At the third green, beside 'Lord Shand's' bunker stands Mrs. Foreman's Inn where there was a hatch in the wall used to pass refreshments to the early golfers. The course then turns northwest towards the sea with a bunker named 'Pandemonium' to be negotiated. The next follows the coastline with the second last hole near the gasworks requiring a drive and a long iron shot to reach the green. The Home Hole, which is now the present first, near the abandoned former clubhouse of the Burgess golfers. The course measures 5380 yards.

By the 1880s there was a number of clubs playing Musselburgh and organising the Links became a problem with over crowding. The four senior clubs, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Burgess, Bruntsfield and Royal Musselburgh formed a committee to regulate the green, ending the town's control over the links which had lasted for hundreds of years.

he Honourable Company were first to move further down the coast in 1891, followed by the Burgess club settling at Barnton in 1894 and Bruntisfield laid out their own course in 1898. Royal Musselburgh moved to a new parkland course in 1924 at nearby Prestongrange. James Braid was appointed to superintend the laying out of the new 18 hole course and James Brown of Barnton was appointed greenkeeper. In 1937 James Braid, Philip McKenzie Ross and Mungo Park were all invited to submit plans to redesign the course. Mungo Park's layout was considered the best and in February 1938 it was agreed that he should supervise the Head Greenkeeper in implementing the work. The committee were concerned about the continued increase in maintenance and decided to sell the property. In 1958 the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation took over the ownership of the mansion house and the lands of Prestongrange from the Grant Suttie family at North Berwick who owned the property.

In October 1925 the Royal Musselburgh Ladies Golf Club was granted the right to form a committee to run their competitions. This date marks the official foundation of the Royal Musselburgh Ladies Golf Club.

The Musselburgh Open was an independent tournament played seven times between 1892 and 1906. The first Tournament was played in 1892 when Willie Park Jnr. triumphed over Tom Vardon, and Andrew Kirkaldy. It was not a set fixture but organised when the Open was in Scotland. It was not played in 1905 when the Open was held at St Andrews, and the prize money fluctuated between £41 and £100. The format was described in 1896 as the 'new system of two competitions - the first by strokes and the second by holes.' Following the first day of stroke play the leading 16 players qualified for the matchplay competition on the second day. This format was played at Musselburgh in 1896 and 1901.

The last challenge match at Musselburgh took place in May 1898 when Willie Park defeated Willie Fernie by 13 holes to 12 in a £ 50-a-side match over Musselburgh and Troon. This was the end of an era as challenge matches declined in popularity and the new breed of professionals preferred to play exhibition matches.

The 1889 Open championship was the last to be held at Musselburgh. It consisted of four rounds of the nine-hole course played on a gloomy 8th November day. There were 48 competitors, 22 of these were Musselburgh men. At the conclusion of the third round it was almost dark and the organisers, The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers had to do something drastic to complete the championship before total darkness.

It was decided to offer five shillings to any of the players willing to retire from the tournament at the end of the third round. It was so dark during the fourth round the final pairs had to be guided by the street lights. The result was a draw between Willie Park Jnr and Andrew Kirkaldy and they returned on Monday for the 36 hole play-off which Willie Park won. The last Musselburgh Open Tournament was played in 1906. The tournament was played nine times when the Open Championship was played in Scotland. Although the halcyon days of Musselburgh were over, professionals like James Braid continued to play the course and in October 1911 Braid set a new course record 69, previously held by Harry Vardon with a 77.

In 1900 the Golf Clubs playing over Musselburgh included Levenhall Golf Club, Zingari Golf Club, Musselburgh New Golf Club, Links Golf Club, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club, Honestas Golf Club, North Esk Golf Club, and Musselburgh Ladies Golf Club. According to the custom of Musselburgh Town Council, following the election of the town magistrate, the leading officials of the burgh then left the chambers and played two rounds of the links for the Musselburgh Corporation Golf Club Medal.

Monktonhall

In 1938, Musselburgh Golf Club moved from the old course to Monktonhall where the course was laid out by James Braid. This move was the result of the Town Council being of the opinion that the town required another course. Following a vote by the ratepayers to agree to the expense it decided to take over ground at Monktonhall which belonged to the Earl of Wemyss. The eighteenth hole at Monktonhall is named 'Old Bob'. and a marble water fountain stands in front of the clubhouse. Jack White was appointed the first professional at Monktonhall and was followed by Jackie Little a local lad who trained as a club maker with Ben Sayers in North Berwick.

The controversial centre-shafted Schenectady putter with a mallet-head was banned by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club when it first appeared in 1903. The goose-necked putter was originally invented by Willie Park after his putting creek was run over by a cart, bending the socket forward. Park to his surprise found he could putt better with it in its new shape and it was patent by him. The clubs both of wooden and iron clubs embodying identically the same principal made by R. Anderson & Sons, 101 Princes Street, Edinburgh were on the market years beefre the Schenectady putter was ever thought of.

Thorntree Golf Club

Thorntree Golf Club at Prestonpans is affiliated to Royal Musselburgh Golf Club and was founded in 1856. It was named after the thorntree under which Colonel Gardiner lay mortally wounded in the Battle of Prestonpans prior to being carried to Tranent manse where he died.

The Father of American Golf

John Reid known as the 'Father of American Golf' was born 28th December 1840 in Dunfermline son of John Reid a hand loom weaver and his wife Isabella Aidie. Reid learned to play golf on Musselburgh links before he emigrated to America and was appointed the secretary of an Iron Manufacturing Company. Reid resided on Palisade Avenue, Yonkers, New York when he requested a friend Robert Lockhart to purchase a few clubs and balls for him while on a visit to Scotland. Lockhart had them shipped across the Atlantic, and dispatched to John Reid. Lockhart was born January 1840 at 6 Cousin's Lane (off Mill Street) Dunfermline son of James Lockhart a Table Linen Manufacturer employing nine men, and his wife Ann.

When the City of Boston opened its public links Campbell was appointed green keeper and was given the teaching privilege in 1899. Campbell never enjoyed good health and died at his home in Dorchester, Boston on 25th November 1900 at the age of 38 years and is buried at Forest Hills. Georgina moved to Glenway Street, Dorchester and was described in 1909 as 'Club Matron' at Franklin Park. She was appointed Superintendent of the Franklin Park courses, thereby becoming the first woman to earn employment as a golf professional in the US. Ironically, despite the heavy demand for play the town closed the course on holidays and Saturday afternoons in the summer because of the danger posed by errant shots to the crowds who flocked to the park during prime times. This motivated the commissioners to lay out a six-hole course for novices inside the regular links. She married Dec Willis and became an American Citizen in 1924.

Ben Campbell continued to work as a club-maker at Musselburgh and North Berwick and 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.

Alex 'Nipper' Campbell (b.1876) followed George Douglas as pro at the Country Club of Brookline in 1899 and it has been suggested that he was a brother of Willie Campbell. Willie and Alex Campbell were not related, Alex came from Portland Road, Troon, Ayrshire.

John 'Fiery' Carey

The most famous caddie at Musselburgh was Johnnie Carey known as 'Fiery' because of his complexion rather than his temperament. Fiery was born in 1847 in Kerr's Wynd, Inveresk and on leaving school he worked as a labourer in Pinkie Brickworks at Levenhall. His brother Tom Carey was a miner and the family resided in Dumbrae before moving to 169 High Street, Musselburgh.

