistant at Dunbar before being employed as a clubmaker with Ben Sayers Ltd.
ALEX BELL Oahu Country Club, Hawaii,
USA
Alexander Peebles Bell, born 25th August 1877 in Anstruther, Fife, son
of Thomas Bell, a cooper and his wife Margaret Peebles. Alex ' Sandy' Bell moved with his parents and three sisters to Edinburgh in 1890
and was living at 258, Leith Walk. He apprenticed as a club maker in North Berwick at the same time as Robert Johnstone and Alex McLaren.
In 1900, Jimmy Purves, a clubmaker from North Berwick, stayed with Alex and his family in Leith Walk. Jimmy and his brothers Willie, Robert
and Peter (listed below) were members of the Glen Golf Club living at 10 High Street. Their father Robert Purves was a joiner and also a
clubmaker before being appointed Starter on the West Links at North Berwick.
In 1901 Sandy Bell emigrated to America and boarded a train for the four-day journey to California where he joined Bob Johnstone as his
assistant in San Francisco. The nine-hole course laid out on the Presido Reservation was the earliest golf course on the West Coast of
America and played by the members of San Francisco Golf Club and Presido Golf Club. The ground was also shared by the military and in 1905
the San Francisco Golf Club moved to the south of the city. Following the earthquake in 1906 a refugee camp was established on the course.
In 1909, Sandy's wife Jennie Shaw gave birth to twins Arthur and Bernice Bell and that year the family moved to Hawaii. Sandy joined
Alex McLaren (below) from North Berwick at the Oahu Country Club in Honolulu and they lived in Puunui Avenue adjacent to the nine-hole
course.
When McLaren left in 1909 Sandy Bell was appointed head pro at Oahu Country Club and in 1913 he extended the course to 18 holes. Bell was
an outstanding golf instructor and coached Codie Austin winner of the Women's Champion of The Hawaiian Island two consecutive years from 1935.
Sandy designed and laid out the nine-hole course at Maui Country Club, Hawaii with the assistance of Willie McEwan in 1927. McEwan trained
with Willie Fernie at Troon and was New Zealand Open Champion in 1919. He moved to California and was pro at Presido (1924-26) and San
Francisco (1926-28).
In October 1930, Sandy hosted a meeting at Oahu Country Club to establish the Hawaiian Professional Golfers Association which was attended
by 12 other charter members. Sandy and his family remained at Oahu Country Club in Hawaii until he retired in 1944. Sandy was inducted into
the Hawaiian Golf Hall of Fame in 1989.
ROBERT BERTRAM (1829-1871) Grand National
Tournament, 1857
Robert Bertram, born 31st March 1829 in North Berwick son of
Peter Bertram, baker and his wife Elizabeth Edington. Robert worked as a baker in the family business situated in the north portion of the
property now occupied by the Chemist at 66 High Street. Bertram and was one of the first to emerge from the town with a talent for golf. In
1855, at the age of 23 years he joined Tantallon Golf Club, and was the only member playing off scratch. He won the Club Medal in 1855, 1856,
1857 and 1861. He was also a member of Dirleton Castle Golf Club whose members played over Gullane Hill. Bertram represented Dirleton Castle
in the first golf championship to be played - The Grand National Foursomes Tournament at St Andrews in 1857. It was organised by Colonel
James Ogilvie Fairlie and Lord Eglington of the Prestwick Club. Bertram was the first winner of the Wotherspoon Medal at Dirleton Castle Golf
Club in 1858 and again in 1860 and he won the Patron's Medal in 1858. Robert Bertram died in 1871 at the age of 39 years and is buried in St
Andrew Kirk graveyard in Kirk Ports, North Berwick.
ROBERT BOLTON Highland Golf and Country
Club, Missouri, USA
Robert Bolton born 16th April 1880, son of Alexander
Bolton, blacksmith and his wife Margaret Neill. His father worked in the blacksmith's forge at the corner of Forth Street and Market Place
and the family lived in Ellengowan, 29 St Andrew Street. Robert and his brother David were licensed as caddies on the West Links in 1892.
Robert served an apprenticeship as a club maker and was a member of Bass Rock Golf Club in North Berwick.
Robert 'Bob' Bolton emigrated to America in 1899 and was appointed greenkeeper and pro at Riverside Golf Club, Illinois. During the winter
months he moved to Texas where he was greenkeeper and pro at the newly laid out course at Galveston Country Club before he returned north
in the spring. In 1900 Bob Bolton moved to Rockford Country Club, Illinois, where he was listed as a club maker living at 324 West State
Street. When he left in 1903 he recommended Fred McLeod as his replacement. That year Bob Bolton was appointed head pro at St Joseph Country
Club of Missouri. In 1905 he played in the Western Open at Cincinnati Golf Club where he met up with Fred McLeod who finished in fifth place.
Bob's mother died in 1907 and he returned to Scotland. In March the following year Bob travelled back to America accompanied by his brother
John and his school friend Leslie Brownlee, a pro in Arkansas. In 1909, Bob was joined in St Joseph by his father, three sisters and three
brothers, all looking forward to a new start without their mother.
In 1912, Bob was appointed the first manager and golf instructor at the newly opened Highland Golf and Country Club of St Joseph. During the
winter he started indoor golf in the clubhouse which was popular with the members and each year he played in the Trans-Mississippi Golf
Association pro tournament. Bob Bolton moved to Lawrence Country Club in 1921 and then to the United States Army facility at Fort
Leavenworth in 1926, both in Kansas. At Leavenworth he was listed as golf instructor at the Officers Club, and lived with his wife Sadie in
Park Avenue where they remained until his retirement. Their neighbours in Leavenworth Penitentiary included the notorious gangster Machine
Gun Kelly.
JAMES BRASH (1909-2000) Prestonfield Golf
Club, UK
James Ledgerwood Brash, born 10th October 1909 at 2 Church Street,
Coldstream, son of Henry Brash, stonemason, and his wife Abigail Ledgerwood. In 1895, his father Henry Brash was living in Melbourne Place,
North Berwick and on 14th April 1896 he was granted a license as a caddie on the West Links. Henry moved to Coldstream before returning to North
Berwick with his wife and family. On leaving school James Brash apprenticed as a club-maker with Ben Sayers & Son and in 1939 he married
Sheila Bisset, daughter of Andrew Bissett who continued the club-making business of James H. Hutchison on the West Links at North Berwick.
Brash was a member of Bass Rock Golf Club and Rhodes Golf Club in North Berwick where he won his first medal competition in 1927. The highlight
of his amateur career was winning the prodigious Esmond Trophy in 1929. He played in the 1937 Open Championship at Carnoustie and was appointed
golf professional at Prestonfield Golf Club, Edinburgh. James applied for a work permit in the USA but was refused following the 'Great Depression'
and remained at Prestonfield for the rest of his career.
Arnaud Edgar, grandson of Arnaud Massy was assistant to James Brash at Prestonfield for four years before being appointed assistant to Maynard
Goldsmith (listed below) pro at Royal Cape Golf Club, South Africa. James Brash and his family lived at 61, Durham Road, Portobello, and he
died 24th December 2000 aged 91 years.
ALAN BRODIE (1896-1978) Jefferson Lakeside
Country Club, Virginia, USA
Alan Macgregor Alexander Brodie born 2nd April 1896
at Vale Cottage, 52 Forth Street, North Berwick, son of Peter Brodie, post master and his wife Euphemia Souter. Alan's grandfather, also
Peter Brodie was famous for being the North Berwick telegraph officer who received the telegram that Young Tom Morris's wife was seriously
ill in St Andrews while he was playing a challenge match at North Berwick in 1875. Alan's father was a former captain of Bass Rock Golf Club
(1910-14).
Alan served an apprenticeship as a clubmaker with Ben Sayers & Son and in 1920 he was a licensed golf professional on the West Links, North
Berwick. He emigrated to the USA, sailing from Glasgow on the steamer S.S. Algeria, and arrived at Ellis Island, New York on 19th December
1921. Like many new arrivals from North Berwick, Alan stayed with Wilfred Thomson at 3204 Grove Avenue in Richmond, Virginia until he found
employment. Two weeks later Alan Brodie was appointed pro and greenkeeper at Jefferson Lakeside Country Club in Richmond where he remained
for forty years. He married Eugenia 'Jean' Archer from North Carolina and they lived at 819 West Franklin Street, Richmond. Alan died in May
1978 at the age of 82 years at 4901 Chamberlayne Avenue, Richmond. In July each year, the Richmond Women's Golf Association organise the Alan
Macgregor Brodie Couples Tournament, played at Jefferson Lakeside Country Club.
LESLIE BROWNLEE (1885-1970) Fort Smith
Country Club, Arkansas, USA
Leslie George Alexander Brownlee born 9th May
1885, at 4 Brighton Place, Stirling, son of George Brownlee, a bank accountant and his wife Margaret Glass. George was born in North Berwick
in 1857 and Margaret was the daughter of James Glass, a well known North Berwick fisherman and caddie. Leslie's father moved to America and
his parents divorced. From 1890, he was living with his mother and grandmother at 38 (now 46) High Street, while his mother had the stationers
shop at 44 High Street. In 1908, Margaret Glass married Donald M Jackson, a famous amateur golfer from North Berwick and they lived in Edinburgh.
Leslie Brownlee was granted a licensed as a caddie on the West Links on 20th July 1896 and he worked for the Civil Service in Edinburgh prior to
joining the professional ranks in the USA. He emigrated in March 1905 and joined Jamie Campbell from North Berwick, the pro at Mount Airy Golf Club,
Philadelphia. In 1906 Brownlee was employed by the Kelley Trust Co owned by Harry E. Kelley who appointed Brownlee pro at Fort Smith CC, one of only
two golf clubs in Arkansas. Brownlee was also associated with Lakeview Country Club, Belle Isle Lake, Oklahoma City. In 1908 he laid out the
nine-hole-course at Muskogee C.C, Oklahoma with sand greens and recommended Bill Nichols from North Berwick as their first pro. In 1909, Brownlee
recommended Arthur Kendall from North Berwick as the next pro at Fort Smith. As teenagers, Leslie, Arthur and Jim Campbell lived next to each other
in the High Street, North Berwick.
In 1910, Leslie Brownlee gave up his career in golf and became a medical student in Oklahoma City. He qualified as an Oculist specialising
in treating diseases of the eye and he moved to Birmingham, Alabama where he practiced at 926 Woodward Buildings. He lived with his wife
Ruth and son Leslie at 1017 Elm Street, Birmingham. Brownlee retired to Miami, Florida where he died 17th July 1970, aged 85
years.
MICHAEL BURKE (1905-1932) L'Ile Rousse,
Corsica, FRA
Michael 'Sonny' Burke, born 28th January 1905 in Edinburgh son of John Burke,
proprietor of the Imperial Hotel, North Berwick and his wife Annie Wynn. Sonny Burke was one of Ben Sayers first apprentices when the
company move to the club makers workshop beside the first tee on the West Links in 1917. Burke was appointed assistant pro to Philip Wynne
from North Berwick at Chingford in 1923. He then moved to France where he was assistant to Norman Grant at Golf d'Aix-les-Bains a spa town
in the French Alps. Sonny worked in Monte Carlo and then at L'Ile Rousse on Corsica where the Aga Khan had laid out a new course. Burke
died of teric fever on Corsica in 1932, aged 27 years. His cousin Jim Wynn from North Berwick was also a golf pro in South Africa.
CUTHBERT BUTCHART (1876-1955) Baltimore C.C,
Westchester NY
Cuthbert Strachan Butchart born 19th May 1876, Kinloch Street,
Carnoustie, son of John Butchart and his wife Jessie Nicoll. His father was listed as a 'House Wright Journeyman' which was a carpenter and
by 1890 his occupation was listed as a golf club maker. At the age of 14 years Cuthbert was employed as a caddie at Barry.
In 1902, Cuthbert Butchart moved to North Berwick and was employed as a club-maker with Ben Sayers & Son at 14 Quality Street. Sayers played
in several exhbition matches at Royal County Down G.C. where Butchart was previously engaged. In 1903 Butchart was granted a license as a pro
on the West Links, North Berwick and was living in Melbourne Place. Two years later he moved to Highgate G.C, in London, and then to Berlin
G.C (1911-1917).
Following a period of internment during WW1, Butchart returned to London and in December 1920 he emigrated with his wife Rosa to America and
was appointed head pro at Baltimore C.C, Westchester NY. During this period he increased his club-making output and supplied many top pros
including the clubs used by Water Hagen when he won the 1922 British Open. Cuthbert Butchard died in New York in 1955.
BENJAMIN N CAMPBELL (1865-1908) Bridge Of Weir,
Scotland
Benjamin Nice Campbell, born 3rd May 1865, High Street, Musselburgh, son
of John Campbell, caddie and clubmaker and his wife Christina Nice. Ben and his brother Willie were caddies on the links at Musselburgh while
living with their parents in Simpson Close, Millhill. The family moved to North Berwick in July 1876 when their sister Christina was enrolled
at the North Berwick Public School. They lived in Park Place, North Berwick which today is Nos. 17-25 Old Abbey Road. Adjacent was a park which
Sir Walter Hamilton-Dalrymple had provided for playing football.
Ben and Willie Campbell (b.1862) were granted a license as golf pros at North Berwick and they entered the Open Championship from the town in
1885. Ben Campbell played in the Open Championship for over a decade from 1883 and his highest finish was third at Musselburgh in 1886. In 1889,
Willie was the first greenkeeper and professional to be appointed to Ranfurly Castle GC (1889-94) and that year Ben was appointed pro at the
adjacent Bridge Of Weir GC (now defunct) from 1889-92.
Willie Campbell emigrated to America in 1894 and was appointed greenkeeper and professional at the Country Club of Brookline. In 1895 Willie
moved to Myopia CC and George Douglas (below) from North Berwick was appointed to the Country Club of Brookline in March 1896. Willie Campbell
is the best known of the clubmakers who made a new life across the Atlantic. His wife Georgina became the first lady golf professional in America.
Ben Campbell continued to work at Musselburgh and North Berwick was among a group of pro's who were invited to play at the opening of the new
Luffness course in October 1894, and the extended course at North Berwick in June 1895. Ben Campbell died at 9, Kerrs Wynd, Inveresk,
Musselburgh in 1908, aged 43 years. At that time his father Jack Campbell was working as a caddie at North Berwick and in 1912 he died in Inveresk
Poorhouse.
DOROTHY CAMPBELL Factfile
JAMES G CAMPBELL (1877-1925)
Country Club Of Mobile, Alabama, USA
James George Campbell
born 23rd May 1877 in Oxford Street, Edinburgh, son of James Campbell, Life Insurance Agent and his wife Margaret Shaw. Jamie moved to 41 High
Street, North Berwick in 1893 and was a licensed caddie on the West Links before being granted his professional ticket on 19th July 1895.
Campbell emigrated to the USA in 1896 and was appointed golf instructor at Baltimore G.C in Maryland. He moved to a number of clubs
including Torresdale G.C. (PA) where he laid out the nine-hole course, and then to Belmont Golf Association which became Aronimink G.C, in
Philadelphia (PA) 1898-99. He struck up a friendship with John Harrison from Musselburgh who was pro at Ridgefield, Connecticut and in 1899,
they were both appointed to Dayton Golf Club, Ohio. Campbell returned to Aronimink for a short period in 1900 before joining Harrison at Delaware
Field Club, (Wilmington DE) as the club's first pros and greenkeepers. In 1901, Campbell remained at Wilmington Country Club while Jack Harrison
went to Colonia Country Club in New Jersey and in 1903 Campbell moved to Mount Airy, Philadelphia (PA) 1903-07.
In 1905 Campbell was joined by Leslie Brownlee from North Berwick as his assistant at Mount Airy. In 1906, Brownlee was appointed pro at Fort
Smith C.C. in Arkansas. Mount Airy closed in 1907 and many of the members transferred to Whitemarsh Valley C.C (Lafayette Hill, PA) and in 1908
Campbell joined them as their pro. Jamie Campbell won the Philadelphia Open in 1905 and 1907 and was runner-up in 1908. He set a new course record at
Overbrook in 1907 with a 72, and broke the record at Whitemarsh with a 71 in 1910. Campbell played in four US Opens between 1902 and
1910.
His wife Mary Jane Wynne was born in Edgemont PA, and they had a son James 'George' Campbell in 1899. In 1912, Jamie Campbell moved to a new
course being constructed at Mt. Tom Country Club, Holyoke, Massachusetts by designer Donald Ross. Jamie struck up a friendship with Donald
Ross, a fellow Scot from Dornoch who was chairman of the green committee at Mt Tom for several years.
In 1916, Jamie Campbell wintered at Fruitland Park Golf Club in Florida and in the spring of that year he moved to the Country Club of Mobile,
Spring Hill, Alabama. When he arrived there was only a caddy shack and a dressing room, but within two years a new clubhouse was constructed
and the membership increased. Jamie was golf instructor with the club for nine years before tragedy struck on 29th December 1925 when Jamie and
his wife Mary Jane perished in a fire which destroyed the Mobile clubhouse.
It was reported in the Mobile Daily Register that the fire broke out shortly after 3am and moved so quickly through the building the
Campbell's were trapped in their apartment on the third floor. Their bodies were discovered wrapped in each others arms and they were buried
together in Pine Crest Cemetery on 4th January 1926.
It was reported that Jamie Campbell had $85,000 worth of Alabama bonds held in his name at the First National Bank of Mobile which were never
claimed and reverted to the state treasury. The clubhouse was rebuilt and two years later Campbell's friend Donald Ross redesigned the
course at Mobile.
BUDD CLARKE Sioux City Boat Club, Iowa,
USA
Herbert 'Budd' Clarke was born in 1896 in Cromer Market, Norfolk,
England. He qualified as an engineer and moved to Scotland. Clarke was a keen golfer and a friend of Tommy Armour and his brother Alex. In
1920, Clarke joined Tantallon Golf Club in North Berwick and in 1922 he won all five club scratch medals which remains a record. That year
he also joined North Berwick New Golf Club, won the Midlands Amateur Tournament and was short listed for the Walker Cup team.
In May 1923 he sailed for America where his contact was George Sayers at Merion Cricket Club, (PA). According to his emigration papers
Clarke intended to stay for five months but remained in the USA for over ten years.
He joined the professional ranks and was appointed to Rumson Country Club, (NJ). In 1926, he moved to Minikahda Country Club, (MN) and the
following year to Sioux City Boat Club, (IO). In 1930, Budd Clarke and fellow pro Alex Olson leased the property of the Morningside Country
Club in Sioux City. This was a new venture in club management and the stockholders were the members. The remainder of Budd Clarke's career
is unknown.
RICHARD & WILLIE COLLINS Tyneside Golf Club, Ryton,
England.
Richard Collins, born 1852 in Edinburgh, son of John Collins, gardener and
his wife Marion Mackay. Richard started his own golf club and ball making business in 1871 working from his apartment at 136 Duke Street, opposite
Leith Links. In 1873 he married Helen Leanart and their first child Richard Collins Jnr. was born in Coatfield Lane, off Constitution Street, Leith
in 1874. Throughout the 1870s Richard Collins & Son was listed at 148 Duke Street, where the family lived and the children attended Duncan Place
Primary School with headmaster Donald McCurrich.
![[Willie Collins]](images/collins.jpg)
As Leith Links became overcrowded, the golfers migrated to Musselburgh and then further down the coast to North Berwick, followed by the club and
ball makers. In 1887 Richard Collins moved to 42 Westgate, North Berwick (now 47, Westgate) and was employed as a greenkeeper. In October that year
he enrolled his children Richard (b.1874); John (b.1875); William (b.1878); Catherine (b.1879) and Robert (b.1882) at the North Berwick Public School.
Willie Collins was in the same class as Harry Reddie, David Stephenson, and Robert M. Thomson who all emigrated to America and were involved in the
golf industry.
At that time Leith Golf Club met in a house at 26 Duke Street, Leith; Thistle Golf Club leased the property at 8 Vanburgh Place, Ben Sayers, a ball maker
lived at 7 Bath Street, Leith, James Kay (4 Burns Street) and Davie Grant (8 Burns Street). Sayers moved to North Berwick in 1883 and Grant followed
in 1888. The golfers would congregate in Straiton's Tavern in Kirkgate, opposite Laurie Street, Leith.
In 1889, Richard Collins entered the Open Championship at Musselburgh from his base in Melbourne Mews, North Berwick. In 1890 he followed Willie
Thomson as pro at Tyneside Golf Club. Richard Collins was a founder member of the PGA in 1902. He laid out the new course at Western Falls of Ryton
in 1903 and remained with the Tyneside Club until 1912. James Collins was assistant to Richard Collins Snr at Tyneside in 1904. James joined the PGA
in 1902 and had a couple of seasons at Varese Golf Club in Northern Italy in 1909.
Richard's second son Willie Collins emigrated to America in 1897 and set up a club and ball importing business at Richmond Country Club on Staten
Island, New York. He stocked items made at the Ryton factory run by Richard Collins Jnr. Willie was also pro at Oakland Golf Club at Bayside on
Long Island, and Knickerbocker Country Club, Tenafly, New Jersey (1915-26). Willie played in the 1902 US Open at Garden City, New York.
Richard Collins Jnr. was appointed pro at Saltburn-On-Sea (1899-1904), Cleveland Golf Club (1904-08), Ashton-On-Ribble (1910-11); Longcliffe
(1911-12). Richard Jnr.'s brother Robert T. Collins joined Willie in America in 1905.
MILLICENT J COUPER J.P.(1902-1971) Scottish Ladies Amateur
Champion
Millicent Jeannette Couper born 24th June 1902 in Edinburgh, son of John C.
Couper, Writer to the Signet, and his wife Elsie Blyth. Millicent represented Scotland in the Home Internationals seven times between 1929-1956
and won the Scottish Ladies Amateur Championship at Turnberry in 1933. She lived at Kaimend overlooking the Children's Course and her father Sir
John C. Couper was secretary of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield. Millicent Couper was elected the first Lady Provost of
the Royal Burgh of North Berwick in 1965 and she died 10th July 1971.
STANLEY CURRIE High Point Golf Club, USA
Stanley Currie born Norman Charles Earnest Currie, 28th August 1894, Leith, Edinburgh,
son of William Currie, porter, and his wife Sarah Jane Stephens. His father was head porter at the Marine Hotel, North Berwick and the family moved
to the town in 1896, living at 36 Forth Street. Shortly after they arrived in North Berwick his father was employed at the Aerated Water works in
Forth Street Lane, owned by Provost John MacIntyre. The family moved to 1 Viewforth where Violet Currie was born in 1898. At the age of ten years,
Norman Currie was granted a caddie license on the West Links and later he received his professional badge.
Norman Currie emigrated to America, sailing from Glasgow on RMS Transylvania he arrived in New York on 19th April 1927. He altered his name to Stanley
Currie on his arrival in America when he was appointed professional at High Point Country Club, North Carolina. In 1928 he joined the staff of the
downtown indoor golf course, and in 1930 he was appointed caddie-master at Fox Chapel Golf Club, Allegheny, Pensylvania. In 1940 he was living with
his wife Elizabeth at 502 North Ave. W, Pittsburgh and had a golf equipment and instruction business at 719 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh.
JOSEPH DALGLEISH (1860-1941) Nairn Golf
Club, Scotland. UK
Joseph Dalgleish born 1860 in Aberlady, son of John Dalgleish,
farm worker and his wife Margaret Ness. Joe's father died when he was an infant and his mother listed as a pauper in 1860, raised four children.
In 1878, Joe Dalgleish joined the army, rising to the rank of sergeant in the 61st Brigade, Royal Scots Fusiliers. In 1882 he was posted to
Zululand in South Africa and then transferred to the East Indies in 1885. He left the army and returned to Scotland in 1890 and was appointed
clubmaker and professional at Nairn Golf Club. In 1900 he played in the Open Championship at St Andrews.
His son William Dalgleish (1891-1976), also a clubmaker emigrated to America in 1911. The following year Joe and his youngest son James
Clarke Dalgleish (1895-1970) sailed for America and were appointed to the Country Club of Troy in New York. Joe moved to Westfield Golf Club,
later named Echo Lake Golf Club in Crawford, New Jersey (1921-23). William was appointed to Tacoma Golf and Country Club in Washington State,
then in 1926 to Alderwood Country Club in Portland and two years later to Butte Country Club, Montana. Joe Dalgleish returned to Scotland
and was living at 20 Darnell Road, Trinity Edinburgh. Recently two scared head woods made by Joe Dalgleish were auctioned at Sotherby's.
ALEXANDER DENHOLM (1886-1950)
Royal Queensland Golf Club, Brisbane, AUS
Alexander Denholm
born 17 March 1886 at 17 Melbourne Square, North Berwick, son of Archibald Denholm, carpenter and his wife Jane Bathgate. Alex apprenticed
as a carpenter and joined Bass Rock Golf Club at the age of 16 years. In 1902, he enlisted in the 8th Royal Scots and served seven-and-a-half
years with the Territorial Force. In 1911, Alex Denholm sailed from Glasgow to Quebec to take up the position of assistant golf professional
to George Livingstone (listed below) from North Berwick. At the outbreak of WW1 Alex enlisted in the Canadian Scottish at Winnipeg and served
four years in France.
In 1913, he was selected to represent the British-Canadian Rifle Team in the competition at Bisley in England. At the start of WW1
the men of the 79th Cameron Highlanders joined with other units at Valcartier Camp, Quebec to form the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary
Force and Alex signed up on 7th September 1914.
![[Townsville]](images/townsville.jpg)
He had the honour of being chosen as sergeant in charge of the bodyguard to His Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener when they
reviewed the Canadian troops on Salisbury Plain.
Townsville Clubhouse
During the Great War he served as a machine gunner and infantryman, and was in the first
contingent of the Canadian Scottish regiment to leave Canada for France. He was promoted from the rank of sergeant to major, was mentioned in
dispatches twice by Sir Douglas Haig, and awarded the D.C.M. Following the end of WW1, he worked in government service in Canada. In 1922, Alex
and his wife Prudence Bee returned to Great Britain sailing from St John's in Newfoundland to Liverpool.
After spending time with their families they continued their journey to Australia on the SS Socrates, arriving in Sydney 1st September 1922. He
found work in the well known sports equipment shop of McMillan Deery Co. Ltd at 252 George Street, Sydney. Duncan and Charlie McMillan were
Scottish emigrants who persuaded the City Council to layout what was to become Moore Park Municipal Golf Links. Duncan McMillan established
Moore Park Golf Club and appointed Alex Denholm as the teaching pro. In September 1923, Alex moved to Queensland where he was appointed pro to
Townsville G.C (1923-25), the oldest club in Queensland and the fourth oldest in Australia. Alex lived with his wife in Norris Street, Hermit
Park, Townsville.
Alex described as short, thickset with broad shoulders, and looked like a golfer, moved to Stanthorpe Golf Club, south of Brisbane in 1925,
and the following year he was appointed the first greenkeeper and professional at Indooroopilly Golf Club in St Lucia, a suburb of Brisbane. At
the opening of the Indooroopilly course in July 1926, the Premier of Queensland William McCormack drove the first ball. This was followed by a fourball
match between the professionals, Mike Stafford (Brisbane) and Alex Denholm (Indooroopilly) against Dick Carr (Sandgate) and Arthur Spencer (Royal
Queensland). At the presentation of prizes, Mr McCormack was gifted a driver made by Alex Denholm.
Harry Sinclair, the Australian Amateur Champion in 1924 and 1925 was a member of Moore Park in the south of Sydney. He played most of his golf
at the Australian Golf Club and was a friend of Alex and Duncan Denholm. In 1926, Sinclair entered the Amateur Championship at Muirfield in
Scotland and the Denholm brothers organised for Harry Sinclair to play several practice rounds with Ben Sayers at North Berwick.
In 1928 Alex won the Queensland Professional Golfers Championship. He led the qualifying at Yeerongpilly GC and reached the matchplay final against
Charles Brown (Goodna GC). Brown led by three after the first 18-holes but Denholm recovered in the second round and won 2 and 1.
When Denholm left Indooroopilly in December 1928, Alex was presented with a silver tea and coffee service on the steps outside the clubhouse as the
professional was not allowed to enter the members area. In turn Alex presented the club with a 50 year old golf club and ball which was kept as
a memento of Denholm's time at St Lucia.
In January 1929 Alex was appointed head pro at Royal Queensland Golf Club, after 25 candidates applied for the position. He lived with his wife
in Taringa, a suburb of Brisbane in a house they called 'Tantallon' on Swan Road. Reginald Want was Alex's first assistant at Royal Queensland
followed by Ossie Walker (1929-35).
In 1929, Denholm was elected secretary of the Queensland Professional Golfers Association. The previous secretary was also pro at Royal
Queensland and the PGA conducted their business from an office in the RQGC clubhouse. Denholm continued on the Queensland PGA committee until
the 1940s when he was conferred a Life Member of the PGA of Australia.
Alex won the 72 hole qualifying tournament to represent Queensland in the Spalding Australian Overseas Professional Championship in 1931.
Played in Melbourne, Denholm finished third equal. The winner was given an all expenses trip to the British Open by A. C. Spalding Ltd.
In 1933 he won the Dunlop Cup, Associates Trophy, and the Yeerongpilly Armistice Cup after a four-way tie. In 1934 he won the Royal Queensland
Professional purse with rounds of 73 and 72 and his new assistant Ken Jones was runner-up. That year he also won the Indooroopilly purse and
tied for second place in the Queensland Open Championship and won the scratch pize at the AIF cup scoring 68 to equal the course record.
In 1935, Alex won two big handicap events, the Armistice Cup and the Yeerongpilly Cup. He also had the biggest share of money purses contested at
the Queensland Open Championship Meeting, including the first prize of £20 in the Veteran competition.
Denholm's name can be seen on the Royal Queensland Autumn Cup (1934) and the AIF Cup (1935) this was a competition for ex-soldiers. The trophy
took the form of a silver reproduction of an 18-pounder German shell which had been captured from the Turks by Australian soldiers.
An article in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1933 entitled 'The Golfing Denholm Brothers', described how Alex Denholm was competing in the
Queensland Professional Open on the banks of the Brisbane river, while in the background, Alex's brother George D. Denholm, the purser on
the liner Jervis Bay, had just arrived from London, and swept up stream past the golfers. The Jervis Bay was owned by the shipping company
Aberdeen and Commonwealth Liners which berthed at Hamilton Cold Stores Wharf on the Brisbane River. The following day Alex boarded the Jervis
Bay and sailed with George to Sydney where they met up with their younger brother Duncan Denholm pro at Mosman Golf Club. The other brothers
Jock and Bob Denholm remained in North Berwick and in 1928 Jock was a semi-finalist in the Irish Open and Bob represented Scotland in the
Home Internationals. Alex retired in 1947 and one of his finest golfing moments came during the Melbourne Centenary Trophy in 1934, when he
finished all square against the American Harry Cooper.
Alex Denholm was one of only a handful of pro's in Australia to have a range of golf clubs stamped with their own name. Recently a set of clubs
form the 1930s branded with Alex's name were sold at auction for $750 . The irons had hand forged heads and steel shafts, while the woods had
hickory shafts. They were branded with A.G. Spalding Bros. and Alex Denholm.
In July 1942, Denholm was pictured in the Courier-Mall (Brisbane) newspaper, working a drilling lathe in a munitions factory during WW2. When
Alex retired in 1947, Len King secretary at Royal Queensland during the period Alex was pro, organised a fund raising committee for a
memorial to Alex's twenty years with the club. Several of the Brisbane club's held an Open Golf Day with all proceeds going to the fund,
including Royal Queensland, Tattersall's Golfing Society at Nudgee and Indooroopilly. Alex lived at 66 Albert Street, Margate a district of
Brisbane where he was listed as a carpenter in 1950. Alex Denholm died in Mater Private Hospital in Brisbane on 30th December 1953 aged 67
years.
DUNCAN DENHOLM (1892-1968) Australian Golf
Club, Sydney, AUS
Archibald Duncan Denholm born 29th March 1892 in North Berwick
was the brother of Alex mentioned above. Duncan was also a scratch medallist of the Bass Rock Golf Club before emigrating to Australia. In 1924,
he was appointed assistant pro to Fred Popplewell at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney. (Fred Popplewell won the Australian Open Championship
in 1925 and 1928). In 1925, Duncan was the first pro to be appointed to Balgowlah Golf Club. In 1930 he moved to Mosman Golf Club, situated on
Middle Head on the northern shores of Sydney Harbour where he lived with his wife Mabel Hilda Denholm, daughter Jean Elizabeth Denholm and son
John Archibald Denholm at 10 Macpherson Street, Cremorne until 1954.
Duncan qualified for the Australian PGA Cup in 1931, played at the New South Wales Golf Club in La Perouse, a suburb of Sydney. At the professional
tournament to celebrate the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 he played with Peter Merrilees (below) from North Berwick. Peter was two
years older and they both attended the Public School in School Road.
Mosman or 'Swaggerdom' as the Sydney Labor Daily dubbed the members of Mosman Golf Club, which reflected the 'snobbery' attached to golf in Australia
at the time. Like most clubs in Australia, women were associate members, had no voting rights and were not allowed to play on Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons or public holidays, a restriction on women golfers that remained until the passage of equal opportunity legislation in 1984. The course at
Mosman was commandeered by the military during WW2 and was not reinstated. Alex and Duncan Denholm are listed among the earliest golf professionals
in Australia.
Hugh Hamilton, a greenkeeper on the West Links took over from Tom
Morris as custodian of the links at St Andrews in 1903. It was Hamilton who created many of the bunkers at St Andrews and lengthened the
course in reaction to the Haskell ball, he also extended the Jubilee course in 1905.
THOMAS DICKSON Crestwood Golf and Country
Club, Kansas City, USA
Thomas Pringle Dickson born 25th February 1891 at 9 Lorne
Square, North Berwick, son of James Dickson, grocer and his wife Elizabeth Pringle. Tom's father had his grocery shop at 20 Forth Street and
he built 'Seafield' at 10 Forth Street as the family residence in 1897. His intials can be seen carved into the masonry of the property
which remains in the ownership of the Dickson family.
Tom Dickson 6' 2" tall, apprenticed as a clubmaker and joined the Rhodes G.C in 1907. He emigrated to America in December 1920 and listed
his contact was George B Martin, 906 Broadway NY. The following spring Tom took up the position of assistant to Jim Lindsay from Gullane (below)
at Oak Park Country Club, Chicago. In 1922, Tom was joined by his older brother Alex Dickson at Oak Park. Alex moved to St Joseph Country Club
in Missouri in 1924.
In 1924, Tom Dickson was appointed head pro at Crestwood Golf and Country Club, Kansas City (1924-26). During the winter months Tom joined
another six pros at the Western Indoor Centre in Kansas City giving lessons on the six-hole layout. The pros often competed against each other
to see who could give the most lessons in a day.
In 1927, Tom Dickson was pro at the nine-hole course at Oak Hill Country Club, Joplin, Missouri, and later that year he was appointed Manager
and Pro at the Schifferdecker Municipal Golf Course, in Joplin. In 1928, he was appointed golf instructor at Muskogee Town and Country Club,
Oklahoma where Bill Nichols (below) originally from North Berwick was a member and President of the Oklahoma State Golf Association.
Tom and his wife Matilda Turnbull, daughter of Tom Turnbull pro at Helensburgh GC, and their son Fraser returned to North Berwick and was
proprietor of the Milsey House Private Hotel, 3 Tantallon Terrace. Tom Dickson died 12th May 1957, North Berwick.
JAMES DISHINGTON The Creek Club, Long
Island, USA
James, Robert and Andrew Dishington born in Aberlady all
worked within the golfng industry. Their father James Dishington was greenkeeper at Gullane, their mother was Mary Jane Turnbull Dishington
and the family lived at Muirfield Farm, Gullane. Robert and Andrew were members of Dirleton Castle Golf Club before Robert was appointed
professional at Cathkin Braes Golf Club in Strathclyde, and Andrew was head greenkeeper at Winterfield and then Dunbar Golf Club until 1954.
James 'Jock' Dishington (1892-1968) emigrated to America, sailing from Glasgow on the S.S. Columbia he arrived in New York on 6th January 1920.
Jock was appointed to The Creek Club on the north shore of Long Island, New York State. Their brothers John Dishington, a railway guard and
William Dishington, a chaffeur also emigrated to America but it is not known wheather they joined the professional ranks.
THOMAS DOBSON (1903-1968) Scottish Amateur Champion
1925
Thomas Peter Dobson born 26th December 1903, in Gullane, son of James Dobson, golf
green officer and his wife Mary Hall. The family lived in West End Cottages in the area of the present Gullane clubhouse and pro shop. His
father was the golf course starter from many years. Tom apprenticed as a greenkeeper at Muirfield for the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
and was later appointed foreman greenkeeper. Tom Dobson was a member of Dirleton Castle Golf Club and playing off scratch he won the Wotherspoon
Medal in 1922, Patron's Medal 1923 and 1924 and the following year he won the Singapore Cup. Dobson and his partner Hugh Watt representing
Dirleton Castle won the Scottish Foursome championship. Dobson also won the prestigious Hope Challenge Medal in 1924 and 1925, which carried
with it the championship of East Lothian.
In 1925, Tom was the first artisan winner of the Scottish Amateur Championship played that year over Muirfield. At the age of twenty-two,
Tom defeated John Cavan in the semi-finals and Willis Mackenzie, an Edinburgh stockbroker in the final 4 and 3, both were Walker Cup players.
This caused a furious debate among the blue blooded fraternity as to whether a greenkeeper was deemed a professional.
Dobson had a fine touch, particularly his iron play, the half and three-quarter mid-iron shots up to the hole. The ball was kept low with the
smallest suspicion of a pull on it. When the red-haired youth, attired in trousers and old coat, holed his putt on the sixteenth green to give
him victory and the championship, the crowd of 3000 to 4000 went into a frenzy of excitement, and raised him shoulder high.
In 1926 Tom Dobson joined the professional ranks and was appointed to East Renfrewshire Golf Club, near Newton Mearns, Glasgow, where the
members have named the 1st hole ‘Dobson’s View’ in memory of their first head greenkeeper and professional who remained with the club
until 1956. Tom Dobson played in the Open Championship in 1935 and represented his country in the Home Internationals in 1932, 33, 34,
35, 36, 37; v Ireland 1932, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38; v Wales 1937-38. Tom Dobson died 1st September 1968 at Raeside Avenue, Newton Mearns
aged 65 years.
JEAN DONALD (Anderson) (1921-1984) Curtis
Cup Team 1948-50-52
Jean Macalister Donald and her twin Anne were born 2 May
1921 at St Helen's, North Berwick, daughter of Dr. Douglas A. Donald M.C. and his wife Marion Forbes. They lived above their father's medical
practice at 1 West End Place. Jean joined the North Berwick Ladies Club in 1936 and was given a handicap of 21. The following year she won the
Grahame Cup and in 1938 the Girls Prize with a 79. In 1947 Jean won the Spring Meeting and the Grahame Cup and by 1951 her handicap was plus 1.
She won the Scottish Ladies Championship in 1947 (Ellie); 1949 (Troon); 1952 (Gullane); runner up in 1953 and a semi finalist in 1951. The French
Ladies Open Championship in 1947 and the Sunningdale Open Foursomes four times, twice with partner Peter Alliss in 1958 and 1961.
Jean Donald controversially appeared wearing trousers in the
Scottish Amateur Championship in 1948.
During WW2 Jean Donald was based at Winthorpe RAF station and played her golf at the neigbouring Newark Golf Club. She represented Scotland in
the Home Internationals from 1947-53 and was a finalist in the 1948 British Ladies Amateur Championship. She was selected for the Great Britain
and Ireland team to play the USA in the Curtis Cup in 1948-50-52 and her experience played a crucial part in the GB&I victory at Muirfield in 1952.
Jean was elected captain of Gullane Ladies Golf Club in 1951 and captain of North Berwick Ladies Club in December 1953. She decided to turn
professional after new rules governing amateurs was introduced in January 1954. She was employed by Dunlop as an amateur and this conflicted
with the new rules. Slazenger Ltd. sponsored her visit to Australia in 1954 when she played an exhibition match at Barwon Heads in Victoria.
The professional at Barwon Heads was William 'Bud' Russell (listed below) from Gullane. Jean married John Anderson and they lived at Kilbruach,
Nisbet Road, Gullane. She played with Slazenger clubs throughout her professional career and her signature sets sold well. Jean died in Gullane
Golf Club on the morning of 2 May 1984, aged 63 years. Her medals and trophies are displayed in Gullane Ladies Golf Club.