By 1875 Fiery was described as a 'club carrier' and as golf became more popular his talents were in demand on the links at Musselburgh. He became the regular caddie for Willie Park Jr. carrying his clubs in all his big matches. Fiery always dressed in his Balmoral bonnet with streamers floating behind, and the clubs loosely held beneath his oxter. He was a first-class caddie at North Berwick and given the Ticket No.18. His fellow caddie from Musselburgh was John Forman who was given Ticket No.19. 1909 Royal Musselburgh Golf Club and the Honourable Company paid 'Fiery' the veteran caddie, seven shillings each week. He remained single and resided at 93 North High Street, Musselburgh where he died in 1913, aged 66 years. Musselburgh Golf Club named the 16th hole at Monktonhall 'Fiery' after the famous caddie.

Alexander Carrick

Alexander Carrick born 28th June 1795, Athelstaneford, East Lothian son of Alexander Carrick, blacksmith and his wife Marion Scott. Alexander Carrick Jnr was joined in the business at Athelstaneford by his brothers Archibald (b.15th November 1789) and Francis (b. 9th May 1786). F & A Carrick, blacksmith, edge and tool makers moved to Back Lane, Fisherrow in 1838. Alex Carrick continued the family business at 61 High Street, Inveresk and had early success with his iron-headed golf clubs known as cleek's at Musselburgh. Alex Carrick is thought to be the first person to affix his name to his work which was a simple cross. He worked for over 35 years from his workshop at 1 New Street, Musselburgh. The business became Alex Carrick & Son when Archie's son James joined the business. Alex Carrick Jnr. died in 1901 at 17, Eskside East, Musselburgh and James Carrick moved the business to 149 Rose Street, Edinburgh. Popular with collectors today is the smooth faced Carrick lofting iron with a hickory shaft supplied by R. Forgan & Sons, St Andrews.

James, David & Peter Clark

The Clark brothers, James (b.1867), David (b.1874) and Peter (b.1876) resided in Brewery House, 181 High Street, Fisherrow, Musselburgh, sons of William Clark, brewer and his wife Euphemia Girdwood. The brothers apprenticed as club and ball makers with Willie Park in his workshop at Millhill, Inveresk before branching out on their own account in 1892.

Messrs. J & D. Clark produced golf clubs and balls for the wholesale and export market and in 1896 they were the largest golf equipment manufacturer in Scotland, employing over 40 men. They opened branches at 16 Braid Road, Edinburgh and were the resident clubmakers at Dunbar Golf Club, supplied from their workshop at 2 Eskside South, Inveresk. Their best seller was the 'Musselburgh' gutty percha ball and in 1898 they exported over 107,000 to the USA alone. In 1899 the J & D. Clark contract at Dunbar Golf Club was taken over by J & A. Dickson of Edinburgh.

Their father William Clark died in 1881 aged 46 years. When the brothers left for America their mother Euphemia continued the business at 3 Links Place, Musselburgh until 1903 when the business closed. James Clark remained a club maker residing at 64 West Holmes Gardens, Musselburgh before being appointed assistant to J. H. Taylor at Mid-Surrey Golf Club, Richmond.

David W. Clark

In the 1901 census David Whitelaw Clark is listed as a golf clubmaker residing at 15, West Holmes Gardens, Inveresk. In February 1902 he followed his younger brother Peter to America and remained in Pennsylvania for the rest of his short career. He was appointed professional at Mt. Airy Country Club (1902-03), then Lansdowne Country Club (1904-1910). Before he was appointed Manager and Professional at the nine-hole municipal Castle Shannon Golf Club founded in 1907 in Pittsburgh. Castle Shannon was sold to the borough of Mt. Lebanon in 1947 and converted to a public facility. In 1916, Clark accepted an offer to join the Country Club of Scranton and he resided with his wife Alexandria Miller and family at 932 First Street, Pittsburg where he died in May 1925, aged 50 years. David Whitelaw Clark is buried in Dunmore Cemetery in Scranton, Lackawanna County. Advert above from the USGA publication in January 1898.

Peter Clark

Peter emigrated to America in 1898 and was listed as a golf professional boarding at 695, North Jackson Street, Media, Delaware, Pennsylvania. In 1900 he moved with his wife Margaret to Tarrytown Road, Greenburgh Westchester County, New York. In June 1901 the New York Times reported that Peter Clark who was associated with Nassau Country Club at Glen Cove, Long Island had decided to return to the golf business in Westchester County in October. On 13th November 1905 Peter Clark (Century Country Club) attended a meeting of professionals in the Astor House New York to establish the Eastern Professional Golfers Association.

In 1912 Peter was appointed Golf Instructor and Superintendent of the Golf Grounds at Gedney Farm Golf Club, White Plains, NY. Clark was appointed the first head professional at Westchester Hills Golf Club and he designed their new course inspired by Donald Ross. The first nine-holes were completed in 1913, five more holes were added the following year with the final four completed in 1915. The new golf course was for the guests of the Gedney Farm Hotel opened in 1912. The members of Gedney Farm Country Club acquired the course from the hotel and altered the name to Westchester Hills Golf Club in 1921. A second course was laid out in 1923 by Peter Clark to cater for the hotel guests which became the Ridgeway Country Club. He resided at 72, Knollwood Road, Elmsford and remained at Westchester Hills Golf Club until 1937. Ridgeway Country Club closed in 2009.

James P. Cochrane

James Pringle Cochrane born 27th May 1863, 59 Kirkgate, Leith South, son of John Cochrane, tinsmith and ironmonger employing 6 men, 4 boys and 2 girls, and his wife Margaret Pringle. On leaving school James was a Commercial Clerk living with his three brothers, two sisters, his parents and three domestic servants at 35 Lochend Road, Leith.

James started in business as a golf ball maker under the name J. P. Cochrane & Co and his company first came to prominence in the trade lists in 1896. J. P. Cochrane & Co only made rubber golf balls and in 1904 they exported over one ton of their 'Challenger' golf balls the British Empire. Their outlet in America was at 95, Chambers Street, New York City.

In 1908, he made a gutty ball decorated with a series of five-pointed stars within larger recessed stars calling the ball a 'Star Challenger' even with the advent of the rubber-cored ball they successfully continued with the cover pattern. J. P. Cochrane employed ninety staff in their Murano Works at 27 Albert Street, Leith, Edinburgh where they remained until 1908.

On 9th April 1909 James Henry Roger wine merchant in Glasgow raised an action against J.P.Cochrane of 27 Albert Street, Edinburgh and James Pringle Cochrane, sole proprietor of said firm. £5000 was claimed for loss sustained through Messers Cochrane making and selling the ball known to golfers as the 'Ace'. Lord Salvesen decided that the 'Ace' ball is an infringement of the patent held by Mr Rodger for making liquid-cored balls, and he awarded £1500 damages. The damages were therefore awarded as equivalent to a royalty of 1/6 per dozen on the 'Ace'. balls admittedly sold by Messers Cochrane & Co. During this period litigation was prevalent as companies attempted to protect their patent's.

William Cosgrove

William Cosgrove born 1855 Inveresk son of Alexander Cosgrove, golf club-maker and his wife Janet Nelson. The family resided in James Place, Millhill, Inveresk. He married Mary Jane Quin in 1878 and was described then as a golf ball-maker. Willie Cosgrove entered the Open Championship from Musselburgh in 1874 (finished 20), 1877 (6), 1883 (16), 1884 (16), 1885 (25), 1886 (20). Alexander Cosgrove died in Inveresk Poor House in 1867, aged 46 years. William H. Bell. Cosgrove died in Newington, Edinburgh in 1927 aged 73 years.