GEORGE DOUGLAS (1871-1903) Country Club Of Brookline,
Boston, USA
George Douglas, born 18th March 1871 at 4, Viewforth, North Berwick, son of James
Douglas, general labourer and his wife Catherine Merrilees. In 1885 the family lived at 32, Harbour Terrace and in May 1891 George was
granted a professional license on the West Links, North Berwick. In July that year he was appointed greenkeeper and pro at Panmure Golf
Club playing over the Monifieth course from where he entered the Open at St Andrews. In 1892 George was appointed the first pro at the newly
opened Pollok Golf Club in Glasgow and in September he entered the Open Championship list at Muirfield and received 10/- in prize money.
George had a troubled background, his parents were alcoholics and his mother Catherine Douglas appeared in front of the Burgh Court on numerous
occasions charged with Breach of the Peace and being Drunk and Incapable, which carried a sentence of 3 days in jail. According to the Burgh Court
records in December 1891 the Chief Magistrate Peter Brodie found her guilty of theft and sentenced her to 7 days in jail. George's cousin Peter
Merrilees (listed below) from North Berwick was golf pro at Manly Golf Club, Sydney in Australia.
George Douglas was the regular caddie for John H. Outhwaite in his big matches. In 1893 Douglas enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and
trained at Barry Buddon army camp in Angus. Outhwaite was also at Barry camp serving with the Black Watch and George caddied for him when
the twenty year old won the Regimental Cup at Carnoustie in 1893.
Outhwaite, originally from Earlsferry won the tournament at the opening of the extended course at North Berwick in 1895, with George Douglas
on his bag. George played in the professional tournament the following day representing Hessle in Hull. A photo of Douglas and Outhwaite can be
seen in the Golf Book of East Lothian. George served almost two years with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before he was discharged on payment
of £18.
George Douglas was 5' 6 inches tall, blue eyes, brown hair and weighed 145 lbs. According to his army record, his distinguishing marks were the bust
of a woman tatooed on his right-forearm with the letters M.K. Several of his teeth were defective, he had a scare above his left ankle and another
on his right-forearm.
After spending the winter of 1895 working in France, George Douglas sailed to America from Liverpool on S.S Gallia, and arrived in Boston on
18th April 1896. He was appointed head pro on the nine-hole course at the prodigious Country Club of Brookline, after Willie Campbell's contract
was not renewed in November 1895. George knew Willie Campbell from his days playing in the Musselburgh Professional tournament and working
the links at North Berwick. In July 1896, George Douglas representing the Country Club, played in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, and finished fourth.
He scored rounds of 79 and 79 for a total of 158 and received $25 prize money.
In September 1896 George Douglas won the professional tournament at Knollwood Country Club, Westchester County NY. The report in the New York Times
stated there were fourteen Scottish pros and one negro taking part, he was John Shippen from Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. The others included Willie
Dunn, and Tom Warrender from North Berwick who was pro at Knollwood. George Douglas representing the Country Club of Brookline covered the 36 holes
in 154 strokes and lifted the first prize of $150. The other scores were Willie Campbell, (Myopia Hunt) 155; Horace Rawlins, (Utica) 159;
Bertie Way (Meadowbrook) 160; Willie Dunn (Ardsley) 161; Willie Davis (Newport) 162; Willie Tucker (St Andrews) 164; Tom Gourley (Baltusrol)
167; Sam Tucker (St Andrews) 168; John Shippen (Shinnecock) 169; Alfred Ricketts (Albany) 170; Willie Norton (Lakewood green keeper) 174; Willie Kirk
(Bar Harbour) 177; John Young (Staten Island) 171; Tom Warrender (Knollwood) 190.
Passenger List, S.S. Gallia, 18th April 1896 - George Douglas, Boston USA
In 1897, George returned to Scotland and was working as a golf pro on the West Links, North Berwick. On 1st August 1897 he enlisted in the
11th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers at the army recruitment office in Edinburgh, and was stationed in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Private
George Douglas (No.6200) fought in South Africa before being posted to the 2nd Battalion KOSB at the British Infantry Barracks in Dinapore,
Bengal, India where he died in 1903. His military record states. 'George Douglas died at Dinapore of gunshot wounds self inflicted while
temporarily insane - 25th August 1903'. He was taken to the Station Hospital where he was pronounced dead by Billet Adjutant G.B.Stoney.
George Douglas died at the age of 32 years and is listed among the first forty golf professionals in the United States and is recognised
today as a true pioneer, and one of the earliest names of golf and clubmaking in America.
DIANA ESMOND
1926 British Girls Open Champion
Diana Esmond was the daughter of
Edward Esmond, a wealthy financier and race horse trainer. He owned the property at Marly Knowe in Windygates Road, North Berwick where his
family resided during August and September. Edward Esmond also owned property in Paris at 54 Avenue d'Lena near Alma-Marceau and for a month each autumn
he engaged George Duncan the pro at Wentworth to travel to Paris and coach his daughters to play golf. In September 1926, Diana Esmond won
the British Girls Open Championship at the age of 16 years. Played at Stoke Poges she defeated Dorothy Pearson 6 & 5 in the final.
In 1928, Diana was a finalist in the French Ladies Amateur Championship, but was defeated by Thion de la Chaume, wife of the famous tennis player
Rene Lacoste. Diana regularly played in the Mixed Foursome Championship at Worplesdon Golf Club partnering Cyril Trolley. Her father won the event
in 1925 partnering Cecil Leitch. Edward Esmond had a handicap of two, and in 1914 he played in the French Amateur Championship along with Marino
and Andre Vagliano. Esmond was a member of Golf du Paris Country Club, Saint-Cloud, Paris.
![[Esmond]](images/esmond.jpg)
Diana was also a jockey and she raced a number of horses from the Esmond stable to victory at venues such as Laversine and Deauville.
Diana was runner-up in the French Ladies Open in 1930 at Golf de Saint Germains, Paris and represented France in several international
matches. Her older sister Sybil Esmond was also a fine golfer. In 1928 their father presented the Esmond Trophy to the winner of the French
Under-21 Girls International Championship.
Diana Esmond on the right with her opponent Margaret Ramsden.
North Berwick was so popular among his friends that Edward Esmond had to commandeer the Bradbury Hotel to accommodate everyone. They often
entertained the Vagliano family who presented a trophy in 1947 to the winners of the Ladies Great Britain and Ireland team against Europe.
The Vagliano Trophy continues to be contested biennially.
Diana and Sybil were members of North Berwick Ladies Golf Club and in 1926 their father presented the Bass Rock Golf Club with a trophy for
competition among the artisan golfers in East Lothian. The Esmond Trophy takes the form of a silver model of Edinburgh Castle and is
recognised as one of the finest trophies among golf clubs in Great Britain, and ranks along with the Silver Frigate of the Thorpeness Club
and the Antlers' trophy of Royal Mid-Surrey. The Esmond Trophy continues to be played for over the West Links in July each year.
DAVIE FERGUSON (1884-1963)
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
David Learmonth Ferguson, a
stonemason by trade was born 7th January 1884 in North Berwick. He lived with his family at 8, Clifford Road and at aged 30 years he
emigrated to the USA. Ferguson sailed from Glasgow on the steamer S.S. California arriving in New York on 18th May, 1914. He shared the
voyage with James Gullane listed below. On his arrival, Davie lived with his brother James Ferguson, a pro golfer at Spring Lake G.C in
New Jersey until he found employment. In 1920, David Ferguson was appointed golf instructor at Sans Souci Country Club, Greenville in
South Carolina. The following year he returned to North Berwick to escort his wife Annie and their two children to their new home in the USA.
The Sans Souci C.C operated at its original location northwest of the City of Greenville off Old Buncombe Road from 1905 to 1923. On 4th
July 1923 it opened at its new and current location on Byrd Avenue. On 7th July 1927 the club changed its name to Greenville Country Club.
During WW2, with the membership in declined, the club released Davie to work for T. G. Gillespie Trading Co. in their munitions factory in
South Cranbury, Middlesex, New Jersey. Following the conflict Davie returned to Greenville Country Club where he remained until his retirement.
His friend Jimmy Livingstone said 'Ferguson was so revered and loved in Greenville he was known as Mr. Golf'. David Ferguson died in 1963
and is buried in Greenville Cemetery, South Carolina.
JIMMY FERGUSON Spring Lake
Golf and Country Club, New Jersey, USA
James Cunningham Ferguson (brother of
David above) born 13th July 1881, Quality Street, North Berwick son of John Ferguson, farm labourer and his wife Jane White. Ferguson was
appointed pro and greenkeeper at Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club (1894-95) before returning to North Berwick in 1907. He was the first pro
at Sandy Lodge GC (1910-11) and then to Hallamshire GC (1911-13) in Sheffield. That year Ferguson won the Sheffield Open Professional
Tournament.
Jimmy Ferguson emigrated to America in 1913 and was appointed pro at Spring Lake Golf and Country Club in New Jersey. Shortly after his
arrival Ferguson played in an exhibition match at Trenton, against the best ball of George Bowly of Spring Lake and R.C. Maxwell of Trenton
Golf Club, and Ferguson won 3 & 2.
Within a few months he had set a new course record and hosted a 72-hole Open Professional tournament which Fred McLeod, a former school friend
attended. This was the first time they had been together for over ten years. McLeod won the tournament from a strong field which included
Tom McNamara, Jim Barnes and a young Walter Hagen. Alex Smith shot 71, to beat Ferguson's course record by one stroke.
In 1914, Ferguson entered the Metropolitan Golf Association tournament along with North Berwick boys George Sayers, and Jack Hobens, (winner
of the event in 1908). During the winter months (1915-22) Ferguson sailed to the West Indies and was golf pro at Nassau Country Club in the
Bahamas. He lived in Hotel Colonial in Nassau and returned to New Jersey each spring. In 1915 his wife Nellie (Helen) joined him permanently.
Ferguson played in the 1916 US Open and qualified for the matchplay section of the first US PGA Championship. Jim Ferguson lived with his wife
at Spring Lake Heights, Monmouth, NJ and remained at Spring Lake C.C for the remainder of his career. His parents John and Jean Ferguson lived
at 3, Forth Street, North Berwick.
MARJORY FERGUSON (1937-2003) Curtis Cup Team-1966
Marjory Anne Sergeant Ferguson (m/s Fowler) born 15th May 1937 in North Berwick,
daughter of John C. Fowler former Provost of the Royal Burgh (1968-71). Marjory came to prominence when she was the first winner of the inaugural
Scottish Junior Women's Open Stroke Play at Erskine in 1955, which she won again in 1957 at Kilmacolm.
She represented Scotland in the Home Internationals for over 26 years between 1959 and 1985. She made her debut for Great Britain & Ireland
in the Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe in 1965, and was also selected to play in the European Ladies Amateur Team Championship
in 1965, 67 and 71. Marjory was defeated by Belle Robertson MBE in the final of the Scottish Women's Amateur Championship in 1966 at Machrihanish
and again in 1971 at Royal Dornoch. Marjory won many other titles including the Portuguese Women's Open Amateur Championship.
The highlight of an outstanding career came in 1966 when she was selected for the Great Britain & Ireland team for the Curtis Cup match
against the United States at Hot Springs, Virginia. Marjory was a member of Gullane Ladies Golf Club and honorary member of North Berwick
Ladies Golf Club. She was East Lothian and East of Scotland champion several times and helped East Lothian to win the Scottish County
Championship on many occasions. Marjory married Alistair Ferguson in 1968 and they lived at Clova, Westgate, North Berwick. In 1977 she
started the East of Scotland Girls' Golf Association and was chairman of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association in 2000. Marjory Ferguson
died suddenly at North Berwick in 2003, aged 66 years.
EDWARD, FRED AND VAL FITZJOHN Mohawk Golf Club, NY.
Herbert (b.1870), Frederick (b.1871), Edward (b.1874) and Valentine Fitzjohn (b.1878)
were born in Edinburgh sons of George Fitzjohn, Sergeant Edinburgh Police and his wife Grace Willonghby. In 1880 the family moved to Musselburgh where their
father George Fitzjohn was appointed clubmaster and steward to the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. In 1891 the family moved with the
Honorable Company to their new location at Muirfield in East Lothian. Ed and Herbert worked as clubmakers probably with James H. Hutchison clubmaker
to the Honorable Company in his workshop situated beside the first tee on the West Links at North Berwick. During this period 12 year old Valentine
Fitzjohn was a licensed caddie at North Berwick.
Ed and his older brother Fred Fitzjohn played in the 1892 Open Championship at Muirfield. Ed worked as a clerk and entered as an amateur, while Fred
carded a disastrous 105 in the first round. The following year Ed joined the professional ranks and was invited to take part in the tournament to
celebrate the opening of Luffness New Golf Club in 1894.
Their father died in 1895 and their mother Grace Fitzjohn continued as stewardess at Muirfield. In 1896 Herbert was appointed to Stratford-On-Avon
Golf Club. Fred emigrated to America in 1896 working in Pennsylvania. He was joined the following year by Ed and Val who were appointed to Ardsley
Golf Club, NY. In September 1897 Val Fitzjohn defeated John Shippen, the first black American golfer in a 36 hole match at Ardsley. In December 1897
a tournament was organised at Lakewood Golf Club with prizes worth $150, and featured the largest gathering of North Berwick caddies on American
soil, including Harry Gullane, Robert M. Thomson, Willie Anderson, Jamie Campbell, Willie Collins, James Litster, John Forman and Tom Harley from
Aberlady. The tournament was played on New Years Day 1898 when the 'negro' John Shippen also took part and Val Fitzjohn defeated his brother Ed at
the first extra hole to lift the first prize of $75. Despite Shippen's talent for the game, many of the American golf clubs continued to refused
him access, but he was welcomed by the Scottish golfers.
In the winter of 1898 the Fitzjohn brothers traveled south and were the first pros to be appointed to Bon Air Golf Club, Augusta, GA (later
Augusta Country Club). In 1899 the brothers moved to Springfield, New York and worked as Club and Ball Makers at Otsego Country Club, part of
the prestigious Otsego Hotel in Coopertown NY. In 1899, Val Fitzjohn finished second in the US Open at Baltimore, won by Willie Smith.
In 1901 they signed up to the famous Mohawk Golf Club in Schenectady NY. Fred branched out on his own in Montgomery County NY, before moving
to Detroit, where he worked freelance as an instructor and clubmaker from his home at 146, Harrison Street. Ed was pro at Albany Country Club,
Voorheesville, NY where he also designed golf clubs and had several patents to his credit which remain popular among collectors today.
PATRICK FLYNN (1907-1973) Elgin Golf Club, Morayshire
Patrick Flynn born 13th May 1907, 1 Harmony Place, North Berwick, son of Patrick Flynn,
a fishmonger's carter and his wife Elizabeth Quinnen. Patrick apprenticed as a plumber and was a scratch medalist of the Bass Rock and Rhodes Golf
Clubs at North Berwick. In 1927 he won the prestigious Hope Challenge Medal over the Kilspindie course and in 1929 he won the Haldane Cup over
the Glen Course and the Challenge Medal over the West Links. In 1931 and 1932 he won the Haldane Cup over the Gullane links. In 1932 he was a member
of the four-man team which won the Wemyss County Cup representing the Rhodes Golf Club. That year he entered the Scottish Amateur Championship at
Dunbar.
In 1934 he was appointed assistant pro to Ben Sayers Jnr. at North Berwick and that year he entered the Scottish Professional Championship at Nairn
scoring rounds of 79,79,78,74, for an aggregate of 310.
Patrick married Margaret Ramage from Bannockburn and in April 1935 he was appointed pro at Elgin Golf Club and the couple lived at 62 South College
Street, Elgin. Following WW2, Patrick Flynn returned to his trade as a plumber. He died at Whins of Milton, Stirling on 9th January 1973 aged 65 years.
JOHN FORREST Lindrick
Golf Club, South Yorkshire.
John Forrest, born 21st April 1854 in North
Berwick, son of John Forrest, coach hirer and his wife Christina Thomson. Johnny lived with his parents, two brothers and a sister at
1 Forrest Court, situated on the corner of Church Road and Beach Road. The stable courtyard can be seen today behind the double gates.
His brother William Forrest was a founder member of Bass Rock Golf Club in 1873 and winner of the summer and autumn medals that year.
Johnny also joined in 1873 and won the summer medal in 1876. He dominated golf in North Berwick from 1885, playing off a handicap
of plus-four he won the Bass Rock summer medal six consecutive years. In 1890 he held the record for the lowest scratch score of 72 in
a Bass Rock G.C competition, and also the lowest at Tantallon G.C with a 74. In 1892 Johnny Forrest won the prodigious Hope Challenge
Medal over Kilspindie Links.
In November 1893 Johnny Forrest was appointed golf professional at the Sheffield and District G.C, later to be named Lindrick G.C in
South Yorkshire. The Lindrick club history suggests that in December 1892 the Club professional holed-in-one at the 130 yard 7th "using
Sir W. Dalrymple's hammer headed club and a Slazenger ball".
This was in fact a club designed by Sir Walter Hamilton-Dalrymple and made by James H. Hutchison in his workshop at North Berwick.
The patent was approved in May 1893 but the hammer-head design was not popular enough to go into full production. Johnny Forrest ,
as the leading player in the town would have been involved with Hutchison in testing the club and suggesting modifications. Taking
the clubs to Shireoaks during an early visit would have impressed the members and the hole-in-one probably sealed Forrest's
appointment." In 1894-95 Forrest was also connected with the Shireoaks Golf Club which no longer exists.
Johnny Forrest played in the 1895 Open Championship at St Andrews and completed four rounds. He also played in the Open at Hoylake in 1897.
Forrest was pro at the club for 20 years and was appointed Caddie-Master in 1913, a position he retained until 1920 when he retired at the
age of 66 years. He lived with his wife Helen Lymburn and daughter Ethel at 53 Gladstone Street, Worksop and each year he sent a club for a prize
at the Bass Rock G.C Summer Meeting, a tradition the clubmakers who left North Berwick continued for many years. John Forrest died at Worksop
in 1925 and his family are buried in the North Berwick Churchyard in Kirkports where an obelisk lists their names.
JACK FORRESTER (1894-1964)
Baltusrol, New Jersey, USA
John McIntyre Forrester, born 19th
February 1894 in 85, Port Street, Glasgow, son of James Forrester, a merchant seaman and his wife Jane McIntyre. In 1900, his father was leading boatman
in the Coastguard Service living in Cairnryan House, Inch, Wigtown and a year later he was transferred to Stornaway where the children attended
the Nicholson Institute. In May 1905 he moved to North Berwick and the family lived in the Coastguard Cottages in Melbourne Road. In 1905, John
and his younger brother William were licensed caddies on the West Links. John attended North Berwick Public School before joining the GPO as a
postman. He was a member of the Rhodes Golf Club in North Berwick and at the age of 17 he won the Haldane Cup and Maxwell Shield in 1911, and
set a new amateur record of 71 for the Glen Course in 1913.
John Forrester moved with his parents to 18 Balfour Street and two weeks after War was declared he enlisted in the 3rd Battalion Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders at a recruitment meeting in North Berwick on 29th August 1914. No.2978 Sergeant John Forrester was transferred to the
2/6 Gurkas Riffles and fought in France and Flanders for almost a year before being posted to Salonica in Macedonia for three years. He
contracted malaria in 1916 and spent time in hospital.
![[Jack Forrester]](images/forrester.jpg)
(Left to Right) Mike Brady, Tommy Armour, Willie Macfarlane, Leo Degel, Joe
Kirkwood, Joe Turnesa, Johnny Farrell,
Jack Forrester, MacDonald Smith, Gene Sarazen.
Forrester sailed to America from Glasgow on the S.S. Columbia and arrived in New York on
8th March 1920. His contact was Carl H. Anderson manager of the golf equipment store Thomas E. Wilson & Co, in the Emporia building at 25
West, 45th Street, New York, (later known as the 'Wilson Company'). Anderson was born in 1889 at Brockton, Mass. and was club champion of
the Brockton Country Club at the age of fifteen. He was schoolboy champion of greater Boston in 1908 and turned pro in 1909. It is not known
if Forrester was employed at Wilson's store but during the winter he joined Carl H. Anderson in Florida and they played in the Palm Beach Golf
Club professional tournament. Forrester returned north in the spring and was appointed pro at Meadow Brook Golf Club, in New Jersey in 1921.
Later he moved to Hollywood NJ (1923-25); then to Baltusrol NJ (1926-28); Oradell NJ (1929); and Hackensack NJ (1930-34). He qualified for
the US Open from 1921-1935 with his best finish being fourth place in 1923.
He played in the US PGA Championship in 1921 (defeated by Walter Hagen in the first round), also 1923 and 1924. Sandy-haired Jack Forrester
was the most successful pro in New Jersey from 1926 until 1936. He won the Mid-South Open at Pinehurst in 1928 and the New Jersey State
Pro/AM on several occasions.
In 1923, David Campbell was appointed assistant to Jack Forrester at Hollywood Golf Club (NJ). Davie was the brother of Alex 'Nipper' Campbell
(Brookline) a member of the famous golfing family from Troon in Ayrshire. Davie was assistant pro at Gleneagles before joining Jack Forrester
at Deal. That year Davie won the New Jersey Open and Jack Forrester finished third. Davie was 26 years old when he met his brother Alex for
the first time in America.
During the winter months from 1923-1931 Jack Forrester joined an increasing band of professionals who played tournaments in California,
Texas, Arkansas and Florida, before returning north in the spring. This new breed of professionals where known in the press as the
troubadours - who wandered first class, some in Lincolns, Cadillacs and Packards, from post to post, making their temporary abodes during
the winter wherever a tournament was in progress.
The trail led to California where two big events - the California and Long Beach open championships were held, through Texas and Arkansas
where the Dallas, Texarkana and South Central open championships were staged, then to Florida for the Miami, Central Florida, West Coast,
Florida, South Florida open championships, before breaking the journey north with their final tournament at Pinehurst for the North and
South open. The prize money available over the winter amounted to $28,000.
Forrester was described in the sports pages of the New York Times as a dyed-in-the-woods Scot who retained his 'burr' despite a long
residence in the USA. Although he was not born in North Berwick, Jack listed the town as the place he came from at every opportunity. He
lived with his wife Anne and their two sons at 341 Grove Street, Bergen, NJ. Jack Forrester was elected President of the New Jersey PGA
(1933-35) and died in August 1964 at Barnstable, Massachusetts.
JOHN J. FRASER Inverness Golf Club
John James Fraser born 15th June 1895, 10 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh, son of John Fraser,a Town
Council carter and his wife Elizabeth Risk. John moved with his parents to North Berwick where his father was a founder member of the Glen Golf
Club in 1906. John J Fraser was appointed pro at North Wilts G.C (1920-23) before he moved to Inverness G.C (1923-1938). John remained single and
lived in McEwan Drive, Inverness where he died.
MAYNARD GOLDSMITH Royal Cape
Club, South Africa
Maynard Mills Goldsmith, born 23rd May 1908 in Cardross
Golf Club, Dumbarton, son of Harry Goldsmith, club master and his wife Francis Parker. His parents moved to North Berwick to manage the
Temperance Cafe, (now 88, High Street) and then as proprietors of Seabank Hotel in Marine Parade. On leaving North Berwick School, Maynard
apprenticed as a club maker with Ben Sayers & Son and was Scottish Amateur Champion in 1926.
![[Lucerne]](images/lucerne.jpg)
For three years he was assistant to Norman Grant from North Berwick at Cannes Golf Club in France before being appointed head pro at Lucerne
Golf Club in Switzerland in 1929. He remained there for eight years and was Swiss Professional Champion in 1933, runner-up twice and also
winner of the Swiss Close championship. His pupils were both winner and runner-up in the Swiss Amateur in 1936-37.
Maynard married his first wife Ethel Millar in North Berwick in 1935 and they had a son William. In August 1937, Maynard was appointed pro at
the Royal Cape Club in South Africa after being recommended for the position by Henry Cotton and Percy Alliss. Twenty candidates applied for
the job and 'Jock' Goldsmith as he was known, worked on the former military base at Wynberg for the remainder of his career.
Goldsmith played against South African Bobby Locke on several occasions, and in 1939 they contested the final of the matchplay Sunlight
Purse, a prestigious professional tournament which Locke won. Goldsmith was playing well that year and had his best opportunity to win the
SA Open Championship but had to withdraw after badly cutting his hand on a glass door. WW2 then intervened and Jock Goldsmith served in the
Desert and Italian campaigns. During the conflict he met up with Bobby Locke in Cairo, he was flying Liberator bombers between Egypt and
Italy. After the war Locke won the British Open Championship four times.
The tradition at Ben Sayers & Son, was for the apprentices on completion of their five years training, to be offered a position as assistant
to former Sayers club makers and contacts around the world. Following a request by Maynard Goldsmith for an assistant in South Africa, Allan
McLachlan was offered the position and sailed for Cape Town.
Allan McLachlan born 9th December 1914, in Abbey Road, North Berwick, son of Alexander McLachlan, gardener at the Marine Hotel, and his wife
Mary Ann Munro. His father later worked on the Abbey Farm and served in the Royal Air Force during WW1. Allan McLachlan apprenticed as a
club maker with Ben Sayers & Son in their new workshop in Forth Street. In an interview in the South Africa Golf magazine Allan said, "That
was in the days of hickory shafts and we worked from 8am - 6pm and still found time for a round of golf in the evening. I got my handicap
down to six, then four. When I was 21 years old I was put in the professional's shop beside the first tee on the West Links, demonstrating
Sayers clubs and selling to the customers".
Allan emigrated to South Africa in 1938 to be assistant to Jock Goldsmith at Royal Cape. He also fought in Italy during WW2 and his brother
another Sayers apprentice Arthur McLachlan was killed in Burma in March 1945 while serving with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. In 1947
Allan Mclachlan was appointed head pro at Hermanus Golf Club, 120 kilometers from Cape Town where he remained until he retired in the 1980s.
In February 1951, Goldsmith was joined by Arnaud Edgar, grandson of Arnaud Massy as his assistant. Edgar was previously assistant to James
Brash at Prestonfield Golf Club, Edinburgh.
Willie Thomson from Forth Street, North Berwick was a founder
member of the Professional Golfers Association in 1901.
CYRIL GOODCHILD (1916-1998) Bramall Park
Golf Club, Stockport, UK
Cyril Goodchild born 8th January 1916 at 41 Old Abbey
Road, North Berwick, son of James Goodchild, a postman and his wife Lynda Parker. Cyril served a five year apprenticeship as a club maker
with Ben Sayers & Son and was a member of Rhodes Golf Club and Bass Rock Golf Club winning the Spring Medal (1934); Autumn Medal (1937) and Dickson Cup (1936).
In 1938 at the age of 22 years, Cyril was appointed assistant to Henry Cotton at Ashridge Golf Club in Hertfordshire. During WW2 he served
in the RAF and landed in Normandy, but after a few months in France he was invalided out and returned to Henry Cotton, then at Coombe Hill
and subsequently followed him to Royal Mid-Surrey.
In 1947, Cyril Goodchild branched out on his own and was appointed head pro at Bramall Park Golf Club, Stockport, Manchester where he
remained for over 39 years, until his retirement in 1986. Henry Cotton was invited to Cyril's retirement festivities but due to his failing
health, the journey from Portugal was too much for him. Cotton contacted the PGA and insisted that Cyril be given a Honorary Associate
Membership of the PGA and this was presented to Cyril at his retirement party. Cyril died in 1998 in Manchester and the Ladies section
at Bramall continue to play for the Cyril Goodchild Trophy.
DAVIE GRANT SNR. (1860-1903) Dinard Club,
Ille-et-Vilaine, FRA
David Grant born 16th July 1860 in Wilson Court, Elbe Street,
Leith, the illegitimate son of Jane Grant daughter of Daniel Grant, blacksmith. David was raised by his auntie Cecilia Grant in
Lochend Road, Leith. His mother Jane married Lawrence Hay and they lived in Earlston.
On leaving school Davie Grant was employed cleaning train engines at St Margaret's Works, Edinburgh and at the age of 18 years he
moved to North Berwick and was living at 11, Forth Street. He married Isabella Thomson from North Berwick, part of the Thomson
golfing dynasty. Her sister Catherine married Ben Sayers and their brother was Wilfred Thomson. The youngest sister Emily Thomson
married James White and their son Jack White won the 1904 Open Championship.
In 1880, Davie Grant was eking a living labouring in the winter at North Berwick and playing in professional golf tournaments
around the country. In 1885 he was a professional at Musselburgh and by 1888 was back at North Berwick teaching on the West Links.
In June that year he enrolled is youngest son David Grant Jnr at North Berwick Public School. During this period he started a golf
ball-making business and by 1890 was employing his brother-in-law Willie Thomson, making golf balls in his house in Forth Street.
Grant was a small man with fair hair and a moustache that looked white from a distance. In 1892, he was engaged by Lord Tweedale,
chairman of the North British Railway Company and former captain of North Berwick Golf Club (1890) to layout the course at Silloth
in Cumbria. Grant was assisted by Mungo Park who became the first professional at Silloth. During his playing career Davie formed
a formidable partnership with his brother-in-law Ben Sayers in fourball matches. On one occasion they defeated Andrew and Hugh
Kirkaldy in a well publicised money match. Grant played in his first Open Championship in 1878 at Prestwick. He entered the
Championship fifteen times, had six top-ten finishes and his highest place was sixth equal at St Andrews in 1888. That year he was
appointed the first professional at the Dinard Club near Ille-et-Vilaine in France. He also played for Scotland in the professional
international matches and although he preferred to describe himself as a ball maker, it was in teaching the game that his talent
was recognised.
![[David Grant]](images/grant.jpg)
Davie Grant Snr stymied on the 17th green circa 1888 Grant was a pioneer of the one hour lesson rather than the traditional method of teaching while
playing a round of golf with the pupil. The professionals could teach on the big course up to the wall but only before 10am and
Grant was able to charge 3/6d per hour while the others charged 2/-. Davie took a keen interest in ladies' golf and taught the
Orr sisters from North Berwick to play the game and it was said their swing resembled Grant's style. They lived with their parents
at 18 Dirleton Avenue and their father engaged Grant as his daughter's personal golf instructor. Their father was very immobile
without the aid of his horse and believed in physical training for his daughters and selected golf as their chosen sport. In 1897
the Ladies' Championship in it's fifth year came to Scotland for the first time and was played at Gullane. Two of the Misses Orr
sisters contested the final with a third sister reaching the quarter finals. Grant caddied for Edith C. Orr throughout the
competition which attracted criticism from the LGU, and she was the ultimate winner 4 & 3.
In 1898 Davie Grant was living in a two-roomed apartment at 33, Melbourne Place with his wife and ten children. David Jnr (b.1882),
Kate (b.1884), Arthur (b.1886), Isabella (b.1889), George (1891), Jeanie (b.1894), Norman (b.1896), Alexander (b.1897) Robert
(b.1899), Bernard (b.1900). David Grant Snr. died of tuberculosis on 24 June 1903 in Kendall Cottage, aged 43 years.
David Grant Jnr.
David 'Sonny' Grant Jnr. was a colourful character by all accounts. He was charged with assult in March 1889 and sentenced to a
fine or 2 days in jail, he paid the fine. In December 1890 he was charged with Breach of the Peace, but on that occasion the
verdict was 'Not Proven'. Sonny Grant was awarded his first-class caddie badge No.100 in February 1896 and at the age of 18 years
he was granted a professional licensed on the West Links.
Sonny Grant entered the Open Championship for the first time in 1901 at Muirfield. The following year he was based at the Maloja
G.C in Switzerland and in 1904 he spent several months at the Bad-Nauheim course in Germany. At the opening of that course he
played an exhibition match with Henry Longhurst from Ascot. In 1906 he joined his brother Arthur Grant at Biarritz (1907-1908).
Sonny Grant played in the Open Championship eight times, his last appearance was in 1912.
The PGA organised two national tournaments, the News Of The World tournament started in 1903 and the Sphere and Tatler foursomes,
first played in 1911. The players qualified for those events at regional competitions. Success in the PGA tournaments ensured the
top professionals were invited to play in exhibition matches which were a lucrative form of competition. Sonny Grant and his
partner George Duncan qualified for the first Sphere and Tatler Cups and the following year Grant partnered Sandy Herd.
Sonny married Agnes Purves in 1911 and they lived at 68, High Street, North Berwick. During WW1, Sonny Grant and his family
experienced hardship and he applied for an exemption from overseas service in 1916, but was turned down by Lothians and Peebles
Conscription Appeal Board. Sonny served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, 34th Combined Field Ambulance and he died of pneumonia on
6th July 1919 in Marseilles while returning from WW1. He was buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles and his death was
carried in the popular American Golfer magazine in September 1919.
Arthur Grant
Arthur, like his brothers was a caddie on the West Links before being granted a professional license on the West Links. Arthur
entered the Open Championship for the first time in 1906 when he joined his brother David in the field at Muirfield.
Arthur was appointed pro at Biarritz in 1907 and in April that year he partnered Ben Sayers in a match against Arnaud Massy and
Jean Gassiat. Played over 36 holes at Biarritz, the Frenchmen won by a single hole and within two months Massy was British Open
Champion. Arthur played in the Open Championship in 1908, 1910 and 1914.
Arthur moved to Valescure GC (1909-1911) and then to Le Touquet GC situated 38 miles south of Calais. This became a very
fashionable area where Noel Coward and others were entertained in the luxury hotels. P.G. Wodehouse was also a member of Le
Touquet and lived next door to Arthur Grant and their families became very good friends. Following WW1, Arthur was attached to
Monte Carlo G.C (1922-1927). Arthur and his wife Ruth are buried in North Berwick cemetery.
Norman Grant
It was inevitable that Norman Grant, born into this golfing dynasty would follow his father as a caddie then professional at North
Berwick until the Great War disrupted his career. Three weeks after war was declared, Norman volunteered for the 11th Battalion
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at a recruitment meeting in North Berwick on 2nd September 1914. He was transferred to the Royal
Engineers, and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal in the Signal Corps. He was demobed on the 6th March 1919 and when his WW1
service medals were being distributed in 1922 they were sent to his new address, San Andres Golf Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Norman, 5'5 inches tall, and brown hair married Agnes Purves from Portobello and they had a son David born in 1913. Norman returned
from South America and escorted his wife and son to Philadelphia where they joined his brother Robert Grant at Bala Golf Club for
six months. Norman returned to work at North Berwick and in 1927 he was appointed to Cannes Country Club as private professional
to the Aga Khan. Norman Francis Orr Grant died on 12th November 1955 at 3 Lorne Square, North Berwick.
Alexander Grant
Alexander and David 'Sonny' Grant Jnr. were killed in WW1 and their names are listed on the War Memorial in Quality Street. They
are also listed among the former pupils on the War Memorial in the North Berwick Community Centre (original High School).
Robert
Grant Robert Finlay Grant, born 3rd April 1899, Crombie Place, North Berwick.
At the time of Robert's birth his father was living in Newton House overlooking Nairn golf course where he was employed. Nairn Golf Club was
founded by Robert Finlay, the local MP who may have inspired Davie to name his son after him. At this time Joseph Dalgleish was the greenkeeper
at Nairn, he had moved from Archerfield in 1894 and since then Nairn has been listed among the world's top courses. Ben Sayers continued the
North Berwick connection when he was invited to altered the tees and bunkers at Nairn in the 1920s.
The row of houses where Robert Grant was born in North Berwick were built by Dr. John Crombie in 1898 and known as Crombie Place. In 1901 the
Town Council re-named the property Park Place after Open Golf Champion Willie Park Jnr. whose club and ball-making workshop was at 15, Beach Road.
The row of houses was later known locally as the 'Numbers' and renamed Nos.17-25 Old Abbey Road.
Robert learned to play golf from his older brothers and he followed them in to the professional ranks. He worked in the London area before
enlisting in WW1 when he was wounded at Mons in northern France. Robert emigrated to America in 1922 and assisted his cousin George Sayers at
Merion Golf Club, PA. In 1924 he was appointed head pro on the nine-hole course at Bala Golf Club adjacent to Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.
In 1924, Bob Grant and his cousin George Sayers qualified in the regional section for the PGA Championship at Philmont Country Club, PA. Neither
travelled west for the second qualifying on the Monday before the championship began at French Springs Resort in French Lick, Indiana. Fred McLeod
and Jack Forrester qualified for the final 32 players but were defeated in the first round of the matchplay. Grant moved to New York in 1927 and
was appointed pro at the Women's National Golf and Tennis Club at Glen Head on Long Island. During the winter he was employed at the Vander-Built-In
golf course on 42nd Street, opposite Grand Central Station. This was the largest indoor golf school in the USA. It had 18 holes made of clay on a
cement base, covered with sand which was kept moist and had the same resistance as turf. The layout included a water feature and sand bunkers and
the facility was used by over 300 golfers each day.
On 18th March 1927, tragedy struck when Robert Grant fell to his death from his fifth floor room at 371 West, 56th Street in Manhattan. The report
in the New York Times suggested there were no suspicious circumstances and the police believed Grant had an attack of vertigo. He was 28 years old
and left a wife and two children.
Sandie Russell, the Starter at Gullane No.1 had the loudest voice in
the county and the locals called him ' Whisper'. His son Bud Russell emigrated to Australia as a golf pro, arriving with 25 shillings in his
pocket, he left a millionaire.
HENRY GULLANE (1874-1907) St David's,
Pennsylvania, USA
Harry Gullane born 19th May 1874 at 4 Market Place, North
Berwick, son of James Gullane, a fisherman, and his wife Janet Taylor. Harry and his brother Andrew Gullane were fisherman before being
granted their professional license on the West Links in April 1893. Harry's pro badge on the West Links was No.54. He was the first professional
to be appointed to Gullane Golf Club and in 1894 he represented the club in the professional tournament to celebrate the opening of Luffness New
Club when he partnered Andrew Kirkaldy. Harry played in the Open Championship at Muirfield in 1896 and his brother Andrew Gullane was appointed
pro at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban, (1912-1938).
Harry Gullane emigrated to America, sailing from Liverpool on S.S. Rhynland he arrived in Philadelphia on 20th January 1897. Harry was
appointed professional and greenkeeper at Philadelphia Country Club where he set a new course record 77 strokes. In January 1898, Gullane
played in a pro tournament at Lakewood, New York which included seven former North Berwick pros.
In March 1898, Harry Gullane and William W. Campbell of Hoylake and the Philadelphia Country Club challenged Jack Harrison from Musselburgh
and Jamie Campbell (listed above) of the Belmont Cricket Club. They played one round at Belmont and another at Philadelphia Country Club.
Later Jack Harrison and W H 'Bert' Way from the Meadowbrook Club challenged Harry Gullane and Jamie Campbell to a match, two rounds at
Meadowbrook and two at Philadelphia for $200. These challenge matches gave the players more exposure and generated huge interest among the
rival club members.
Harry Gullane won the first professional golf tournament in the Philadelphia area, played in 1898 at the Huntingdon Valley Country Club.
There were ten entries and the club provided a free lunch for the contestants. They played the nine-hole course four times each day to make
it a 72-hole tournament. The newspaper report suggested the greens were lumpy and the club's steam roller failed to level the brick-like
surface. Harry Gullane had the winning score of 319 while Willie Anderson finished twelve strokes back in second place and Jamie Campbell
was third with Robert M Thomson completing the North Berwick quartet. The purse totalled $150 and the winner received $100.
In October 1898, Harry Gullane was among sixteen professionals playing in a tournament at Baltusrol Golf Club, Short Hills, New Jersey. The
result was a tie between Harry Gullane and Willie Anderson the pro at Baltusrol. Despite playing in torrential rain they both equalled the
course record of 81 strokes and deicided not to take part in a play-off but to divide the $130 prize money. Third was John Shippen a
Shinnecock Indian and the first African American golf professional in the United States. The following day Harry Gullane returned home to
North Berwick for the winter.
According to Peter C Trenham, St David's Golf Club Historian, Gullane returned to Philadelphia in late March 1899 with a collection of golf
clubs from the Forgan Golf Club Works in St. Andrews. He formed an association with the Marshall E. Smith & Bro. sporting goods store at
1020 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia where he fitted people for clubs and gave golf lessons for 50c. A few weeks later Gullane was the first pro to be
appointed to the nine-hole St David's Golf Club in Wayne, PA. The club had moved from Fenimore Lane and was in the process of completing
its new golf course on Lancaster Pike. He supervised the extension of that course to 18 holes which was completed in April 1899. Also that
year Gullane laid out a nine-hole course at West Chester Golf and Country Club, Pennsylvania which was opened in 1900. Gullane set a new
course record at Cape May G.C. (NJ) in 1899 and at Catasauqua G.C (PA) in 1900.