Robert Cosgrove (b. October 1827) and his elder brother Edward 'Ned' Cosgrove (b. July 1819) were born at Dambrae, Inveresk, sons of Edward Cosgrove, a general labourer and his wife Ann Fechnie. On leaving school Robert 'Bob' Cosgrove worked as a golf ball-maker at 51 High Street, Fisherrow. During the season, Ned Cosgrove was a freelance club carrier on Musselburgh links and returned to general labouring in the winter. Bob Cosgrove entered the Open Championship in 1874 at Musselburgh and finished in 22nd place. In 1875 Bob Cosgrove travelled to St Andrews to take part in the professional tournament after the Autumn Meeting of the Royal & Ancient Club. In 1880 he moved to North Berwick working as a golf ball-maker at 2 Melbourne Cottage.

In September 1875 The Scotsman reported on the professional tournament at North Berwick, organised the day before 'The Big Match' played between the Morris's father and son, against Willie and Mungo Park. During the tournament Bob Cosgrove returned a card one stroke better than young Tom Morris who was leading the tournament, but the referee John Home W.S, North Merchiston House, Edinburgh refused to accept the card because it was incorrectly marked. Cosgrove complained bitterly but the disqualification stood. Willie Park and the other Musselburgh players stated that unless Cosgrove was awarded the £7 first prize they refused to play with any of the St Andrews men. When the dust eventually settled young Tom Morris was declared the winner.

Ned Cosgrove entered the Open Championship at Musselburgh in 1880 finishing third and the following year at Prestwick again finishing third behind the winner Bob Ferguson. Bob Cosgrove died in North Berwick in 1895 aged 63 years. His wife and children moved to Edinburgh.

Robert 'Bobby' Cruickshank

Robert Allan Cruickshank born 16 November 1894 at 14 South Street, Grantown-on-Spey, son of Robert Cruickshank and his wife Jane Lawson. Robert'Bobby'Cruickshank was 5 feet 4 inches tall and learned to play golf on the local course at Grantown-on-Spey where he and his brother John caddied for visitors. One of those visitors was Mrs Isabella Usher of the brewing family who was so impressed by her young caddies that she offered Bobby's family the opportunity for the boys to have a good education at her expense in Edinburgh. In 1909 Bobby and John moved to live with Mrs Usher as their guardian at 5 Murrayfield Avenue and they attended Daniel Stewart's College.

Bobby played golf on the Braid Hills course in Edinburgh where he met and established a life long friendship with Tommy Armour. Both were badly injured serving in Belgium during WW1 and Bobby had to live with the trauma of seeing his brother John being blown-up only yards away and his body was never found.

In 1919 and 1920 Bobby won the Edinburgh Corporation Coronation Cup over the Braid Hills, which at the time was Edinburgh's premier tournament. He also represented Stewart's FP golf club with success in the famous Evening Dispatch Trophy and reached the third round of the 1920 British Amateur Championship at Muirfield.

Bobby Cruickshank emigrated to America with his wife Helen and daughter Elsie Isabella named after Mrs Usher. They arrived in New York on 7 April 1921 and the passenger manifest listed his occupation as 'Student'. His contact in America was William Park at 25 W 43rd Street, New York. They took the railroad to Port Chester, Westchester, New York where Tommy Armour was a member. On his arrival in America Bobby won a number of tournaments including the St Joseph's Open,(Missouri), the Syracuse Open and the New York State Open as an amateur.

He was attached to the following golf clubs, Essex Country Club NJ 1921; Shackamaxon, Westfield NJ 1922-24; Twin Hills, Oklahoma City, OK 1925-26. Wintered at Palma Ceia, Tampa, Florida 1925-26 and was appointed to Progress Purchase NY 1928-31. He spent six-months at Willowbrook NY in 1931,and was appointed to the Country Club of Virginia, Richmond 1933-35.

In 1929 he returned to Scotland to play in the Open at Muirfield and in a newspaper article Bobby said 'I brought over only two clubs, a niblick and a putter and for the rest, he said he was going to go and see Jack White at Gullane'. Bobby wore his Stewart's College tie in the second round of the Open and finished sixth. Jack White apprenticed as a clubmaker with Tom Dunn at North Berwick before being appointed professional at Sunningdale. He had recently returned to East Lothian and started a clubmaking business in Gullane. In 1938 he was attached to the newly opened course at Monktonhall, Musselburgh.

Although Bobby recorded nine top-six finishes in golf's four major championships, the closest he came to the elusive win was twice being runner-up at the US Open in 1923 and 1932. Cruickshank retired to Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Florida where he died in August 1975.

Charles Crawford

Charles Crawford, born 21st. November 1863 at 6 Simpson Close, Inveresk Musselburgh son of Robert Crawford, agriculture labourer and his wife Margaret Blackie. Charlie boarded at 150 High Street (Archibald Place), Inveresk and was a caddie on Musselburgh links before being appointed greenkeeper and professional at the nine-hole Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club laid out on Oakleigh Farm (1891-1892). He entered the Open Championship at Musselburgh in 1886 and the Open at Muirfield in 1892, finishing in the top thirty on both occasions. He was appointed the first pro at the newly opened nine-hole course at Finchley Golf Club, originally laid out in the grounds of Nether Court (1892-1900). Charlie Crawford and his wife Jane returned to Musselburgh and resided at 16 Dam Brae and he worked as a licensed professional at North Berwick prior to WW1.

William L. Cunningham

William Lawson Cunningham born 28th May 1852 son of William Young Cunningham, blacksmith and his wife Janet Lawson. They resided at 92, Montpelier Park off Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh. Willie Cunningham Snr. was appointed professional to Mortonhall Golf Club (1900-04) where he trained his son William Cunningham Jnr. as a golf club and ball maker. In 1901 they opened a premises selling golf equipment at 26 and 35 Leven Street, Edinburgh. Willie Snr. was engaged as professional at Leamington Spa (1904-06), and then he held a similar position at Hearsall Golf Club (1904-21). William L. Cunningham died in 1938 at 92 Montpelier Park aged 86 years.

William Currie

William Currie born 1840, Dunipace, Stirling, son of James Currie, calico printer and later a messenger for the inland Revenue and his wife Helen Bryce. In 1870 William was listed as a salesman living at 6 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. William Currie established the Caledonia Rubber Works manufacturing golf ball and clubs employing 100 men in his factory at 122 Dalry Road, Edinburgh.

Willian Currie patented a golf ball (No.4838) in 1877 named ‘Eclipse’ which became very popular. The patent was granted for inventing the process of making golf balls from india-rubber combined with ground cork, leather or vegetable fibres. In 1887, William Currie wrote to the Field publication to bring to the readers attention that he was concerned that a number of inferior balls were being made to imitate its outward appearance and the factory were making all their balls embossed on each side, thus insuring that his clients will thereby get the real “Eclipse” Ball and prevent fraudulent imitations being offered to them as our genuine ball.

The workforce at the Caledonia Rubber Works were gathered from the Jewish community who had moved from Manchester to Edinburgh. The first patent for a metalwood, a British patent (No. 5741) dated 3rd April was issued to William Currie & Co. In 1895 William Currie moved to Millbank Cottage, 3 Grange Loan, Edinburgh where he died 2nd November 1928.

Walter Day

Walter D. Day born 11th March 1838 in Edinburgh, son of Benjamin Day, golf ball maker and his wife Catherine. Walter Day moved to Musselburgh in 1875 and was working as a golf club maker at 34 Hight Street. In 1880, his father was clubmaker to Bruntisfield Golf Links Society at Millhill and the family resided at 2 Links Place, Inveresk. When the Bruntsfield Club moved to Barnton in 1895, Walter Day's workshop was at Pinkieburn Golf House in Golf Place, Musselburgh. His sons Christopher and Walter Jnr. were also club makers. In 1902, Walter Snr. was appointed professional at Ardeer Golf Club, Ayrshire and in 1910 Walter Day was professional at Edenmore Golf and Country Club, Tullyanaghan, Magheralin, Co. Down, and his brother Benjamin Day was his assistant. In 1914 they moved to Lurgan Golf Club, Northern Ireland.

Walter D. Day was one of the first golf professionals to work in South Africa, when he was appointed to the Cape Golf Club in March 1893. According to the records of the South African Golf Association the first professional golfers in South Africa were Walter Day (Cape GC) from Musselburgh and Jack Johnstone (Port Elizabeth GC), from North Berwick, Scotland.

When the SA Amateur Tournament was played at Port Elizabeth in 1893 it appears that Walter Day accompanied the Cape GC contingent and as part of the week's activities, he played an exhibition match, very likely a challenge match against Johnstone. Johnstone won the first encounter by 2 holes after the two had both scored 78 in the first round. At the same tournament in 1899 at Kimberely GC. Walter Day's elder brother Benjamin Day (b.1862) is listed among the four professionals. 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.

Charles Davidson

William Davidson (b.1857) and his brother Charles Davidson (b.1859), were born in Pencaitland, East Lothian the illegitimate sons of Janet Davidson. They resided with their grandmother Isabella Davidson before moving to Gullane where they apprenticed as golf clubmakers with Douglas McEwan. The brothers started their own business W & C Davidson in 1895 working from a property named Temple Croft at the corner of Saltcoats Road and Templar Place in Gullane. Charlie Davidson continued the clubmaking business in Downie Buildings, 13 Millhill, Inveresk and in 1901 he resided at 39 Eskside South, Musselburgh. In 1905 William lived at 22 Rothsay Place, Inveresk, then 41 Hercus Loan and in 1920 at North High Street, Musselburgh.

Alexander and John Dickson

John Dunbar Dickson (b.1859) and his brother Alexander Dickson (b.1867) were born in Plainstone Close, Canongate, Edinburgh sons of Thomas Dickson, house painter and his wife Elizabeth Dunbar. The brothers apprenticed as golf clubmakers and in 1880 John was also described as a Fishing Rod Maker. In 1889 they started their own business as A. & J. Dickson working from 8 Braid Road, Edinburgh. They patented several clubs including the Simplex iron based on the mallet principal in 1893. The brothers moved to 108 Rose Street with their worksop at 5 Balcarries Street, and they continued to supply fishing rods and tackle at 30 Braid Road, Edinburgh. J & A Dickson was among a large group of sponsors who annually contributed prizes for the Braid Hills Tournament. In 1899 J & A Dickson took over the business of J & D Clark at Dunbar and became clubmakers to Dunbar Golf Club.

Alexander married Elizabeth Marshall and they resided at 3 Belhaven Terrace, Edinburgh with the clubmaking business in Braid Road. in 1905 John Dunbar Dickson was listed as Manager of the Golf Club and Cycle Maker at 15 Comiston Road, Edinburgh. He resided with his wife Grace Morrison at 10 Jordan Lane where John Dunbar Dickson died in May 1905. Alex continued the business of A & J. Dickson until 1908 when it went into liquidation. Alex died in June 1926 at 2 Balcarries Street, Edinburgh.

John Dickson

John Dickson Jnr. the eldest of John Dunbar Dickson's eight children was born 30th September 1878 at Chessels Court, 240 Canongate, Edinburgh. He learned to play golf on the Braid Hills public course and in 1908 John Dickson Jnr. followed Richard Leslie from Musselburgh as golf professional at the Town and Country Golf Club of St Paul, Minnesota. John boarded at 250, Cleveland Avenue, St Paul and taught Walter Hill at the Town and Country Club and Brand Whitlock,the United States minister to Belgium at the Inverness Club of Toledo.

Richard Leslie returned to the Town and Country Club in 1913 and John Dickson Jnr. moved to Earlington Golf and Country Club, Seattle. In 1917 Dickson took up a position at Santa Cruz Golf and Country Club, California. It was here that Dickson re-enlisted in the British Army hoping to get back into the First Scottish Horse in which he served through the Boer war. An article in the Washington Post in May 1918 suggested the impulse to drop everything came at Santa Cruz when a wealthy manufacturer of German goods insisted in talking German to his wife and refused to subscribe to the Red Cross. Dickson had four brothers fighting the Germans, Thomas, John, Alexander, and James, a brother-in-law and his sister Grace was an Interpreter. World War One finished in November 1918 before Dickson was able to fulfil his ambition. John returned to Scotland and resided with his wife Agnes Docherty at Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh. He was employed as a foreman golf club maker probably with J.P. Cochrane & Co. in their Murano Works on Albert Street, Leith. They produced the 'Professional Red Dot' ball and employed a workforce of 300 turning out 100,000 golf balls per week. John Dickson moved to 377 Leith Walk, Edinburgh where John Dickson died on 11th June 1936.

Archibald Dickson

Archibald Dickson born 25th October 1868, 34 New Street, Fisherrow, Musselburgh, son of James Dickson, a carter and his wife Joan Naismith. The family resided at 4 Pinkie Pans, Inveresk. In 1894, Dickson was appointed assistant to Peter Paxton at Tooting Bec where he learned the skill of clubmaking. Archie was appointed greenkeeper and professional at Rowallane Golf Club, Saintfield, Belfast (1896-97). He then held a similar position at the Royal Engineer Golf Club at Chatham and later he was attached to Maidenhead Golf Club. In 1900 Archie shared his apartment at 127 N. High Street, Musselburgh with Bob Tait another local golf professional. After a lingering illness Archie Dickson died 26th November, 1907 at 25 Millhill, Musselburgh aged 37 years.

Robert Doig

Robert Doig born 23 February 1876, Newbigging, Inveresk, son of William Doig, labourer at Inveresk Paper Mill and his wife Ann Millar. In 1890, Robert Doig was described as golf ball maker residing with his parents at 160 High Street, Musselburgh. At this time Bob was treasurer of the North Esk Golf Club.

In 1905 Doig laid out the nine-hole course at Marianske Lazne, Czechoslovakia where he was appointed the first professional in the summer months. He moved to Leipzig Golf Club (1907-1908) and then to a winter position at Rome Golf Club (1908-27) used by British and American diplomats. At this time he was also attached to Calisbad Golf Club, Cezech Republic, and later to Lucerne in Switzerland.

In 1907 Bob Doig was joined by his brother Jimmie Doig as his assistant. In 1910, J.H.Taylor played an exhibition match with Bob Doig. Taylor was invited to Rome to play in a pro/am and the following day he played a match with Bob Doig. Doig suffered badly from nerves and lost by 22 strokes over 36 holes.

During WW1 Bob Doig was interned in a prison-of-war camp while based at Marienbad Golf Club in Austria. He was eventually realised and the gendarme came to the golf club-house and took his passport. Bob had sent his wife and family home with his brother when the war cloud burst several weeks before. He was kept under observation by detectives despite the fact I had been golf professional at Marienbad for ten years.

Doig decided to make a move for the Italian border and after a twenty-four hour journey which normally took nine hours he travelled over the frontier into Italy. Following a couple of days in Rome he came home via Switzerland and France. Approaching Paris he had four wounded French solders as travelling companions and the British flag was flying over the French city.' Doig travelled back to Scotland for a short period before returning to Rome in 1915. Robert Doig died 20th January 1956 in Musselburgh.

Doleman Brothers

The Doleman brothers living at 7, High Street, Inveresk were associated with golf for over 70 years. John, William, Alexander and Francis Doleman were born in Musselburgh sons of William Doleman, a tailor and spirit dealer and his wife Catherine Hamilton.