![[Harry Gullane]](images/luffness.jpg)
Professionals at the New Luffness Competition, Oct.11, 1894
Back Row (Left to Right) Ben Campbell, Willie Auchterlonie, Andrew Kirkaldy, Davie Grant, George Sayers, Philip Wynne,
Harry Gullane, George
Shepherd. Front: (Left Seated) Tom Morris, (Right Seated) Ben Sayers
His best finish in the US Open Championship was seventh equal at Baltimore Country Club in 1899 when he partnered Jack Park from Musselburgh,
and they both received $50. The day before the championship they held a driving contest and Harry finished second with a drive of 264 yards 2
feet 9 inches. Willie Hoare had the winning drive which was 269 yards 7 feet 6 inches. Those were big drives as the gutta-percha ball was
still in use at that time. In 1900 Harry Gullane was pro at the Philadelphia Cricket Club (Chestnut Hill, PA). In April that year he
partnered Willie Thomson of the Huntingdon Valley Country Club in an exhibition match against Harry Vardon at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
It was reported in the New York Times that Gullane outdrove Vardon by 10 to 15 yards.
In October 1900, Harry Gullane boarded the Pennsylvania Railroad for the two-day trip to Chicago, Illinois where he played in the US Open at
Wheaton. Harry was joined at the Chicago Golf Club by George Turpie, the former greenkeeper at St Andrews and his brother Henry Turpie who
Harry had not seen for over four years at North Berwick. Willie Anderson and Val Fitzjohn were also in the field. Henry Turpie finished in
8th place while Harry Gullane was out of the money in 25th spot and Willie Anderson finished 11th equal. Harry Gullane entered the championship
from Pittsburgh where he laid out the course for Pittsburgh Golf Club (PA).
In 1901, Gullane returned to North Berwick permanently and five years later he married a local girl and was back giving golf lessons on the
West Links. In 1907 they lived in a row of cottages at 5, Law Road and following a domestic argument Gullane struck his wife to the floor.
Thinking he had killed her, Harry climbed Berwick Law and in a state of remorse threw himself off the quarry, plunging 70 feet to his death.
He was 32 years old and his wife Margaret Brown survived the tragedy. His suicide was reported in the New York Times and Harry Gullane is buried
in the North Berwick Cemetery.
Access images of Harry Gullane in Philadelphia
In 1908 'The American Golfer' magazine complied a composite golf course taken from the best 18 holes in the USA. Among them were the 7th and
16th holes at St David's, laid out by Harry Gullane and the only course to have two holes featured. In 1914, when Ben Sayers visited his son
George at Merion Cricket Club, he played the neighbouring course at St. David's every day. The nine hole course at West Chester Golf and
Country Club, Pennsylvania also remains as a testimony to Harry Gullane's short life.
Harry Gullane is listed among the first forty golf professionals in the United States prior to 1898 and is recognised today as a true pioneer,
and one of the earliest names of golf and club making in America.
JAMES GULLANE (1891-1986) Colorado
Springs, USA
James 'Jimmy' Gullane nephew of Harry Gullane (above) was born 6th
December 1891 at 22 Forth Street, North Berwick, son of James Gullane, a seaman and his wife Maggie Gullane. Jimmy served a five year
apprenticeship as a club maker with Ben Sayers & Son before emigrating to America at the age of 23 years. He sailed from Glasgow with his
friend Davie Ferguson (listed above) on the steamer S.S. California, and they arrived in New York on 18th May 1914.
![[James Gullane]](images/jgullane.jpg)
Jimmy travelled to Philadelphia to take up the position of assistant pro to George Sayers (son of Ben Sayers) at Merion Golf and Cricket
Club, PA. In 1916, Gullane finished eighth in the Philadelphia Open and the following year he was appointed golf instructor at Sunnybrook
G.C, Flourtown, PA. In the final years of WW1 Jimmy served with the US Army and received his US citizenship. During this period he struck
up a friendship with the PGA champion Jim Barnes and for several seasons from 1915 they wintered together at Palma Ceia C.C, Tampa in Florida.
Gullane followed Jim Barnes to Colorado Springs and was appointed golf instructor at the nine-hole course at Broadmoor Hotel. Barnes was
appointed playing professional and allowed to compete in tournaments while Jimmy Gullane looked after the members at Broadmoor. Gullane
resided in the YMCA in Colorado Springs for the first two years and when Barnes left in 1919 Gullane was appointed head pro at Broadmoor
Golf Club and assisted in extending the course to eighteen holes (East Course), which was completed in late 1919.
He finished seventh equal in the first Open Championship of Colorado in 1924. The press wrote " Gullane is a brilliant performer although
inclined to be erratic at times."Jimmy entered the 1926 US Open championship from Broadmoor and remained with the club until 1927. Jimmy
Thomson, the son of Wilfred Thomson from North Berwick took over at Broadmoor Golf Club in 1930.
Jimmy Gullane was a friend of Wilfred Thomson from their days on the West Links at North Berwick. Wilfred was pro at the Country Club Of
Virginia and Gullane played numerous matches with his son at Colorado Springs. In 1925, Jimmy Thomson was the youngest player to qualify for
the US Open at 16 years of age. In 1930, Thomson broke the course record at Broadmoor when he shot 64 on the par 70 course. Gullane held
the previous record for six years when in 1924 he scored 65. Thomson was a big hitter and drove the 18th green at Broadmoor on several
occasions.
3,000 spectators swarmed over the West Links causing long delays when
US Open Champion Walter Hagen and Denny Shute played an exhibition match against Bob Denholm and W. B. Torrance.
New York Times - August 1933.
In 1920, Jimmy Gullane married Hilda Cooze in Colorado Springs. Hilda was born in
Barnsley, England and they had a son James Gullane Jnr. Jimmy played in the 1926 US Open at Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio
when Bobby Jones won the title. In 1927, Gullane was persuaded to move to Hillcest Country Club by Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips
Petroleum in Oklahoma, to serve as first professional at the new course in Bartlesville. Gullane played in the qualifying rounds of
the 1933 US PGA Championship at Blue Mound Country Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin but failed to be among the 32 qualifiers. Jimmy remained
at Hillcrest until 1954 and then managed the driving range at Sunset Country Club for several years. He was golf professional at the
nine-hole Pawhuska Country Club until he retired in 1973. James Gullane died in July 1986 at the age of 93 years and is buried in White
Rose Cemetery, Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
The Gullane family were one of the oldest families in North Berwick and could trace their ancestors in the town back to the seventeenth
century. James's father was known as Pilot Gullane, as he was qualified to assist ships to navigate the Firth of Forth. He also was a member
of the crew on the lifeboat Fergus Ferguson (1887-1902). James's sisters Maggie and Jessie converted the ground floor of the family home at
22, Forth Street into their legendary fish and chip shop.
HUGH HAMILTON Royal and Ancient Golf Club,
St Andrews
Hugh Hamilton, born 1870 in Norton Caves, Staffordshire, son of
Hugh Hamilton, a gardener and his wife Margaret Horsburgh. Hugh's parents were born in North Berwick and they lived in the Well Tower off
Kirk Ports. In 1880, the family moved to Great Bookham and then to East Horsley, in Surrey. Hugh Hamilton returned to North Berwick
and was working under Tom Anderson as a greenkeeper on the West Links while living at 12, Forth Street, North Berwick.
Hamilton was appointed head gardener at Skibo Castle in Dornoch (1898-1899) home to Andrew Carnegie the industrialist and philanthropist
before moving to Royal Portrush Golf Club in Ireland as head greenkeeper (1900-1903). In 1904, Hamilton took over from Tom Morris as
custodian of the links at St Andrews with a wage of £3 per week, on the condition that he did not keep a shop, carry on the business
of club-making or undertake work on other courses. It was Hamilton who created many of the bunkers at St Andrews and lengthened the
course in reaction to the Haskell ball, he also extended the Jubilee course to 18 holes in 1905.
It was during this period that he devoted so much study to the invention of his special mixtures of artificial manures for putting greens,
which were such a great success. He was always experimenting and studying the theory of the treatment of turf and grasses under
different conditions. Hamilton continued to top dress the greens with Tom Morris's mix of compost of black earth with a mixture of nitrogen
phosphoric manure, but not sand. Hamilton would have attended the meetings of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and St Andrews Links Green
Committee as part of his duties. At Tom Morris's funeral, Hamilton as Links Superintendent led the procession carrying the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club silver club and balls draped in black crepe.
Hamilton wrote a chapter in the book 'Golf Greens and Green Keeping' entitled 'Treatment and Upkeep of Seaside Links'. The book edited
by Horace G. Hutchinson in 1906 included a series of articles written by among others James Braid and Harold Hilton. The book continues
to be used by golf course superintendents and has become a collectors item selling for over $15000 a copy. Hamilton parted company with
the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in September 1911, after being warned by the committee about his excessive drinking.
TOM HARLEY (1855- 1943) First Canadian
Amateur Champion
One of the most outstanding members of the old Luffness Golf
Club was Tom Harley who emigrated to Canada and won the first Canadian Amateur Championship in 1895. Thomas Harley was born at Limekilns,
Fife in 1855, son of George Harley, Master Mariner and his wife Margaret Dewar. Tom moved with his parents to Aberlady, where he served an
apprenticeship as a joiner and worked with Peter Brown, who was a founder member and captain of Luffness Golf Club.
Tom Harley won the Hope Challenge Medal in 1875, 1877, 1879, 1880. This was the only stroke play competition open to all golfers in East
Lothian, and Harley remains the only player to have won the Medal four times. In 1880, Tom Harley moved to Edinburgh before emigrating to
Canada to follow his trade and in 1895 entered the Canadian Amateur Championship from Kingston Golf Club, Ontario. Which curiously was
founded in 1891 by a gentleman who when a boy attended the public school at Dirleton, seven miles from Aberlady. Harley defeated Alex
Simpson (Royal Ottawa Golf Club) in the final to become the first Amateur Champion of Canada and he received the Gold Medal and Silver Cup
donated by Lord Aberdeen to the Canadian Golf Association formed the previous year.
Tom Harley went on to represent his club in a number of interprovincial matches between Quebec and Ontario. Kingston Golf Club situated in
the city of Kingston 200 km. east of Toronto on Lake Ontario, went out of existence around the time of WW2.
In 1898, Tom Harley was persuade by Henry J Hewat to move to America and become the first golf pro at North Jersey Golf Club. Hewat,
originally from Dumfries in Scotland was captain of the club and Harley resided at 192 Market Street, Paterson City in New Jersey. Harley
played in a pro tournament at Ocean County Hunt and Country Club, Lakewood, NY on New Years Day 1898. According to the New York Times the
field also included North Berwick pros, Harry Gullane, Robert Thomson, Willie Anderson, James Campbell and Harry Reddie. The Fitzjohn
brothers originally from Musselburgh but also pros at North Berwick played-off for the first prize. By 1909 Tom Harley was working as a
carpenter in Paterson and returned home permanently in the 1920s.
Following Harley's departure to Canada, a group of Luffness members broke away from the original club where Harley was a member and formed
Luffness New Golf Club in 1894. The original members moved west and leased land from Lord Wemyss where they laid out a course at Craigielaw,
and called their new club Kilspindie. Harley became a member of this club and during a vacation to Scotland in 1911, he won the Edward S.
Hope Challenge Cup. The trophy was presented to him by the club captain Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, former British Prime Minister (1902-05).
When Harley returned to Aberlady permanently he worked with John Cuthbert who had a carpenter and undertaker's business in Back Lane,
Aberlady. Harley was proffered Honorary Life Member of Kilspindie Golf Club in 1928. He resided with John Cuthbert at 'Maryville' in the
High Street (now Rushmoon House) where he died in 1943, aged 88 years. His achievements are recognized in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and
Museum in Oakville, Ontario.
ALEX HAY (1933- 2011) Woburn Golf Club,
Milton Keynes, UK
Alexander Galloway Hay, born 10 May 1933, Ramsay Place,
Portobello son of William Hay, Commercial Traveler and his wife Margaret Galloway. Alex was educated at Musselburgh Grammar School and
as a member of Royal Musselburgh Golf Club he won the Musselburgh Boys Championship at the age of 17 years. Alex began his working life
at the Stock Exchange before joining Ben Sayers & Son as an apprentice clubmaker in their factory in Forth Street, North Berwick. He
trained under clubmaker Charlie Thomson and on completion of his National Service in the RAF, Alex become an assistant professional. His
first job was with Bill Shankland, at Potters Bar Golf Club in Hertfordshire after Ben Sayers Jnr. intervened personally on Hay's behalf.
Alex qualified as a PGA professional in 1952 and worked at East Hertfordshire, Dunham Forest and Ashridge Golf Clubs. His long spell at
the later club, some 13 years in which his reputation as a coach flourished. He moved to Woburn in 1977 where he not only designed the
Marquess course but became the managing director in 1986 and played an influential role in the development of the golfing complex at Woburn.
Alex's grandfather was part of the fishing community in Musselburgh living at 29, Beach Lane. His mother came from Portobello and his
parents lived at 96 Campie Road, Musselburgh.
Alex was originally introduced to the BBC by the legendary sports commentator David Coleman and from 1978 Alex co-presented all the major
golf tournaments with Peter Alliss and their voices became synonymous with the BBC coverage of golf for over three decades. Alex also
worked for ABC and NBC in the United States. He was a PGA professional until 1994, a Ryder Cup referee, a talented artist and illustrator,
contributing many drawings to Golf Illustrated, and author of seven books. He stopped broadcasting for the BBC in 2004 and died 11 July,
2011, aged 78 years.
PETER HENDRIE Ulen Country Club, Indiana,
USA
Peter Hendrie born 20th November 1872 in a cottage situated beside Whitekirk
Bridge, son of Peter Hendrie, agricultural labourer and his wife Elizabeth. Peter caddied for some of the great players at North Berwick as a
boy. In 1891 Peter was working as a grocer and lodging with the Montgomery family at 18 Westgate (now 97 opposite the Abbey Church). In 1897,
he was appointed pro at York Golf Club before returning to North Berwick in 1900 when he was granted a professional license on the West Links.
He married Mary Montgomery in 1898 when he listed his occupation as a club-maker and they lived at 6 Market Place, North Berwick.
In 1902 they emigrated to Canada sailing from Glasgow to Montreal, where Pete was appointed to Victoria Golf Club, Saint-Lambert, Quebec. In
1904 he finished fourth in a National Tournament for Professionals held as a side event after the more important Canadian Amateur Championship
was complete. In 1906, Pete moved to Westmount Golf Club in Montreal (now the site of Surrey Gardens) and that year he finished ninth in the
Canadian Open.
In 1911, they travelled to America where Pete was appointed to the nine-hole course at Fort Mitchell Country Club, Covington, Kentucky. The
following year he entered the US Open Championship at the Country Club of Buffalo in New York State. In 1914 they moved to Rock Island Arsenal
G.C, Illinois and remained there for six years. In 1921 they moved to Indianapolis where the city council appointed him pro at the municipal
Riverside golf course. The green fee at Riverside was 10 dollars, plus 5 dollars for a locker and the daily fee was 50 cents. The majority of
golfers in Indiana played on municipal courses and the pro's earnings from teaching and selling equipment was quite considerable. This was
causing the City Council to consider offering the concession to the highest bidder.
In 1924, Pete was the first pro to be appointed to the nine-hole course at Ulen Country Club, Lebanon, Indiana where he retired after 22 years.
He lived with his wife Mary in the Boone Township, Lebanon County, Indiana.
![[*]](images/bunker2.jpg)
Maintenance work being carried out to a traditional revetted bunker face,
at the 176 yard, par 3, 10th hole on the West Links, North Berwick.
JACK HOBENS Factfile
JOHN HOGG (1871-1922) Northwood Golf Club
John Hogg, born 21st August 1871 in Kirklandhill, Whitekirk, son of Thomas Hogg
and his wife Jessie Hogg. John was appointed professional and greenkeeper at the nine-hole course at Northwood Golf Club (1894-98) situated 16
miles from London. In 1901 he assisted Tom Dunn to layout the course for Shanklin & Sandown G.C (1901-1906) on the Isle of Wight and was appointed
their first professional. In 1908 he moved to Thames Ditton & Esher G.C (1908-1914) on the banks of the river Thames. John Hogg enlisted in
the army during WW1 and following the conflict he returned to Thames Ditton & Esher G.C where he died in 1922.
PETER HORSBURGH (1884-1954) Perth Golf Club,
Western Australia.
Peter Milligan Horsburgh, born 27th September 1884 in Edinburgh,
son of James Horsburgh, Foreman Stevedore (docker) and his wife Lillian Cranston. Peter lived with his parents at 324, Easter Road and on leaving
school he joined the GPO as a postman. He learned to play golf on the Braid Hills course in Edinburgh and on the West Links at North Berwick.
In 1908, Peter was appointed assistant pro to Henry Hunter at Royal Cinque Ports at Deal and in 1910 he emigrated to Australia. Peter Horsburgh
and J. Bermingham were the first golf professionals to work in Western Australia. In May 1911, Horsburgh was appointed pro at Perth Golf
Club, (Royal Charter granted in 1937) at a time when the members were playing with balls painted red to show up against the desert like fairways
of white sand.
In 1911, the PGC secretary Alec. Mountain who also learned to play golf at North Berwick, was supervising the laying out of the new course
on the South Perth Links. In 1912, Perth Golf Club could not support a professional during the summer months and Horsburgh took up employment
with William Sandover & Co. Ltd, a sports equipment store in Perth. Sandover constructed a room in Hay Street, where Horsburgh could give
tuition. The walls were painted to represent the open countryside of a golf course and in the centre of the floor was a mat with a net hanging
at the other end. The facility was popular with the city golfers able to practice their skills under professional supervision. In 1913, to publicies
the business Horsburgh presented the Collesloe-Peppermint Grove Ladies Golf Club with a trophy in the shape of a silver spoon for the women's
competition.
In 1913, Horsburgh was appointed to the Busselton Golf Club, and in March 1914 he moved to Kalgoorlie Golf Club in the goldfields of Western
Australia. During WW1, he returned to Scotland to enlist in the Royal Scots before being transfered to the Seaforth Highlanders. Following
the conflict Horsburgh married Isabella Wood in 1920 and that year he was appointed pro at Teeside Golf Club (1920-22) and they lived at 14
Harewood Road, Thornaby-on-Tees, Cleveland.
In 1922, they returned to Australia and he was appointed pro at Barmera Golf Club, while living in the Loveday district of Barmera, a small town,
two-and-a-half hours drive from Adelaide. Following WW2 the family returned to Edinburgh where Peter at the age of 63 was employed in a factory
as a time-keeper. He died 23rd December 1954. Peter Horsburgh has the distinction of being listed among the earliest golf professionals
in Australia.
H.A.HOWDEN (1876-1922) and J.D.HOWDEN (1878-1921)
Australian Amateur Champions
Henry Anderson Howden born 31st May 1876 at
Highfield Farm, two miles south of North Berwick, son of Charles Howden, farmer and his wife Cecilia Anderson. Henry had seven brothers and five
sisters and they lived with their parents and four servants in the farmhouse at Highfield. Harry and the other children attended the Parochial
School in Westgate North Berwick close to the West Links golf course. Harry began playing golf from the age of five pitching balls into an up-turned
umbrella.
![[Jim Howden]](images/howden.jpg)
At the beginning of the nineteenth century the Howden family worked the land at Ormiston Mains in East Lothian. Francis Howden moved to Falkland
Palace where he was the factor in 1839. His son Charles Howden returned to East Lothian and was tenant farmer at Highfield in 1872. When Charles
died on 26th January 1895 his widow Cecilia returned to her birthplace of Victoria, Australia accompanied by her three sons. Harry, Jim and Cecil
Howden.
Left: Jim Howden
In 1895, Harry joined the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and won the amateur championship of Australia
in 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1901; the championship of the Royal Melbourne Cup over the Caulfield links in 1897, 1899 and 1902. Victorian Amateur
Championship 1896, 1897, 1898 and the Essendon Club Championship in 1898 (now Northern Golf Club).