John (1826-1916)

John was born in premises on Musselburgh links and joined his father as a tailor. In 1839 his father had given up tailoring and was the Race Stand Attendant looking after the golfers 'boxes', the forerunner of lockers. Of the four brothers John was the only one who never entered an Open. In 1884 John traveled south to Nottinghamshire and founded the Notts Golf Club on Bulwell Common. He returned to Edinburgh and in 1900 he was working from 36 Wright's Houses, Bruntsfield while residing at 12 Viewforth, Morningside. He died in 1916 and is buried in St Michael's Church Inveresk.

Alexander (1836-1914)

Alexander Hamilton Doleman was a journalist, writer and teacher and among the first amateurs to enter the Open Championship. The 1861census lists A.H.Doleman residing with his parents in the Commercial Inn, 7 High Street, Musselburgh. In 1858 he left for Blackpool where he founded a school. He was a member of Blackpool North Shore Golf Club and a pioneer of golf in England and founder of golf at Lytham and St Annes and one of the first club captains. Like his brother in Nottinghamshire he was presented with his portrait by the sportsmen in the Midlands. Known as A. H. Doleman played for the original Open Championship belt on one occasion and tied for ninth place in the 1870 Open Championship at Prestwick.

William (1838-1918)

William Doleman was reputedly the first person to play golf in Canada. It was said that he went ashore with his clubs as a young sailor, aged sixteen on the Plains of Abraham above Quebec in 1854. He returned to Glasgow in 1899 and worked as a cab-driver. He remained an amateur and entered the Open Championship almost every year from 1865 -1884 with his best finish being third in 1872. In 1912 Willie was a member and secretary of Glasgow Golf Club, at Killermont, while residing at 20 West Graham Street, and then at 132 Cambridge Street, Glasgow.

Left: The Doleman family residence, 7 High Street, Musselburgh.
© Digitalsport UK

In the minutes of the Musselburgh Golf Club in October 1838, the meeting agreed to allow William Doleman £3 for taking charge of the boxes of members and Tom Anderson £2 for taking charge of the holes and green. William played in the Amateur Championship and Open Championship most years from 1865 until 1884 and his best finish was third in 1872 at Prestwick when the Championship Cup (Claret Jug) was played for the first time. He was a regular competitor in the Amateur Championship from its foundation in 1885, making his last appearance at Royal Devon in 1912 at the age of 73.

Frank (1848-1929)

Francis 'Frank' Doleman resided at 11, High Street, Musselburgh where he made golf clubs. Frank entered the 1870 Open Championship and finished in fourteenth place. Frank was the first professional at Fortress and Rosemarkie Golf Club. In 1869, Frank went to London and was professional to the London Scottish Club. Frank 'Private' Doleman was appointed professional at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club in 1864-69. When he was not working on the Butts as a marker he was hired by the Club three days a week. In Match 1869 the Committee decided to apply to the Commanding Officer for permission to employ Doleman as club maker and instructor to the Club for the winter months at eighteen shillings a week. The Commanding Officer was Lord Elcho son of the Earl of Wemyss who would have been familiar with the Doleman brothers at Musselburgh. He retuned to Edinburgh in 1872 and was a member of Bruntsfield Allied Golf Club. The following year he shifted his quarters back to Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh and in 1871 he returned to Musselburgh and was manager of D. McEwan & Son from 1880 until 1896 when he took over the whole business for himself at 36 Wright’s Houses. Frank resided at 6, Glen Street, Edinburgh and in 1900 he moved to 12, Viewforth. Morningside, Edinburgh. There is a fine example of Frank Doleman's clubmaking in the Museum of Edinburgh in the Canongate with a clubhead made in 1884 from oak salvaged from a building demolished in the High Street, Edinburgh. When Frank died in 1918 aged 79 years his wife Violet Doleman continued to own the property until 1935.

Patrick Doyle

Patrick Joseph Doyle born 10th March 1886, The Square, Delgany Village, County Wicklow, Ireland. In 1906, Doyle aged 16 years was assistant professional at Greystones Golf Club, north of Dublin. His first job as a professional was at Delgany Golf Club in 1908. The following year Doyle moved to Scotland and was employed as a clubmaker in Edinburgh. In 1910 Pat was runner-up in the Irish Championship to Michael Moran. Doyle regularly played the public course at the Braid Hills in Edinburgh with Davie Watt the left-handed professional at the adjacent Mortonhall Golf Club. Watt won the Scottish Professional Championship at North Berwick in 1914.

Pat Doyle emigrated to the United States and shared the journey with fellow Irishman Peter O’ Hara or O'Hare the professional at Monkstown Golf Club, Cork Harbour, Ireland. They sailed from Liverpool on the S.S.Cymric and arrived in New York on 7th April 1915. Peter O'Hare secured a position at Haworth Golf Club (NJ) and then to Shackamaxon Golf Club (NJ) 1920-2. The following year the Cymric was sunk by a German U-boat in May 1916. Peter’s brother Patrick O’Hare professional at Foxrock Golf Club, Dublin emigrated to the United States in 1913 and was attached to Myopia Golf Club near Boston before moving to Pittsburgh Field Golf Club (PA).

Doyle worked freelance with several clubs including Myopia Golf Club near Boston, then Deal Golf and Country Club (NJ), Lake Champlain (VT), Elmsford (NY) before retiring in 1948 from Westmoreland Golf and Country Club. Doyle finished in tenth place in the 1913 US Open at Brookline Country Club when the young amateur Francis Quimet won. Doyle also qualified for the US PGA Championship in 1926 and 1928. He died at Mount Vernon, (NY) on 29th March 1971 aged 82 years. His grand-nephew was Eamon Darcy.

Robert Dow

Robert Dow was twenty-five years younger than William Dow (below). Robert was born 1868, 6 Links Place, Inveresk son of John Dow, and his wife Jane Robertson. His grandfather John and brothers John and William were listed as club carriers on Musselburgh links and during the winter they turned their hand to general labouring.

Robert Dow emigrated to America in 1898 and secured a position with Slazenger & Sons, 19 East, 15th Street, New York. In 1900 he was appointed golf professional at Bedford Golf and Tennis Club in Westchester County. He moved to Powelton, Newburgh NY (1901), then Mount Vernon NY (1902) and Knollwood Country Club (1903-07) before returning to Bedford Golf and Tennis Club NY (1908-09). Robert Dow married American school teacher Josephine Park and they resided on Old Hill Road between Bedford village and Mount Kisco where their friend Walter E. Stoddart from Musselburgh was the golf pro.

In November 1905 Robert Dow attended a meeting of professionals in the Astor House, New York to establish the Eastern Professional Golfers Association. Dow was elected to the executive committee along with Willie Anderson, Alex Smith, Willie Norton, and Alex Campbell. In December 1908, Robert travelled to Scotland to visit his family at Musselburgh. On the return journey to New York in February 1909 he was joined by Tom Anderson the former head green-keeper at North Berwick and now professional at Montclair Golf Club. NJ. His son Willie Anderson won the US Open Championship four times.

He was offered the position of golf pro at Ridgeford Golf Club NJ (1909-12) then to Monroe Golf Club NY (1913-15), and Oneonta NY (1916) before moving to Bedford Golf and Tennis Club, as superintendent (1917-30). In September 1908, the brothers Robert Dow (Ridgewood) and William Dow (Fall River) played in the Eastern Professional Golfers Association Championship. Robert Dow finished third and received $30 in prize money. The following month Robert Dow played in the Metropolitan Open Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club, NJ. and picked up third price of $33. The field included the former North Berwick caddies, George Turnbull (Washington), Jack Hoben (Englewood) Robert M Thomson (Knollwood) and Robert Peebles (Ridgewood). Bob Dow played in the US Open Championship in 1903 at Baltusrol and in 1908 at Myopia Hunt Club he withdrew after the second round. Bob resided with his family on North State Road, Bedford, Westchester County where he died in 1931 and is buried in Bedford Union Cemetery.