In 1900, Harry Howden won the Surrey Hills Gentlemen's Championship Gold Medal (later called the Riverside Cup), played at the Surrey Hills Golf
Club on the Mont Albert course in Melbourne. Harry worked for the London Bank while living in the Leura district of the Blue Mountains, 30 miles
from Sydney. He died six months after his brother Jim, also of tuberculosis at Pennant Hills on 23rd May 1922 and was buried in the Presbyterian
Cemetery at Rookwood in Sydney.
James Dalrymple Howden born 1st February 1878 at Highfield Farm was also a fine golfer. He joined Royal Melbourne Golf Club where the professional
was Alex McLaren from North Berwick. Jim Howden won the Amateur Championship of Australia in1904 and 1911 and was runner up to his brother in 1898.
He won the Victorian Amateur Championship in 1899 and 1900 and was NSW Champion in 1914.
Jim Hutchison (below) from North Berwick laid out the 18-hole course for the Australian Golf Club in 1904 and that year he played in the first
Australian Open Championship and the first professional golf tournament in New Zealand.
Golf in Australia can be traced back to the Melbourne Cup in 1891 and the early Amateur Championships when seven players took part. They were the
Howden brothers from North Berwick, Louis Whyte, R.A.A. Balfour-Melville from Edinburgh, Michael Scott from England, Daniel G. Souter and Carnegie
Clark from Carnoustie. They are all recognised as the pioneers of golf in Australia.
In 1904, during the Amateur Championship at Royal Sydney Golf Club, the Professional Open Championship of Australia was played over Botany Bay links
when the final was contested between Alex McLaren and Carnegie Clark, with the Carnoustie player winning the championship.
Jim Howden had a very short, fast back swing, and although not a long driver, he was remarkably accurate. His iron play was very powerful, while
his putting was always sound. In 1910 he was Captain of Stawell Golf Club, situated in the Wimmera region of Victoria and that year playing off
a handicap of plus-two he was Ballart Golf Club Champion.
After several years on a station (homestead) in Victoria, Jim moved to New South Wales in 1912 and was appointed Secretary of the Australian Golf
Club. He was also Secretary of Leura Golf Club and in 1916 he enlisted in WW1 and joined the Australian Light Horse Brigade. He was posted to
France in December 1916 and after spending months in hospital in England he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and discharged to Australia. Jim
remained single and died of TB on 11th December 1921 and was buried in Katoomba Cemetery in Sydney. Their brother Cecil Howden was station manager
at Murchison Downs Station, Western Australia and he served in Egypt during WW1.
DAVID HUISH North Berwick New
Club
David Huish born 23rd April 1944 in Edinburgh was best known for leading
the Open Championship at the half-way stage at Carnoustie in 1975. Having qualified via a tense seven-way play-off he shot rounds of 67 and
69 to lead by two shots ahead of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer. Huish started off as an assistant in 1959 to Hugh Watt at Gullane
G.C and in 1965 he won the Scottish Assistants' Championship. Huish was professional at Hamilton G.C before being appointed to North Berwick New Club
in March 1967. David Huish was a former British PGA Captain and since 1987 a member of the Ryder Cup committee. In 2002, he was appointed a
director of Ryder Cup Limited. Huish played on the European Senior Tour with wins at the Collingtree Seniors Classic (1996); PGA Scottish
Seniors Championship (1998); Lawrence Batley Seniors (2000) and Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland (2000), which he successfully
defended in 2001. Gregor 'Josh' Jamieson served his apprenticeship with David Huish at North Berwick in 1973. Jamieson is currently in
Orlando coaching former US Open champion Retief Goosen.
David Huish retired in April 2009 after forty years at North Berwick and was succeeded by his son Martyn Huish who heads up the club's
teaching programme. Martyn has worked for his father as assistant since 1989.
JAMES L. HUTCHISON
Philadelphia Country Club, USA
James Lyon Hutchison, born
30 January 1879 in Hercus Loan, Musselburgh, son of James H. Hutchison, clubmaker and his wife Alison Bisset. His father had the club makers
business at the West Links, North Berwick and was the nephew of Peter McEwan from the famous Musselburgh club making dynasty. James L. Hutchison
sailed to New York in 1900 to take up employment as head pro at the nine-hole course at Philadelphia Country Club situated off City Avenue in
Philadelphia. In the US immigration records, Hutchison lists Willie Anderson as his contact in America. When Hutchison first arrived he resided
in a hostel with staff from the golf club including, coachmen, grooms, stablemen, and his golf assistant Stewart McEwan from Musselburgh.
In a letter to the editor of the Taranaki Herald in New Zealand in 1905 it was written that Jim Hutchison accompanied Harry Vardon for eight
months on his golf tour of America. It was sponsored by A.G. Spalding & Brothers to promote their new golf ball named the ' Vardon Flyer'.
Vardon, Hutchison and Spalding's tour manager Charlie Cox, pro at Fairfield Country Club CT, travelled from one end of the country to the other using
boats, trains and horse-drawn wagons. They visited New England, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Montreal, Toronto, Colorado and Florida.
In the middle of Vardon's ten month programme he returned to Britain to defend his title as Open Champion and sailed back to America in June 1900.
Hutchison and Vardon played in the US Open at the Chicago Golf Club, Illinois in October which Vardon won. The field also included Willie Anderson
and Harry Gullane from North Berwick.
Hutchison returned to visit Scotland in 1902 and sailed back to the USA the following year with Fred McLeod, William Hobens, and George Thomson.
Hutchison travelled to California and sailed on the SS Sonoma from San Francisco to Auckland New Zealand. On 3 June 1903 the Auckland Star reported
that " Mr. J. L. Hutchison of North Berwick, a professional player was on his way to Sydney in search of an engagement. He had a high testimonial
from Harry Vardon, the celebrated player."
When Jim Hutchison arrived in Australia he was employed by the Mussey-Harris Company and was befriended by Carnegie Clark from Carnoustie who
was the leading golfer in New South Wales. Carnegie was employed by McMillan Deery & Co. a sports store located at 252 George Street, Sydney.
Clark toured the northern territories, playing exhibition matches, giving tuition and obtaining orders for the company. When Clark left McMillan
Deery, he was replaced by Jim Hutchison.
Jim Hutchison played in the first Australian Open Championship (1904) and the first
professional golf tournament in New Zealand (1904).
In July 1903, Hutchison and four other professionals played in a tournament over the Killara Links at Lindfield Golf and Recreation
Club, Sydney which was the first time five golf professionals had met in the Southern Hemisphere. In October 1903, Hutchison entered
the first Professional Golf Tournament to be held in New South Wales. Played on the Botany Bay links at the Australian Golf Club where
Hutchison held the course record 72. In October 1904 Hutchison toured Queensland and gave lessons to the newly formed Toowoomba GC and
the members at Yeerongpilly GC.
In December 1904, Hutchison took part in the first professional golf tournament in New Zealand. Played over the nine-hole course at New Plymouth
situated on the west coast of North Island, during a Carnival and Exhibition week. The tournament was held on the Nigamotu links which is now
Rugby Park and the field included Jim Hutchison, Alex McLaren, (Royal Melbourne GC) Gilbert Martin, (Wellington GC), and Fred Hood (Auckland GC). At the
same tournament a professional foursome match was contested over 36 holes between Hutchison and Hood against Martin and McLaren with the latter
pair dividing the £10 purse.
Fred Hood originally from Millhill, Musselburgh was professional at Malahide Golf Club near Dublin in 1898 before he emigrated to New Zealand.
His brother Tom Hood, professional at Royal Dublin, joined him as his assistant at Auckland Golf Club in 1902. Fred's older brother David
Hood sailed for New Zealand in 1906 and was employed by Jock McLaren (below) as a clubmaker at Otago GC, Dunedin. Tom Hood returned to Ireland
in 1904 and entered the Open Championship in June that year.
Access New Zealand Golf Poster - 1904
In September 1904, Hutchison played in the inaugural Australian Open Championship on Botany Bay links, with Jim Howden and Alex McLaren from North
Berwick. Amateurs filled the first three places while Hutchison tied fourth with Carnegie Clark. In the professional match-play tournament Alex
McLaren was defeated in the final by Carnegie Clark.
During 1904, Gilbert Martin the pro at the Australian Golf Club asked Jim Hutchison and Carnegie Clark to assist him to layout the new 18-hole and
9-hole courses for the Australian Golf Club on Kensington links in Sydney. Although the course has been altered over the years, Jim Hutchison is
still associated with the original layout.
Gilbert Martin, born in Australia in 1883 was one of the first homebred players to become a professional golfer, yet his achievements go unrecognised.
Gilbert apprenticed with Willie Hunter from Perth, Scotland who was pro at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney. When Willie left in 1902 Gilbert
was appointed head pro. He moved to New Zealand in 1906 and was based at Wellington Golf Club in Heretaunga Park. Martin was recognised as one of the
top coaches in New Zealand and his best known pupil was T. H. Horton. Gilbert Martin died in a house fire in 1927, aged 44 years.
Hutchison returned to Scotland permanently in 1905 and was a licenced pro on the West Links, North Berwick. That year he played in
the Open Championship at St. Andrews. In 1909, Hutchison was appointed to Keighley G.C. and in April 1910 he moved to Headingley
Golf Club in West Yorkshire (1910-1938).
Bob Dickson from North Berwick was appointed head greenkeeper at Headingley Golf Club in 1909. His reference for the position was Jack
White from North Berwick, the pro at Sunningdale and Hugh Hamilton the custodian of St Andrews links who Dickson worked with for eight
years at North Berwick. Completing the Sunningdale connection, Harry S. Colt was re-designing the bunkers at Headingley when Dickson
arrived. The following year Jim Hutchison was appointed head professional which must be more than just a coincidence.
James L. Hutchison was described as a dour Scot, who always wore plus fours. He was remembered at Headingley for his vigorous opposition to
Sunday golf during his 27 years with the club. In May 1923, Hutchison hosted the Yorkshire Evening News tournament, one of the biggest
professional events held at Headingley. Many of the top American players took part including Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen who were in the
country for the Open Championship at Troon. James L. Hutchison retired in July 1937 and was conferred an Honorary Life Member of Headingley
Golf Club.
JOHN JOHNSTONE
Port Elizabeth Golf Club, South Africa
John 'Jack'
Johnstone, born 21st July 1872 at Harbour Terrace, North Berwick, son of Robert Johnstone, fisherman and his wife Janet Sked (formerly Lauder).
Jack Johnstone was the brother of Robert and George listed below and they lived with their parents at 11 Heriot Place (Lower Quay). Their
father was a full time greenkeeper by the time Jack was granted a professional license at North Berwick on 5th June 1893. It was here he gave
lessons to the Smythe family and was persuaded to become their personal golf instructor at Methven Castle in Perthshire.
In 1895, Johnstone emigrated to South Africa, sailing from Southhampton to Durban (Port Natal). He was appointed pro to the Port Elizabeth Golf
Club on a two year engagement. On his arrival the local newspaper the Eastern Province Herald suggested he had brought a surplus of golf clubs with
him and a machine for re-making balls. As the city expanded the club had to find an alternative location and Johnstone was asked to designed their
new golf course. At the official opening in November 1902, the Mayor struck the first shot using a special club made by Johnstone for the occasion.
The club and original ball are now on display in the Port Elizabeth clubhouse and many of the fairways have the same routing today as they did a
hundred years ago.
In 1893, one of the first professionals to arrive in South Africa was Walter Day from Musselburgh in Scotland who was appointed to (Royal)
Cape Golf Club. During the early years of the South African Amateur Championship played at Port Elizabeth, Walter Day challenged Jack Johnstone
to a match which the Musselburgh man lost 2 and 1. The following year they played another exhibition match during the Amateur Championship. This
developed into an annual competition between the professionals which became a feature at the Amateur and as the number of professionals increased
the event slowly evolved into the SA Open Championship.
In 1903 a 36 hole stroke-play championship was organised at Port Elizabeth with four professionals in a field of ten. The winner was Laurie
Waters (163), with Jack Johnstone (168) in third place. There is an early photograph of the Port Elizabeth golf course in the British Golf
Museum. Jack Johnstone returned to North Berwick and entered the 1905 and 1906 Open Championship's from the town. He was appointed pro at Hythe
(1908-1917) and then Halifax (1921-1923).
At North Berwick in September 1905 Jack Johnstone partnered the Right Hon. Arthur Balfour, Prime Minister (1902-05) in a fourball match against
Ben Sayers Snr. and Sir Henry Meysey-Thompson, Liberal Member of Parliament and private secretary to William Gladstone. Johnstone and Balfour won 3&2,
while the Prime Minister's armed bodyguard wandered among the sand dunes.
In 1905, Johnstone and Gullane played an exhibition match over the West Links. Looking to attract the crowds, Johnstone played with Urquhart Adjustable
head irons and Gullane played with a full set of orthedox iron clubs, being barred from using wooden clubs. Gullane won by four strokes. A collection
bucket was passed round the large crowd.
Jack's brother George Johnstone was caddie master on the West Links in the 1930s. Their father Robert Johnstone Snr (1849-1922) known as 'Speeder'
was a master of all trades, primarily a greenkeeper, sometimes a professional and caddie. His claim to fame was during the Open Championship at
Muirfield in 1906, he had a hole-in-one at the 14th. He played with only one club throughout the championship, an Urquhart Adjustable head iron,
the same set as mentioned above.
ROBERT JOHNSTONE (1874-1937)
Seattle Golf Club, USA
Robert 'Bob' Johnstone, born 15th November
1874 in the Harbour Terrace, North Berwick, brother of John (above) and George Johnstone. Bob played golf from the age of ten and on leaving school he
served an apprenticeship as a clubmaker in the shop of James Hutchison. In later years Bob Johnstone recalled how the badly made clubs were
thrown into a box at the end of the bench. That box was known as 'The American Box' and its contents were exported to America because
in those days the Americans were not supposed to know a good club from a bad one.
The three brothers were caddies before they were granted a professional licensed on the West Links, North Berwick. Bob was awarded his licensed
in July 1894, John (1893) and George (1919). After serving a five-year apprenticeship Bob Johnstone was assistant to Ben Sayers and in 1900 he
emigrated to America. Bob made the four-day rail trip from New York to San Francisco where he laid out the courses at Ingleside and Presidio
Golf Clubs. Johnstone was recommended by David Stephenson (listed below) from North Berwick who was pro at San Francisco Golf Club. Presidio
Golf Club shared the ground with San Francisco Golf Club inside Presidio Military Reservation, which was adjacent to the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
Johnstone was the first golfer on the Pacific Coast to appear in knickerbockers or plus-fours which was an old Scottish custom. He remained at the
nine-hole Presidio course as clubmaker and golf instructor for five years. In 1901, he was joined by Alex Bell from North Berwick as his
assistant. That year Johnstone entered the Southern California Open Championship played at the Los Angeles Country Club. The newspaper report
at the time suggested this was the 'Greatest Field of Golfers Ever to Play in California'. They included Willie Smith and David Bell of Carnoustie,
and Midlothian, Chicago; Alex Smith, of Coronado and Washington Park; Gilbert Nicholls of Boston; Chester Horton, of Glenview: Willie Robertson,
of Carnoustie and Santa Barbara; Willie Watson, of St. Andrews and Pasadena; and Harry Grindlay, of St. Andrews and Los Angeles.
At Presidio, Bob experienced problems with the caddies as he later wrote. 'One time we had a strike and the caddies made life a misery
for us all. One day a bunch of them shouted vile things at us until I could take it no longer, so armed with a golf club I chased them away'.
In 1901, Johnstone won the first California Open Championship, played over 36 holes on the Del Monte course, and he received $100 prize money.
Johnstone won the title again in 1903. The first California championship to be officially recognised was played in 1919. Bob Johnstone won the
Northwest Open Championship four consecutive times from 1901-1904. While playing in the 1905 Northwest Open at Waverley Country Club Johnstone
was approached by members of Seattle Golf Club and persuaded to move north. In June 1905 he was appointed the first professional at Seattle Golf
Club where he laid out the course with John Ball. Bob returned briefly to San Francisco in 1910 and designed the extension of the course at Presidio
Golf Club to eighteen holes. In 1909, Alex Bell moved to Oahu Country Club in Hawaii.
It has been suggested that Willie McEwan assisted Johnstone to extend the Presido course in 1910 but that year McEwan was in New Zealand. He did
collaborated with Alex Bell to layout the course at Maui Country Club, Hawaii in 1927 when McEwan was pro at San Francisco. McEwan trained with
Willie Fernie at Troon and was New Zealand Open Champion in 1919.
In 1910, Johnstone was joined in the northwest by George Turnbull a school friend from North Berwick. That year Turnbull was appointed the first pro
at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Oregon. For the next eight years the tournaments in the Northwest were contested between Turnbull, Johnstone
and Jim Barnes pro at Tacoma. In July each year Seattle hosted the Golden Potlatch Festival with a parade of floats and sporting events throughout
a week of festivities.
In 1912, Barnes won the Open Championship at the Potlatch Tournament played at Seattle Golf Club, Turnbull was second and Johnstone third. In 1918
the Pacific Northwest Championship finished in a tie between Turnbull and Johnstone and following an 18 hole play-off they could not be separated,
both scoring 74. The next day another head to head was arranged, this time Turnbull won and Johnstone had to settle for beating Turnbull in the
final of the North and South tournament.
During the American tour of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in 1913 they played five matches in the Northwest Pacific territories. The match at Seattle
against Jim Barnes and Bob Johnstone was a tight game with Vardon beating Johnstone at the 35th hole and Ray holding Barnes to a
half on the 36th. In another match Johnstone crossed the Canadian border to partner Willie Moffat at Oak Bay Golf Club in Victoria which Vardon
and Ray won 5 and 4. A banquet was held for the Englishmen at Seattle Golf Club and before leaving the Pacific Northwest Vardon announced to the
world that he would retire from the game on Christmas Day 1913.
In 1915 Bob received an order from Lewiston, Idaho, calling for a brassie and driver, Irish style. The only clue to the kind of club desired
was contained in the sentence: "I weigh 205 pounds." Nothing about weight, length or anything like that concerning the clubs. "What'll I do
about this?" asked 'Choc' Marshall, assistant clubmaker as he went about selecting head and shaft for the driver? "Ah, leave alot of
thickness in the neck," replied Johnstone.
In July 1916 Johnstone won the Potlatch golf tournament at the Tacoma Golf and Country Club after a nine hole playoff with Phil Jefferson,
professional to the Everett Country Club. Bob had two holes-in-one in his career, one in 1918 at Seattle with his jigger tee shot at the
eleventh hole. The first was in 1901 at Presidio when he holed his tee shot at the old fourth hole, then about 150 yards. Johnstone said
"That holed tee shot was done with an old gutta percha ball and a driver, both made by Spalding. The single-shooter at Seattle was made also
with a Spalding ball, but he used a jigger and a rubber-cored ball."
In 1917, Bob laid out a nine-hole course on Mercer Island which at that time was only the sixth course in the Seattle area. In 1919, he
designed the course at Rainier Golf and Country Club and in 1927 he laid out the course for Inglewood Golf Club at Kenmore with Arthur
Vernon Macan, the Irish amateur champion. In 1930 Bob Johnstone and Frank L. James laid out the public links in Jackson Park, Seattle. The
work was carried out as part of a project to improve the City Parks and to get the unemployed back to work during the 'Great Depression'.
Bob Johnstone became an American citizen on 4th October 1920 in the District Court of Seattle and he lived with his wife Sarah Gilbert from
Edinburgh and daughters Ethel and Florence in King Township, Foy County, Washington State. He remained with Seattle Golf Club for over
thirty-two years. In 1922, he was instrumental in establishing the Pacific Northwest Section PGA and served as its first president. Johnstone
was inducted in the PGA Pacific Northwest Section in 1982.
In June 1926 Bob celebrated twenty-five years with the club and as a reward the Seattle members sent him and his wife Sarah on a trip to watch
the British Open and Walker Cup matches and to visit their family in Scotland. Bob watched the American's win the Walker Cup at St Andrews
with Bobby Jones in the team. He then followed the British Amateur at Muirfield before travelling to Royal Lytham to watch Bobby Jones
win the British Open. The Walker Cup was played over Johnstone's course at Seattle in 1961, something he would have been very proud.
JAMES KELLY Bramhall Golf Club
James Kelly, nephew of Richard Kelly (listed below), was born 24th October 1874 in Hislop's Close,
Westgate, North Berwick, son of Robert Kelly, fisherman and his wife Mary Livingston. James was six feet three inches tall and worked
with his father fishing out of Canty Bay. He was granted a professional license on the West Links in October 1894. It was renewed in 1899
and again in 1903 when he lived at 5 Russell Square. He was appointed professional at Penmaenmawr Golf Club, Gwynedd in 1912 and then moved
to Bramhall Golf Club, Stockport, Manchester (1917- 1919).
RICHARD S. KELLY (1871-1948)
Royal Norwich Golf Club, UK
Richard Sanderson Kelly born 18th February 1871 at 7
Heriot Place, son of George Kelly, fisherman and his wife Mary Thomson. Richard was a licensed caddie on the West Links in 1891 and was appointed
pro at Royal Norwich Golf Club in 1893 after being recommended for the position by Ben Sayers. Richard entered the Open Championship in 1894 at St
George G.C, Sandwich and also the following year at St Andrews. In May 1894 he played an exhibition match against Jack White from North Berwick
and in 1895 he played against J. H. Taylor. In 1900 he played an exhibition match with James Braid and held his own against all three champions.
In 1898, Richard married Catherine Truman and in 1902 they moved to the nine-hole course at Mundesley Golf Club in Norfolk. In 1903 he became
a member of the PGA and in 1912 he was appointed to Eaton Golf Club near Norwich. In 1924 Richard had a year at Mid-Norfolk Golf Club,
Attleborough before returning to Eaton until he retired in 1946.
Four of his sons joined the professional ranks, Russell Kelly (Kensington Club, London), George Kelly (Eaton GC), Frederick Kelly (Eaton GC) and
Bert Kelly who was joint pro with his father until 1939 and then appointed head-pro at Eaton GC in 1946. Bert Kelly was a founder member of
Norfolk Professional Golfers Association and elected their first captain in April 1970.
ARTHUR KENDALL Fort Smith Country Club,
Arkansas, USA
Arthur Innes Kendall born 23rd May 1880 at 8, Quality Street, North
Berwick, the son of James Kendall a master plumber and his wife Mary Rutherford. Arthur was a Law student and played off scratch as a member of
Bass Rock G.C and Rhodes G.C before emigrating to America in 1909. He joined Leslie Brownlee at Fort Smith Country Club, Arkansas. Originally
Kendall lived with his parents at 46 High Street and Brownlee lived at 40a High Street, North Berwick. In 1909, Arthur Kendall laid out the course at
Shreveport Country Club, Louisiana. In October that year they were joined at Fort Smith by Donald Mackay a club maker from North Berwick.
Arthur Kendall return to Scotland in 1912 to marry Helen Smith and they set up home at 82, Waldron Road, Fort Smith. Arthur became an
American citizen at the US District Court in Fort Smith on 6th December 1912. The following year Helen returned to Scotland with their
new born daughter Margaret and in March 1914 mother and daughter sailed back to America in style on the RMS Lusitania.
Arthur's father had a plumber's business with a shop in Quality Street, North Berwick. His older brother James fought in the Boer War and
along with Walter Gilholm they were given a heroes welcome on their safe return to North Berwick in August 1902. The two gallant troopers of
the Scottish Horse were greeted at the railway station by a huge crowd and the pipe band headed a procession through the streets.
Another former Bass Rock G.C member was Fred McLeod who was pro at Midlothian C.C in Illinois. He wintered at San Antonio C.C in Texas and
played in exhibition matches. In 1907, McLeod invited the 'new kid' in town, Leslie Brownlee to make up a fourball match in Dallas. Fred had
not seen Brownlee or Kendall for over five years. Arthur Kendall was also affiliated to Hotel Goldman and remained at Fort Smith for several
seasons before moving to Wichita Falls, Kansas (1922-24) and then to Dennison C.C. in Texas (1925-28).
"APAWAMIS SIGNS THOMSON"
Philadelphia Star to be New Golf
Professional
New York Times, January 20th 1922 (James R
Thomson)
DAN KENNY (1882-1967) Park and Country
Club at Buffalo, New York, USA
Daniel F. Kenny, born 11th March 1882 at Canty
Bay, North Berwick son Daniel Kenny boatman at Canty Bay and his wife Marion McPherson. At the age of 18 he was a licensed golf professional
on the West Links, North Berwick and lived with his parents at 10, Quality Street. He was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall with a dark complexion,
black hair, blue eyes and a tattoo 'D K' on his right arm. In 1905, Kenny was appointed greenkeeper and professional at the hillside course
of Kirkcudbright G.C with a wage of 20 shillings per week after being recommended for the position by Ben Sayers. On 18th October he was
dismissed by the club, no reason was minuted. The following year he was appointed to the newly formed Stranraer G.C. He entered the 1906
Open at Muirfield and finished 24th in a field which included Braid, Taylor and Vardon.
In 1907, Kenny emigrated to the USA, sailing from Glasgow on the S.S. Caledonia he arrived in New York on 19th March. His contact in America
was Bill Stewart from the Park and Country Club at Buffalo in New York State where Dan was appointed golf pro. He took over from Alex Robertson
a clubmaker from St Andrews. Kenny played in the Canadian Open that year and in 1909 he was pro at the Meadow Club which used the public park
in Buffalo. Kenny won the Canadian Open in 1910 at Lambton Golf and Country Club, Toronto with a winning score of 303. George S Lyon was second
on 307 and Perry Barrett was third with 309.
Kenny was pro at Toronto Golf Club from 1911-14 and assisted Harry Colt to lay out the new course at Long Branch. At that time Stanley Thompson,
a fourteen year old caddie at Toronto was so inspired watching the course taking shape that he later became Canada's leading golf course architect.
Alex McLaren from North Berwick took over as pro at Toronto in 1916-19. Kenny played in five Canadian Open's and defended his title at Royal Ottawa
in 1911 when twenty professionals established the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association. At this time Kenny was living at Glen Grove, York South,
North Toronto. In 1912, Kenny moved to Lake Rousseau (Monteith House) in the Muskoka Lakes district, north of Toronto, where he was the first
professional.
He played in the US Open in 1912, (which he lead after the first round), again in 1914 and 1915, when he entered from Hamilton Golf and
Country Club, Ltd., Ontario. In 1914, Harry Colt laid out the course for Hamilton Golf and Country Club on the Ancaster land and
Dan Kenny was appointed pro that year. At the 1915 US Open Dan Kenny was reunited with his North Berwick class mate Fred McLeod and the field
also included Ben Sayers and his son George Sayers. Kenny was pro at Hamilton Golf and Country Club from 1915-20.
In 1919 and 1920 Dan Kenny wintered at Baton Rouge Country Club in Louisiana. The State Times reported that Daniel Kenny and Scotty Robson
who laid out the course in 1916 were playing Baton Rouge and that Daniel Kenny would be giving golf lessons at the club until March. In 1921
Kenny was runner-up in the Western New York PGA championship, he also played in the Canadian Open and the North and South tournament at
Pinehurst. In 1922, Kenny was based at Sylvania C.C, Toledo, Ohio and from there he qualified for the US PGA championship at Oakmont.
Kenny played in the first Monterey Peninsula golf championship,
over the
newly opened Pebble Beach Links in 1926.
In 1923, Dan Kenny was based at Willowbrook Golf Club, Tyler in Texas where they organised a match between Dan Kenny and Tom Lally, pro at
San Antonio Country Club for a stake of $ 1,000 dollars. The club pooled together sufficient cash resources to fill the purse and
fortunately Kenny won the dual in the sun. That year he also lifted the side beats by playing 216 holes of golf in the one day at the
Glenbrooke Country Club with the local pro. In 1924 Kenny was pro at the seaside course at Galveston and in 1928 he returned to Scotland
permanently and was living with his wife Francis and daughter at 37, Millburn Street, Kirkcudbright. Kenny died 3rd March 1967 ages 84 years.
Daniel Kenny Photo
WILLIAM KEPPIE (1905-1978) Rungsted
Golfklub, Copenhagen, DEN
William 'Billy' Tait Keppie, born 16th February 1905 in North Berwick, the son of John
Keppie, railway porter and his wife Ina Manson. Billy had two brothers, Roderick and John and the family lived at 85 High Street. Roderick
served an apprenticeship as a club maker with Ben Sayers and John Keppie was a licensed golf professional at North Berwick in 1920 when the
family lived at 98 High Street.
Billy Keppie was a caddie on the West Links before moving to Denmark in 1924, aged 19 years. He worked as a golf instructor on the newly
established golf training centres in Denmark, travelling from place to place giving lessons in the Jutland area. He also played in
competitions with fellow Scot James Ross, pro at Copenhagen G.C.
![[Golfer]](images/keppie_sm.jpg)
In the summer months Keppie worked at the nine-hole course on Fano Island which he extended to eighteen holes in 1930. Fano Golf Links is
the oldest course in Denmark, and the only links course in the country. A photo of Fano golf course in 1901 is featured in the British Golf
Museum. Billy Keppie was also affiliated to Odense Golfklub (birthplace of author and poet Hans Christian Andersen). It was at Odense on the
Island of Funen where Billy met his wife Edel Esbensen and they had two daughters.
In the late 1930s he was appointed golf pro at Rungsted Golfklub, an area of exclusive homes built along the shore, 24km north of Copenhagen.
The Danish Queen Alexandrine was a member of that club and Billy had to be available to play with her and her lady-in-waiting. In the winter
months he worked in a large department store in Copenhagen demonstrating the latest golf equipment and giving lessons. During WW2, as
resistance to the German occupation intensified it was not safe to be British in Denmark and Billy went into hiding. The local resistance
movement sent him to a hospital in Copenhagen where one of the consultant doctors was hiding a number people among his patients.
Keppie was also given a false identity card with the name Borge Knudsen. Billy became a Danish citizen in 1944 and learned to
speak the language fluently. He remained at Rungsted Golfklub until 1948 and then managed the sports department in Magasin du Nord,
Copenhagen. He retired to Horsholm near Rungsted where he died in 1978. His remarkable story is featured in an exhibition in the Danmark
Golf Museum at Vejle which includes his old golf clubs and photographs.
On 14th September 1923, Billy's brother John Keppie sailed for the Philippines on S.S. Caledonia where he was appointed golf instructor at
Manila Golf Club, Caloocan City. On 9th October 1931 he moved to Morocco and was appointed golf pro and groundsman at the Royal Country Golf
Club, Tangier.
JAMES H. KERR Gezira Sporting Club, Cairo,
Egypt
James Hepburn Kerr, born 1895 in East Linton, son of James C. Kerr, stonemason and his wife
Jemima Hepburn. James moved with his parents to 3 Eastfield, Gullane where his brother John G Kerr was born in 1906. On leaving school, James
and John cycled from Gullane to North Berwick everyday to serve their apprenticeship as clubmakers with James Watt at 1 Station Hill. John G.
Kerr was a member of Dirleton Castle Golf Club, won the Patron's Medal in 1925 and played in the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1937.
Their father James C. Kerr was also a member of Dirleton Castle winning the Watson Cup (1906) and Wotherspoon Medal (1907). The highlight of
his golfing career was being selected to represent Dirleton Castle in the Wemyss County Club, a four-man team event which they won three
consecutive years, 1906, 1907 and 1908. The Wemyss County Cup is recognised as the oldest foursome tournament in the world.
![[Egypt]](images/egypt.jpg)
James H. Kerr was appointed pro at Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo (1919-1949) and became a renowned teacher of the game. His contact in Egypt
was his cousin James L. Hastie, a native of Dunbar who apprenticed as a clubmaker with Robert Auld from North Berwick (listed above). Hastie
played left-handed and was a member of Dunbar Castle Golf Club. He was pro at Dunbar in 1901 before joining the Khedive Sporting Club in Cairo
(1902-1925). Later the name was altered to Gezira Sporting Club which included Cairo Golf Club.
The young Hastie was described as a prodigy of Sir Francis Reginald Wingate governor-general of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan who retired to Dunbar
and was a keen golfer. It was Wingate who encouraged Hastie to take up the position in Egypt. In 1906 Hastie returned home to visit his family
and entered the Open Championship at Muirfield. In 1925 John G Kerr joined his brother in Egypt and was appointed assistant-pro at Gezira,
where he won the Egyptian Open Championship in 1926. The Kerr brothers played golf with the Prince Of Wales during his visit in 1928.
The Gezira Sporting Club was as famous as Royal Bombay or Oahu Golf Club in Hawaii and was located on Government property on Gezira Island in
the River Nile near downtown Cairo. The Sporting Club had two golf courses in the shadow of the pyramids, a racetrack, polo fields, tennis
courts and a football pitch. The course was laid out with sand greens and the golfer had to wear flat-soled shoes. During James H Kerr 30 years
with the club he converted the greens to grass and introduced irrigation.
In the 1930s, Cairo became the central hub for Imperial Airways as a stop-over for British tourists flying to Nairobi, Johannesburg, Delhi and
Singapore. The Sunderland flying boats created a spectacular and graceful sight as they landed on the Nile. The visitors stayed in the worlds
most exclusive hotels in Cairo and partied in the most fashionable night clubs and casinos. In April 1932 the first commercial flights from London
to South Africa commenced and during the two day stop-over in Cairo the high flyers would play golf and other sports in facilities created to
feel like 'Little England'.
James L. Hastie died in Egypt in 1930, aged 48 years. In 1932. John G Kerr moved to Germany and was appointed pro at Hamburger Golf-Club. That
year he won the German Close Golf Championship. In 1934 he returned to Britain and was appointed pro at Blackburn Golf Club where he remained
until 1952.
In 1934, James H. Kerr was joined by another James Watt apprentice from North Berwick, James Wynne (listed below) who was his assistant until
1945. Jock Kerr and Jimmy Wynne made their own clubs. The heads were sent out from William Gibson & Co., Kinghorn, Fife, and they made
up the woods in their workshop at Gezira. The two remained in Cairo throughout WW2 and during that period they welcomed many people to play at
Gezira including Douglas Bader and Welsh golfer Dai Rees who was a driver with the British Army based in Cairo. He would chauffeur the officers
around and on his afternoon's off he would play golf with Jock and Jimmy, which Rees fondly recalled in his autobiography.
In 1952, John G. Kerr was pro at Rhyl Golf Club where he remained until his retirement in 1955. James H Kerr returned to Scotland in 1949, when
John Jacobs took over as pro at Gezira. James and his family settled in Gullane and for a short period in the 1950s he was giving lesson,
organised from Ben Sayers shop beside the first tee at North Berwick. James died in Edinburgh in 1960. For many years their parents lived at
2 Maul Terrace, Gullane and are buried in Dirleton Cemetery. Clubs stamped with a five point star and J. Hastie Cairo (Egypt) are very
rare and highly collectable.
CHARLES D. LAWRIE (1923-1976) Captain, Walker Cup
Team, 1961 and 1963
Charles Dundas Lawrie, born 8th February 1923, Rothesay Terrace, Edinburgh,
son of Alfred Lawrie, stockbroker and his wife Jean Cook. Charlie and his parents moved to North Berwick where they lived at Quarry Court on
Abbotsford Road, opposite the sixth tee on the West Links. Charlie Lawrie learned to play golf on the children's course at North Berwick and
became a member of North Berwick New Golf Club and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield. His regular caddie was Alec Watt
the nephew of James Watt, the clubmaker at 1 Station Hill, North Berwick.
Charlie Lawrie was captain of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Team in 1961 and 1963 when the team included Michael Bonallack, Joe Carr,
Guy Wolstenholme, Ronnie Shade and David Blair also a North Berwick member. Lawrie was captain of the British Team for the Eisenhower Trophy in
1960 and 1962. He was also a member of the British Amateur Selection Committee from 1959.
Lawrie trained as a golf course architect and was a partner in the firm of Cotton & Pennick, who were commissioned to design the Duke's course
at Woburn. The company also laid out the courses at Vilamoura (Portugal) and Noordwijk (Holland). Charlie Lawrie died 31st August 1976 at Plas
Gwyn, Pentraeth, Anglesey.
PETER W. LEES (1868-1923) Long Island, New
York, USA
Peter Whitecross Lees born 2nd November 1868 at West Fenton near
Gullane, son of Thomas Lees a farm worker and his wife Elizabeth Whitecross. Peter apprenticed as a greenkeeper on Archerfield Golf Course
and in 1899 he was appointed head greenkeeper at the newly opened Braid Hills Golf Club. The first public golf course in Edinburgh, laid
out by Peter McEwan and Bob Fergusson. In 1892 Peter moved to Mortonhall Golf Club and was living at 6, Belhaven Terrace, Edinburgh. In 1895
he was appointed head greenkeeper at Royal Burgess Golf Club at Barnton. In 1906, Lees wrote a chapter in the book 'Golf Greens and Green
Keeping' entitled 'Treatment Of An Inland Green on Medium Soil'. The book edited by Horace G. Hutchinson included a series of articles written
by among others James Braid and Harold Hilton. The book continues to be used by golf course superintendents and has become a collectors item.
![[Peter Lees]](images/Lees.jpg)
In 1911, Peter Lees was persuaded to join Mid-Surrey Golf Club in Richmond. The pro at Mid-Surrey was former Open Champion J.H. Taylor and
when Peter Lees arrived at the club they introduced several grass bunkers to break up the flat appearance of the course. This was so
successful that the grass bunkers were enlarged to create the 'humps and hollows' which looked so natural. Lees supervised over a hundred
labourers, employed through the night using flare lights while they moved the soil. This was the making of Peter Lees's reputation and they
came from courses all over the country to see how the work was carried out.
In 1912, the Duke of Saxe Coburg invited Lees to layout the Oberhof Golf Course in Germany and to advise them on seeding and planting turf.
In 1914, Peter emigrated to America on the instigation of course architect Charles B. Macdonald who was laying out a new course at Lido on
Long Island. He employed Lees to oversee the seeding and the early development of the course. The following year Peter returned to Britain
to escort his wife Isabella Peacock, (originally from Dirleton), and their four daughters to their new home at Lynbrook on Long Island.
Early in the career of course architect Alister MacKenzie, he won a competition organised by Country Life magazine in 1914 to design an
ideal two-shot hole. Charles Blair Macdonald agreed to use the design on the 18th hole on the Lido course and Lees laid it out to MacKenzie's
drawings.
The Lido course completed in 1916 was such a complex project being built on swamp land, that its success ushered in a new era in course
construction and enhanced Lees standing even further. He wrote articles in Golf Illustrated and The American Golfer, and wrote the book
'Care Of The Green' published in 1918. The Lido course fell into disrepair during the Great Depression and the US military commandeered the
land in WW2 which was later sold piece by piece. Nothing remains of Lees engineering marvel at Lido.
Peter Lees supervised the extension of the course at Jamaica Country Club on Long Island to eighteen holes during the winter of 1918. At
that time the club was looking forward to the return of their pro Jimmy Lindsay after his service with the Canadian Forces in WW1. Lindsay
(below) and Lees grew up in Gullane. In 1919, Peter Lees was involved in the layout at St Albans Country Club (LI) where Babe Ruth was a
member. The US Military commandeered the golf course during WW2 and constructed a Naval Hospital on the land.
Peter revised courses at Green Meadow, NY (1917), Ives Hill CC at Watertown, NY, Garden City, Somerset Hills, Belleclair NY, Glen Ridge, NJ,
Mountain Ridge, NJ, and extended the nine-hole course at The Homestead, Hot Springs, VA in 1919. He laid out four putting greens at Apawamis
Club in 1920 and also that year he completed the Hempstead course near his home on Long Island. Peter Lees was better known as a constructer
of courses for such architects as Charles B. Macdonald, Albert Tillinghast and surveyor Seth Rayner.
It was while he was visiting the Asheville course in Buncombe, North Carolina that he suddenly collapsed and died on 11th May 1923, aged 54
years. Peter W. Lees is buried in Rockville Cemetery in Lynbrook, Long Island, NY. Golf Illustrated wrote in 1923 ' Peter Lees was
recognised as one of the greatest experts on green building in the country'.