Willie Dow

William Dow born 1839 6 Links Place, Musselburgh, son of John Dow, joiner journeyman and golf club carrier, and his wife Jean Robertson. Willie Dow had six top ten finishes in the Open Championship and was third in both 1861 and 1865 at Prestwick. The day after the Open, the professionals played in challenge matches encouraged by the gentlemen golfers who put up the prize money, and in 1862 Willie Dow beat Willie Park. Willie Dow was a freelance professional at Montrose and North Berwick. He died in Inveresk, Musselburgh in October 1872, aged 32 years. This William Dow should not be confused with William S. Dow, born 1886 at 11 Carseburn Place, Forfar, who apprenticed as a cleek-maker in Monifieth before emigrating to America where he was attached to a number of Country Clubs in Massachusetts.

Alexander Drummond

Alexander Drummond born 1876, Burntisland son of William Drummond, slater and chimney sweep and his wife Elizabeth B. Drummond. The family moved to St Andrews and resided at 4, Baker Lane. Alex trained as a golf club maker and was appointed professional at Stonehaven G.C (1912-19). He moved to Edinburgh and was engaged by Mortonhall G.C (1919-1953) while residing at 22, Comiston Terrace.

Thomas S. Drummond

George Thomas S. Drummond born 7 September 1884 at 20 High Street, Musselburgh son of George Drummond, coachman and his wife Martha Young. On leaving school Tom Drummond was a caddie on the Musselburgh links before being appointed golf professional at Mortonhall Golf Club in Edinburgh.

In 1909 Tom Drummond was appointed the first golf professional at the newly opened course designed by James Braid at Greenway Hall. Tom boarded in Ivy House, Stanley Road, Stockton Brook, Stoke-on-Trent. In 1912 he returned to Scotland and was a freelance professional giving private lessons on the Aberdeen City Council Links. Henry David Drummond b.1887, St Andrews club-maker is not related to Tom S. Drummond.

Willie Dunn and family

Willie Dunn and his twin brother Jamie were born in Musselburgh in 1821, sons of a plasterer. They both apprenticed as ballmakers with Douglas Gourlay at Bruntsfield. They played in many challenge matches together between 1840-1860. In 1851 Willie Dunn was appointed 'Keeper of the Green' at Blackheath and was joined by his brother Jamie. Willie remained at the club for fourteen years until he was dismissed in 1864 for inappropriate behavior. In 1865 Willie moved back to Leith links and in 1869 he became 'Club and Ballmaker and Custodian of the Green' to the Leith Thistle Golf Club. Willie worked as a club and ball maker from his house at Primrose Cottage, Lochend, Leith. In 1867 the Thistle Club leased No.8 Vanburgh Place as their clubhouse where Willie Dunn resided with his workshop situated behind in Vanburgh Place Lane.

In 1871 Willie moved to Musselburgh to set up a clubmaking business and then to North Berwick. Willie had two sons Tom who apprenticed as a club maker under his father at Musselburgh and Willie Dunn Jnr. who trained under his older brother from the age of thirteen. Tom Dunn started his professional career at North Berwick in 1869. The following year he moved to the London Scottish Club at Wimbledon and in 1871 he joined his father at Leith Links where they lived at No.7 Vanburgh Place. Willie Dunn Snr remained at Leith Links for ten years before settling at North Berwick. He died at Millhill, Inveresk in 1878 at the age of 59 years.

Willie Dunn Jnr. was 15 years old when he played his first match against Ben Sayers at North Berwick and won. In 1882 he partnered Sayers in a money match against the two Fernies at St Andrews. The first day was halved but the second day Dunn and Sayers won the match by five holes. Willie entered the Open Championship for the first time from North Berwick in 1883 and again in 1884, and 1886.

In 1886, Willie Dunn Jnr. was asked by Horace Hutchinson to take charge of the links of the Royal North Devon Golf Club at Westward Ho!. Dunn remained there for a year and laid out the present course. In 1888, he moved to Royal Epping Forrest in Chingford and laid out their 18 hole course. The following year he was considered for the vacant post at Worcestershire but instead transferred to Biarritz in France where his brother Tom designed the course during a winter visit while still engaged at North Berwick. Willie Dunn Jnr. remained at Biarritz for six years.

In the winter of 1890 while on vacation in the south of France, William K. Vanderbilt and two friends from Southampton (LI). Duncan Cryden and Edward S. Mead of Dodd, Mead & Co. persuaded Willie Dunn Jnr. to come to America. He arrived in March 1891 and accepted the post of professional instructor at Shinnecock Hills during the summer months. Willie extended the existing twelve hole course at Shinnecock Hills as well as laying out the nine-hole ladies course. Four years later a combination of the two courses were used to host the 1896 US Open. Willie Dunn Jnr. was the first unofficial champion of America in 1894 by defeating another Musselburgh boy Willie Campbell. In 1895, Dunn was runner-up in the first official US Open Championship.

The long-nosed putter used by Willie Dunn in 1849 is on display in the Museum of Golf. His son Willie Dunn Jnr used the same club to win the first US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

By 1896, after flying visits to Biarritz in the winter, Willie Dunn Jnr. with his wife and son Norman William Dunn settled at the links of Ardsley Country Club in New York where he designed the course. It was here he set up a club manufacturing business and was joined by his nephew John D. Dunn in 1897. Willie opened a retail shop in New York and began experimenting with steel shafted clubs and was the first to use a tee peg. In 1895, he established the first Indoor Golf Centre and he continued this facility when his business moved to 9 East, 42 Street New York in 1898, a few blocks away from John D. Dunn's premises. In 1900, Willie Dunn Jnr laid out a private nine-hole course for John D Rockefeller on his Tarrytown Estate, NY.

The family can remember the son of Willie Dunn Jnr. telling the story of how one minute he was a grocer's delivery boy in Blackheath and the next he was playing rough and tumble with the Vanderbilt and Rockefeller children on 42nd Street, when his father made his millions and then in no time he would be back delivering groceries again when his father's fortune was lost. He said this happened a couple of times. In the 1920s Willie Dunn Jnr. moved to San Jose in California still designing clubs until his death in 1952.

Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson was born in Musselburgh in 1848 and won the first of his three Open Championship's over his home course in 1880. Ferguson lived at 150 High Street (Archibald Place) Musselburgh and when he was only 18 years old, he won the first prize of ten pounds in a tournament at Leith Links (1866) against a strong field of top professionals. His patron was so enthusiastic over his victory that he offered to present Ferguson with a set of clubs.

When the set was duly bought in the shop of Douglas McEwan, the eight clubs were chosen with such care that they lasted him all through his championship career. His wealthy sponsors including Sir Charles Tennant who backed him in 1868 and 1869 when he defeated Tom Morris on six occasions.

Golf Illustrated wrote of Bob Ferguson 'To see him address the ball was in itself a study; broad-backed and sturdy, so square and solid he looked, yet with great loose free-working shoulders swinging as true as if his back-bone was a pivot. And that forward dig of his with the iron, which used to lay the balls up on the plateau-pitched holes of North Berwick as if by magic! Another feature of his game was his skill in running-up the ball from long distances with the wooden putter, a club which the golfers of other courses called in derisive bitterness the 'Musselburgh Iron'

In 1868 he halved one match with Morris at Musselburgh and won another but was badly beaten over Luffness. Once the two played a match with cleeks alone over Prestwick and Ferguson, who was a very powerful player with all iron clubs, won by four holes. His chief triumphs against the Morris family seem however to have been gained in foursomes. With Davie Park as his partner he beat Old and Young Tom by 4 and 3 and a still better win was at North Berwick when he and old Willie Park beat Tommy Morris and Davie Strath by three holes.