JIMMY LINDSAY Oak Park Country Club,
Chicago, USA
James Lindsay born 27th November 1885 in West Barns, son of Joseph
Lindsay a railway signalman and his wife Paulina Richardson. He moved with his parents to Gullane where his father was the Station Porter. Jimmy
apprenticed as a plumber and lived with his family at 6, Hopetoun Terrace, Gullane. In 1913, he emigrated to America where his contact was James
and Maggie Craig at 2857 N 28th Street, Philadelphia. Jimmy was appointed pro at Keokuk Country Club, Iowa and in 1914 he moved to Audubon Country
Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jimmy returned to Scotland in 1914 to visit his parents living at The Cairn, Aberlady. The following year they moved to Broxmouth Estate, West
Barns, and Jimmy sailed back to the USA on the Lusitania. Lindsay was appointed first pro at the nine-hole course at Oneonta Country Club, Rye
(NY). Jimmy was also an outstanding groundsman and assisted the former British and American Amateur champion Walter J. Travis to layout the course
for Westchester Country Club (West Course), Rye, NY.
Lindsay served with the Canadian Forces in the later part of WW1 and in 1919 he returned to America listing his friend from North Berwick, Robert
M Thomson, pro at Montclair as his contact. Jimmy returned to his post as pro at the Jamaica Country Club on Long Island. In March 1920, Lindsay
moved with his wife Jean and son Joseph to Illinois where he was appointed golf instructor at Oak Park Country Club in Chicago. In 1921 he was
joined by Tom Dickson from North Berwick as his assistant and the following year Tom's brother Alex Dickson joined them. Lindsay remained
at Oak Park Country Club until 1930 when he returned to Scotland, and was working as a pro at St Andrews, and living with his family in Market
Street. James Lindsay died 20th February 1950 aged 64 years.
JAMES LITSTER Forest Hills Golf Club, Wisconsin,
USA
James Litster born 17th September 1871 in the village of Gullane, son of Alexander
Litster, a gardener and his wife Alison Cunningham. The family lived in Mayday cottage behind the present professionals shop in Gullane. Jack was
a greenkeeper on the West Links at North Berwick when Tom Anderson Snr. (listed above) was head greenkeeper.
Jack and his brothers Charlie and Alex were members of Dirleton Castle Golf Club in 1892 and Jack and Charlie represented the club in the four-man
Wemyss County Cup team in 1894. Alex was appointed keeper of the green at Gullane in 1896.
Jack Litster sailed to America on 21st April 1897 and eight days later arrived in New York. He was appointed head pro at Philadelphia Cricket Club,
Chestnut Hill, PA (1897-99), then greenkeeper at Piedmont Golf Club, Peachtree, GA (1900) and Overbrook Golf Club at Wynnewood, PA (1901-05) before
settling at Schaghticoke Country Club, which changed to La Crosse Country Club, then became Forest Hills Golf Club, La Crosse, Wisconsin. (1906-1930).
Within months of his arrival Jack Litster joined the largest gathering of North Berwick former caddies at an Open Tournament at Lakewood, New Jersey
in December 1897. The event was played over the nine-hole course at Ocean County Hunt and Country Club which became Lakewood Country Club in 1900.
Val Fitzjohn, also a Gullane lad won the professional tournament while Jack Litster finished fourth equal and shared the $150 prize money. The field
included Robert M. Thomson, Harry Gullane, Willie Anderson, Jamie Campbell, Tom Harley, Ed Fitzjohn and Harry Reddie. This was the first time they
had been together for two years and the Hogmanay party at the Lakewood Hotel in 1898 would have been a very Scottish affair.
When Jack was at Philadelphia Cricket Club he regularly played Bernard Nicholls, pro at Philadelphia Country Club in home and home exhibition matches.
In 1901, Litster played in the Hollywood Open Tournament in New Jersey and partnered Jamie Campbell from North Berwick in the fourball competition.
During the last nine-holes of the round they equaled the course record 38 strokes and shared the $50 third prize money. Jack qualified for the final
round of the main event which was won by Willie Smith. Also playing from North Berwick were George Thomson, Jack Hobens and Willie Dunn Snr.
In 1909, Litster travelled north to play in the Western Open at Skokie Golf Club, Illinois. The day before the tournament started a team led by Willie
Anderson defeated Fred McLeod's team for prize money put up by the host club. Willie Anderson won the Western Open title that year for the fourth
time. At the age of 65 years Jack Litster was still teaching golf at La Crosse, and living with his wife Mary.
GEORGE LIVINGSTONE (1880-1968)
Belle Meade Country Club, Nashville, USA
George Alexander Wylie
Livingstone, born 14th December 1880 at 4 Market Place in North Berwick, son of James Livingstone, line fisherman and his wife Mary Taylor from
Buckhaven. On leaving school George served an apprenticeship as a joiner and at the age of 18 years he joined the Bass Rock Golf Club, winning
the scratch medal in 1907 and 1909. In 1902 he enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was posted to South Africa for two years.
On his return he joined the Rhodes Golf Club playing over the Glen Course at North Berwick and was the first winner of the Haldane Cup in 1907.
George married Catherine Clarkson and they lived in her hometown of Douglas in Lanarkshire where their daughters Grace, Mary and Isabella were born.
They moved to Clifford Road, North Berwick in 1910 where Jane Livingstone was born but she died three months later and is buried in the cemetery in
Tantallon Road.
George emigrated to America, sailing from Glasgow he arrived in New York on 9th March 1912 and stayed with his brother-in-law Andrew Clarkson
at Driftwood Drive, Mamaroneck, New York State. Livingstone moved to Englewood Golf Club where Jack Hobens from North Berwick was the pro. Hobens
was in the same class as Livingstone at North Berwick Public School and in 1912 they had not met for over thirteen years. In those days all the
golf professionals in the New York area went to the city each Monday to buy their week's supplies. According to Livingstone, every Monday he went
into the city with Jack Hobens and they often gathered at Spalding's golf equipment store in the morning, and then socialised and shot pool in the
afternoon.
On Monday 6th May while Livingstone was at Spalding's, the store manager Matt Kiern, received a telegram from their salesman in the South saying
that the professional at Nashville Golf and Country Club, Sam Aiken had died suddenly and the club was looking for a new pro. Kiern immediately
wired Nashville, recommending Livingstone for the job.
Bradley Walker the secretary at Nashville Golf and Country Club contacted his friend Grantland Rice, a young sports writer on the New York
Evening Mail to ask if he would check out George Livingstone at Englewood Golf Club and report back. Subsequently, Bradley Walker recommended
to the members that they should hire the young Scot and Livingstone was offered the job on 25th May. George arrived at Nashville Golf and
Country Club three days later and devoted the next thirty-five years to the club.
In 1914, Livingstone, returned to North Berwick to escort his wife and three daughters to their new home in Nashville where their son
James Taylor Livingstone was born in 1916.
In 1915, Nashville Country Club acquired new ground on the Belle Meade Stud Farm and Livingstone supervised the construction of the course. The
club was renamed Belle Meade Country Club and the following year Livingstone and his amateur partner Chick Evans beat Bobby Jones and Perry Adair
in a benefit match for the Red Cross, played over the Belle Meade course. In 1920, Livingstone defeated Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in an exhibition
match at Belle Meade. Vardon and Ray said they both liked the Belle Meade course at Nashville. " I don't like the Bermuda greens," said Ray, " but
this course was very good and I will say it had the best Bermuda greens we saw."
Livingstone was a respected figure in Nashville and laid out a number of courses including Shelby (1924), Old Hickory (1926) and Warner Park (1937).
In 1920, he was joined by his younger brother Henry Livingstone (1889-1978) who was appointed pro at Inglewood G.C, Nashville (1924-28) and then
head pro at Clarksville Golf Club. Their father, James Livingstone continued to reside at 15 Forth Street, North Berwick.
In September 1922 at the Southern Open Championship played at Belle Meade, Livingstone was joined in the tournament by four North Berwick
lads, Bob MacDonald (Chicago), Jimmy Gullane (Colorado) George Thomson (Philadelphia) and Dan Kenny (Buffalo). It must have been an enjoyable meeting.
In 1926, George entered the Southeastern Professional Championship played over Belle Meade and according to Golf Illustrated, George caused a great
furor when he smashed Bobby Jones's world record of 134 for thirty-six holes, in the first round of the championship. He had two rounds of 67 and 66,
which established a new competitive course record. Bobby Jones's record of 134 was made in the Open at Sunningdale. Harry Hampton, (from Montrose),
the Memphis pro played steadier over the 72 holes and won the event.
Looking back over his career, George Livingstone, pointed to the British Amateur Championship at Muirfield in 1909 as a highlight. He was drawn
against the tournament favourite, Capt Guy Campbell in the first round and on the morning of the match he remembers cycling the three-and-a-half
miles from North Berwick to Muirfield with eight clubs slung over his shoulder, accompanied by his brother Henry who was his caddie for the day.
George said 'I one-putted seven greens that day and beat Capt. Campbell, 5 and 3. It was a thrill I would never forget, and I didn't brood much
over being eliminated myself in the quarter-finals, 1 up'. That year the Amateur Championship was won by another North Berwick amateur Robert Maxwell.
George was elected District Vice President of the National Association of Green Keepers of America 1931. He was a teetotaler all his life, was
professional at Belle Meade for 35 years and was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on February 20, 1970. The George Livingstone trophy
(1954) continues to be played for at Belle Meade Country Club. George Livingstone died December 1968 in Nashville and members of the Livingstone
family continue to reside in Houston, Texas.
JAMES LIVINGSTONE (1883-1978)
Ingleside, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
James Livingstone born 22nd November
1883, attended North Berwick Public school and was awarded his first-class caddie badge on 20th April 1896 at the age of 12 years. Jimmy was in the
same class as Ben Sayers Jnr. and they played most of their early golf together. Ben followed his father into the famous golf club manufacturing
company in North Berwick.
James, brother of George Livingstone listed above, played in the Open Championship in 1901. He was a member of Bass Rock Golf Club, winning the Summer
Scratch Medal in 1911. Jim was also a member of the Rhodes Golf Club and like his brother he won the predigious Haldane Cup in 1919 on the Glen Golf
Course. Jimmy was a journeyman stonemason and lived with his family at 16 Melbourne Place, North Berwick. Following service in the Royal Engineers
during WW1, he was elected to the Rhodes Golf Club committee and in 1921, he emigrated to the USA, aged 37 years. He was accompanied on the journey
by Alan Brodie from North Berwick and they sailed from Glasgow on the steamer S.S. Algeria, arriving in New York on 19th December.
Livingstone arranged to stay with his boyhood friend David Ferguson, a pro in Greenville, South Carolina. Ferguson recommended Livingstone
to the Country Club in Anderson (SC) but after six months Livingstone moved on to the nine-hole course at Ingleside Country Club at Avondale,
Atlanta, Georgia. The membership was Jewish and Livingstone remained with the club for 23 years.
Jim's wife Marjory Winton and five children sailed to America in 1923, arriving in Portland, Maine before taking the long journey south to Georgia.
They lived in Austin Place in Atlanta and later the local authority in the Decatur district renamed the street 'Livingstone Place' reflecting Jim's
standing in the community. By the 1930s the Ingleside Country Club had less than a 150 members and during WW2 with many in military service the
revenues dropped and the Club was liquidated. A number of the members moved to the Standard Club at Brookhaven GA where Jim's son Johnny Livingstone
was appointed the first golf professional, and where Fred Perry was the tennis pro. When Ingleside was sold to the American Legion Golf Club, Jim Livingstone
decided to stay and remained with the club for 25 years.
In 1968 the membership presented Jim and Marjory with tickets to sail to Great Britain on the liner Queen Elizabeth. This was the first time they had
returned to Scotland for many years. Jim died September 1978, aged 95 years and is buried in Decatur Cemetery. His sons James (b.1912) and William (b.1909),
both born in North Berwick, became golf pros. In 1947 Johnny Livingstone helped to develop the course at the Standard Club where he was head pro for nineteen
years.
The family in America erected a headstone over the grave of James and Mary Livingstone in the St Andrews Parish Church graveyard in Kirkports,
North Berwick. The inscription reads. James Livingstone born 1845, died June 1928 also his wife Mary Taylor Livingstone born 1846, died June 1941.
ALEXANDER LUMSDEN (1871-1895) Bristol and Clifton Golf
Club, UK
Alexander Lumsden born 17th August 1871, at 11 Shore Street, North Berwick
son of John Lumsden, a master slater and his wife Jane Corstorphine. Alex lived with his parents, three sisters and four brothers and was a Cab
Driver before being granted a license as a golf professional on the West Links on 12th May 1891. He was appointed the first pro at Bristol and
Clifton Golf Club (1891-95) and extended the course to eighteen holes. In 1893 he entered the Open Championship at Prestwick from North Berwick
and the following year he played in the Open Championship at St George's, Sandwich in Kent. Alex's younger brother James Lumsden was elected the
first Captain of the Rhodes Golf Club in 1906-10 and in turn James's son Lawrie Lumsden was Captain of Tantallon Golf Club, 1974-76. Alexander
Lumsden died in 1895 while pro at Clifton Golf Club.
ALEXANDER C. MARR (1874-1902) Wearside
Golf Club, UK
Alex Marr born 23rd July 1874, Prospect Cottage, Back Street,
North Berwick, son of Robert Marr, fisherman and his wife Isabella Thomson. Alex was a fisherman, a licensed caddie and professional during
the season. He was appointed pro at Wearside (1895-1901); then Frome G.C Sumerset (1901-1902);before moving to Sunderland (Pallion) G.C in
1902. Marr played in the 1899 (Sandwich) and 1901 (St Andrews) Open Championships.
Marr returned to North Berwick in 1902 and was working as a joiner when he was drowned in a tragic accident. Alex and two friends Ralf Carse, a
butler and James Ramsay, a coachman rowed out to a yacht anchored in the West Bay named 'Sweetheart' where they met up with Robert Thomson a
member of the yacht's crew. They remained on board until midnight when Marr and Thomson rowed the small boat back to the harbour. It was then
that one of the other men wanted to lend a hand at the oar and was changing seats with Marr when the boat capsized.
Thomson although exhausted, managed to swim back to the yacht but the others were drowned. The next day Captain Henderson, Lloyds Agent found
the upturned boat near the Leithies. Three weeks later, their bodies were washed up on the broadsands in the Parish of Dirleton but were
so unrecognisable they could only be identified by their clothing. The yacht, owned by Mr McWharrie from London who was on holiday in North
Berwick and did not give his permission to use the boat.
CHARLES MARR (1891-1957) Spence Golf and
Country Club, Iowa, USA
Charles Marr born 26th June 1891 in North Berwick, son
of Charles Marr Snr., a fisherman and his wife Margaret Thomson. Charles Jnr. and his brother Alfred apprenticed as club makers while living
with their parents in Heriot Place (Lower Quay) and later at 32, Quality Street, North Berwick. Their father was licensed as a caddie on the
West Links on 14th October 1895 and given badge number 85.
Charlie Marr emigrated to America, sailing from Glasgow on S.S Cameronia, he arrived at Ellis Island, 19th May 1912. Charlie was described as
5' 7' with fair hair and blue eyes, and was appointed assistant pro to Robert G. MacDonald at Hyde Park Golf and Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio.
MacDonald came from Dornoch and moved to North Berwick in 1908. In 1913, Charlie Marr moved with Bob MacDonald to Buffalo Country Club in New
York State and then to Indian Hill Country Club, Winnetka, Illinois. In August 1917, Marr enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force but
WW1 ended before he was called to arms. During this period Charlie continued his clubmaking and looking after the pro shop while MacDonald
entered the tournaments. In 1919 the New York Times listed Robert G. MacDonald as the fourth best tour pro in the USA.
In 1921, Charlie Marr branched out on his own and was appointed head pro at Council Bluffs Country Club in Iowa. The following year he moved
to the nine-hole-course at Spence Golf and Country Club, Iowa and in 1924, he was based at Mankato Golf Club (Municipal) Minnesota.
Charlie married Catherine Russell from Edinburgh and his family remained in Scotland until he returned permanently in 1929. They lived in
James Place, Leith where their son Charles was born and where Charlie Snr. died in 1957 aged 65 years. Alfie Marr gave up the clubmaking and
joined his father at the fishing. His son Fred Marr continued the family fishing tradition in North Berwick.
George Dalziel negotiated the lease for Kilspindie to layout a course
at Craigielaw in 1898 and was elected their first captain. He did the same at North Berwick (East) and was elected the first captain of Glen
Golf Club.
ARNAUD MASSY Factfile
CATRIONA MATTHEW MBE Factfile
PETER MERRILEES Manly Golf Club, Sydney, AUS.
Peter Gullane Merrilees born 2nd June 1890 at 6 Market Place, North
Berwick, son of William Merrilees, shoemaker and his wife Jane Gullane. Peter and his older brother Willie were caddies on the West Links, North
Berwick. The 'misdemeanour book' records that twelve year old Willie Merrilees was caught carrying clubs during school hours by the greenkeeper
who demanded to see his license. Merrilees said his mother burnt it. The following day the greenkeeper found him again carrying clubs and put
him off the links. Merrilees was suspended by the caddie master from the 16th-30th July 1892.
![[Peter Merrilees]](images/merrilees.jpg)
Peter emigrated to Australia, sailing from Liverpool to Darwin in 1909. He was appointed golf pro at Drummoyne Golf Club, Sydney and later moved
to Manly Golf Club. He played in the Australian Professional Championship, when only sixteen pros entered the competition. Peter played in the
Royal Sydney Cup at Rose Bay, represented New South Walls in many Interstate competitions and in 1923 set a new course record 64 at Moore Park
which included a hole-in-one at the 18th. In 1924, he entered the New South Wales 'Sun' newspaper £500 Golf Tournament. It was often written
that Merrilees spent most of his time making clubs and teaching and if he had the opportunity for practice, he played very well. In 1936 he was living
with his wife Sarah in Herbert Street, Warringah, Manly and was employed as a salesman.
Left: Peter Merrilees 1925 Copyright © The Leon Old Golf Collection
At the professional tournament to celebrate the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 he played with Duncan Denholm (above) from North
Berwick. Duncan was two years younger and they both attended the Public School in School Road. Peter Merrilees played in many exhibition matches
partnering the teenager J. H. Kirkwood whose parents came from Inverness, Scotland. In 1920 Joe Kirkwood won the Australian and New Zealand Open
Championships and was known as a golf trick-shot-artist. Peter Merrilees would eventually be his Manager and organise Kirkwood's trips round the
world.
Peter played in the 1931 PGA Championship at New South Wales Golf Club, La Perouse and visited America in 1939. At this time he was affiliated
to the municipal course at Woollahra Golf Club in Sydney and was one of the few pros in Australia to have a range of golf clubs stamped with their
own name. Peter lived in a flat he called 'Craigleith' at 8 St Neots Avenue, Potts Point in Sydney and today he is listed among the earliest golf
professionals in Australia.
ROBERT MILLAR (1898-1968) Kalamazoo,
Michigan, USA
Robert Millar, born 12th June 1898 at 4 Forth Street Lane, North Berwick,
son of John B. Millar fisherman and his wife Jessie Millar. Robert lived with his parents at 9, Victoria Road and was a member of Bass Rock
Golf Club before he emigrated to the USA at the age of 23 years. He sailed from Liverpool on the S.S. Albania and arrived in New York on 26th
March 1922. Millar stayed with his aunt Barbara Rosie, 627 Sherddan Road, Winnetka, Illinois until he secured work. In 1924, Robert Millar was
appointed golf instructor at the newly opened nine-hole Gateway Municipal course in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The following year he became the first
pro at Milham Park Golf Club in Kalamazoo where Jessie Owens was a member.
Robert Millar married Christina Aikman from North Berwick and in February 1951 after they returned from spending the winter at their home in Florida,
the club presented Robert with a suitably inscribed watch to celebrate 25 years as professional and manager at Milham Park. The club also give him
a two year extension to his contract. Robert Millar died January 1968 in Kalamazoo.
Robert's uncle was a golf pro at North Berwick and his grandfather also called Robert, was one of the first to be employed as a caddie on the West
Links in the days of the gutta-percha ball. Robert Snr. was originally a fisherman and witnessed the dramatic increase in the popularity of golf as a
holiday sport at North Berwick and the opportunity it presented to incease his earnings from caddying. In 1893 he was granted a license as a golf
professional at North Berwick and Rev. John Kerr wrote about Millar in his Golf Book of East Lothian ' Were his wonderous scores authenticated,
he might be set down as the record holder of the green. ' - Robert Millar Snr was a popular character on the West Links and a good story teller!
The Millar famliy lived at 53 Lochbridge Road, North Berwick.
If you can add to the details above or have information on
other North Berwick golfers
please let me know.seaton@northberwick.org.uk
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