Bob Ferguson and B. Hal Blyth played old Tom Morris and John Ball in two matches (18 holes each) at North Berwick on August 8th 1881. The first match was won by Blyth and Ferguson by 3 up and one to play, the last hole being halved. The second match was halved. These matches were played when the Hoylake team came to North Berwick for the first time to play Tantallon Golf Club. The same foursome played a match at Gullane and Blyth and Ferguson won 4 up and 2 to play.

Ferguson won the Open Championship in 1880, 1881 and 1882. In 1883 he tied with Willie Fernie, losing the 36-hole play-off by one stroke. After that championship he became ill with typhoid and was never able to reproduce his great form. During this period he was unable to pay his medical bills and gave the doctor one of his Open Championship gold medals. Ferguson lived at 150 High Street, 5 Archibald Place, Musselburgh and was appointed custodian of the old links. There is a fine example of Ferguson's club-making with a Wooden Putter circa 1880 in the British Golf Museum. In 1889, Bob Ferguson and Peter M'Ewan designed and laid out the Braid Hills the first public course in Edinburgh. Bob Ferguson's brother John 'Jackie' Ferguson was also a caddie on the links.

Bob Ferguson was not a member of the Professional Golfers Association but it is to the credit of that body that it is helping him out of its own funds. When Bob Ferguson died in May 1915, Royal Musselburgh G.C. instigated a subscription for a memorial fountain to be erected adjoining Musselburgh Links. The remaining funds were handed over to Ferguson's wife who was an invalid and totally blind, but well cared for by her family. The memorial took the form of a drinking fountain which was originally erected beside Balcarres Road and when Musselburgh Golf Club moved to Monktonhall in 1938, the fountain was transferred to a new site in front of Musselburgh clubhouse at Monktonhall where it remains. Bob Ferguson and Peter McEwan designed and laid out the Braid Hills course in 1889. Bob Ferguson is buried in Inveresk churchyard in an umarked grave, (lair 673) owned by his son Peter Ferguson. Among the other Open Champions buried in Inveresk are Davie Brown, Willie Park, Jack White and caddie Henry 'Big' Crawford. Interestingly the famous Open Championship Claret Jug is inscribed three times with the spelling 'Bob Fergusson'.

John 'Jackie' Ferguson.

Bob Ferguson's elder brother John 'Jackie' Ferguson (b.1844, Musselburgh) was the son of Peter Ferguson and his wife Isabella. On leaving Inveresk School Jackie was a caddie on Musselburgh links and was listed as a golf professional when he entered the Open Championship in 1886. Jackie married Annie Carey sister of John 'Fiery' Carey the famous Musselburgh and North Berwick caddie.

John Forman

John Forman born 28th July 1860 in Old Bridge Street, Leith, son of Henry Forman, a merchant seaman and his wife Barbara Gillespie. John Forman was a contemporary of Ben Sayers and Andrew Kirkaldy, and caddied for Old Tom Morris, Davie Strath, and Johnny Laidlay at North Berwick and Musselburgh. Forman bought his first golf club from Willie Dunn Snr who was in charge of Leith Links. John Forman worked for Thornton & Co at 78, Princes Street, Edinburgh as a club and ball maker for over 21 years. In 1895 he lived in the High Street, North Berwick and was granted his professional ticket on the West Links on 23rd August 1895.

Forman emigrated to America in 1897 and was appointed pro at the Dutchess Country Club, Poughkeepsie, NY where Mungo Park laid out the nine-hole course the previous year. Forman described the scenery among the rolling hills and meadows of old Dutchess as resembling the hills of East Lothian, Scotland. Two of the original holes are named 'Trap' and 'Perfection' after the holes at North Berwick. In 1898 Forman was appointed assistant pro to Willie Dunn Jnr. at Ardsley Casino Country Club, Dobbs Ferry, NY where John Duncan Dunn was also a club maker. Forman was familiar with the Dunn family from his days at Leith, Musselburgh and North Berwick.

A report in Golf magazine in April 1899 reads, 'John Forman seems to have given general satisfaction to the Ardsley golfers during the past year and I hear that his clubs have become so popular that several dealers are now duplicating the various shapes.' John Forman remained at Ardsley for three years and in 1901 he moved to Westfield G.C. NJ (now Echo Lake Country Club), then to Kahkwa G.C. at Erie PA (1903-1904), before settling at Warren Golf Club in western Pennsylvania, (which does not exist) 1905-1916. He was appointed to Danville G.C. VA in (1917-19) before moving to Harrisburg, PA (1920-28) where he died at the age of 64 years.

Madge Neill Fraser

Margaret 'Madge' Neill Fraser was born in 1880 in Edinburgh daughter of Patrick Neill Fraser a master printer and his wife Margaret Watson. Madge resided with her parents three brothers and a sister in Rockville on Murrayfield Road, Edinburgh. She was a member of Dornoch, North Berwick and Murrayfield Golf Club's and played Musselburgh links. Madge was a Scottish Internationalist from 1905 until 1914, semi-finalist in the Ladies Championship in 1910 and runner up in the Scottish Championship in 1912. She was captain of the Scottish Ladies Golf team at the start of WW1 when she volunteered as a nurse with the Scottish Women's Hospital. Posted to Serbia during a typhus epidemic she caught the decease and died at Kragujevatz in March 1915 and is buried in the Chela Kula Cemetery, NIS Serbia.

The funeral was conducted according to the rites of the Greek Church with full military honours. Over two-hundred attended her funeral and an annual commemoration ceremony still takes place every February at the graveside, an indication of the heroic status the women acquired among the Serbs. The Ladies Golf Union and her friends and admirers started the Madge Neill Fraser Memorial fund to supply additional beds for the Scottish Women's Hospital in Serbia. They raised sufficient funds to donated 200 beds.

Her father's great uncle started the family printing business Neill & Co, which supplied printed books and law papers to H.M.Stationary Office. They employed a number of staff at their printing press in the Old Fishmarket Close with the company offices at Bellevue and 13a George Street, Edinburgh. When Madge's father died her brother Patrick took charge of the printing works. He enlisted in WW1 and was comissioned in the North Stafford Regiment attached to the Border Regiment. Lieutenant Patrick Neill Fraser was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916 and is buried at the Citadel New Military Cemetery, Fricourt, France. Their grieving mother resided at 50 Grange Road, Edinburgh until her death in 1927, aged 80 years.

Andrew Galloway

Andrew Galloway born 1879 Torryburn, Fife, son of James Galloway, Estate Carter and his wife Isabella. In 1898 Andrew moved with his parents to Downie Buildings, Musselburgh where he apprenticed as a golf clubmaker. In 1905 Galloway was appointed clubmaker and professional to Lothian Golf Club who shared the nine-hole course on Musselburgh Links. The members became dissatisfied with sharing the links with other Clubs and leased land on Turnhouse Farm to the west of Edinburgh where they laid out their own course. The Club continued as Lothian Golf Club until 1909 when they adopted the name Turnhouse Golf Club.

In 1912 Galloway was appointed assistant professional to Willie Thomson at Baberton Golf Club, Juniper Green, Edinburgh. Thomson originally from Dirleton was a freelance professional at North Berwick. When he left Baberton in 1927 Andrew Galloway was appointed head professional and remained at Baberton until his retirement. His brother James Galloway residing at 63 Millhill was keeper of the green at Musselburgh (1894-1903).

Charles Husband Gibson

Charles H. Gibson Jnr. was born March 20th 1860 in Millhill, Inveresk son of Charles Gibson, master joiner and his wife Marion Walker. Charles apprenticed as a cabinetmaker and joiner in the business run by his father and uncle, Charles and John Gibson at 8 Millhill, Inveresk. When they retired in 1880 Charles Gibson was employed by Tom Dunn as a clubmaker and moved to North Berwick when Dunn was appointed keeper of the green in 1881. Tom Dunn used a timber building adjacent to the first tee on the West Links, as his club-making workshop. Charlie Gibson and Tom Dunn trained many fine clubmakers at North Berwick including Open Champion Jack White.

Charles Gibson lodged with Ann Denholm at 42 Entry Door, Westgate, North Berwick sharing the accommodation with her daughter Helen Ramage, son Charles Ramage and her son Andrew Denholm. Charles Ramage was appointed professional and clubmaker at Brighton & Hove Golf Club in 1888 and following his death in 1893 aged 36 years, his step-brother Andrew Denholm took over as professional. Charles Gibson married Ann Denholm's daughter Helen Ramage in the Abbey Church on 30th December 1881. They set up home at 27 Westgate, North Berwick and their first child Annie Greig Gibson was born at Forrest's Court, Westgate in 1882. She was followed by Marion Walker Gibson (1884), Charles Husband Gibson (1886) and William Ramage Gibson, (1888). The Gibson family moved to North Street, Northam, Bideford, Devon where Robert J Gibson was born in 1890.

In 1889 Gibson joined Tom Dunn's brother Willie Dunn Jnr. at North Devon Golf Club, Westward Ho! where he was appointed clubmaker. In 1891, Gibson laid out the original nine-hole course at Royal Porthcawl in Mid-Glamorgan and the course at Lahinch, Co. Clare in 1892. Gibson remained with the North Devon Club for 43 years and trained many fine clubmakers including Harry Fulford, Fred Saunders, Eddie Davies, Walter Andrews and John H. Taylor who left school at the age of 11 to become a greenkeeper and went on to win the Open Championship fives times; George Cann who later started a club making business with Taylor at Richmond and Bert Way who designed the courses at Euclid Country Club and Mayfield Country Club in Cleveland. Way was also a friend of Coburn Haskell and collaborated in the testing and design of the rubber-wound golf ball.

(Left) Charles Gibson with the miniature clubs in his hand

In 1924, Charlie Gibson was asked to make a miniature set of golf clubs for Queen Mary's Doll's House. Ben Sayers at North Berwick made the irons and Gibson made the wooden clubs. The leather golf bag was two and a half inches high and the clubs were three and a quarter inches long. The Doll's House was displayed at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley and is now on view at Windsor Castle. The aim of the project was to raise money for children's charities and Queen Mary wrote personally, thanking the clubmakers. Gibson used as his clubmakers mark a horse, reflecting his early days living opposite Musselburgh race course.

Charles's youngest son Robert J Gibson joined the professional ranks and assisted his father at Royal Devon before being appointed head pro at Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Tollygunge (1922-24). Some of the territorial regiments in the British Army where stationed in India and Robert would organise a match with the soldiers. During WW1 he saw service in Mesopotamia and India. William R. Gibson was appointed golf professional and clubmaker at Royal Winchester (1912-13), Hallamshire (1913-15), Woolacombe Bay, Devon (1915-17) and Sauton Golf Club (1923-29). Charles Gibson died March 1932 at Bideford, Devon.

John Gourlay

John Gourlay, born 1815 in St Cuthberts Parish, Edinburgh son of William Gourlay a golf ball-maker and his wife Christian Brand. John Gourlay and his elder brother William resided with their parents and four sisters at 1 Leven Street off Bruntisfield links in Edinburgh. They were the grandsons of Douglas Gourlay Sen. and the sons of William Gourlay Sen. John (1815-1869) and William (1813-1844) were in partnership as Wm.& John Gourlay. In 1850 they moved to Mill Hill in Musselburgh where they employed three men and John had two domestic servants. They were also related by marriage to the McEwan club-making family. Jean Gourlay married Peter McEwan in 1802. The two families worked together at Wright's Houses on Bruntisfield links before moving to 1 High Street, Inveresk in 1858, where they each employed one man. Peter's son James McEwan was apprenticed to William Gourlay in 1824 and became a ball-maker rather than a club-maker.

William used no weights whatsoever but simply paced the ball on one side of a pair of scales, and so many leaden pellets of shot on the other. He died young in 1844 and the ball making business was carried on under John Gourlay, who married Elizabeth Thomson in Inveresk Church in 1857. John Gourlay was well respected among the gentlemen golfers and acted as umpire for the fourman teams during the County Tournament at Gullane in 1864. He was also a talented speaker and was often invited to be 'Master of Ceremonies' at the North Berwick golf meetings.

There were three generations of Gourlay ball makers and in 1851 they exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition and received a bronze medal for the manufacture of feathery golf balls. The Gourlay family were originally weavers in Market Street, St Andrews, Fife. Douglas Gourlay (b. 31st April 1752) was the first golf ball maker in the family, and he was followed by his son William Gourlay and later by his grandsons John (b. 14th April 1815), William (b. 1st March 1813), and Douglas (b.24th March 1817). Listed as golf ball makers in the Edinburgh and Leith Directory in 1800-1824, Douglas Gourlay worked from 36 Wrights Houses, Bruntsfield links. In 1830 William was making golf ball at 31 Home Street, Edinburgh. In 1840 John and William Gourlay resided with their parents at 1 Leven Street, Edinburgh. William died in 1844 and John moved to Golf House, Musselburgh links where he employed 7 men and 2 boys.

William Gunn

William Gunn born 17th January 1785 in Thurso, Caithness moved to Edinburgh where he married Agnes Grieg. They lived in a garret in Skinners Close, 66 High Street, Edinburgh and Willie was employed as a 'Street Porter'.

'Daft' Willie Gunn as he was known was one of the early caddies employed on Bruntsfield links. In the book 'Five Open Champions' by George Colville, he wrote " When Willie arrived in the capital he just happened to be passing Bruntsfield Links watching the golfers one day when there was a shortage of caddies. One of the golfers asked Willie to carry his clubs and he received a shilling for an hour's work. This was big money for Willie and he decided to stay at Bruntsfield".

Willie, a gaelic speaker was described as an odd character who used to wear three of everything - vests, trousers, coats and three hats sewn together. He returned to Caithness every autumn selling his religious leaflets on the way. A portrait of 'Caddie Willie' is on display in the Bruntsfield clubhouse.

John Harrison

John Gow Harrison born 1828, 19 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, son of John D. Harrison and his wife Grace Gow. John and his brother Henry attended George Heriots School, Edinburgh and trained as Accountants and Insurance Agents. They started their own business at 17 George Street, Edinburgh and John also acted as Secretary of the Ship Owners Liability Insurance (UKPI) at 23 St Andrews Square, Edinburgh.

The Harrison brothers would have learned to play golf at Bruntsfield and Musselburgh Links where the Edinburgh golfers had emigrated from Leith links. The clubs sharing the links at Musselburgh included Edinburgh Burgess, Bruntsfield Links Societies, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and Royal Musselburgh Golf Club.

In 1894, John Harrison was persuaded to emigrate to Canada by fellow Scotsman Charles J.Thomson, an agent of the Loan and Trust Company residing in Virden, Manitoba. According to the 'Manitoba Free Press' Harrison was sent to Winnipeg with the intention of starting a golf club. Following a meeting in the Manitoba Hotel a committee of local businessmen formed the Winnipeg Golf Club. Harrison was the only golfer in the group and was elected to set the rules and write the constitution. The first three holes were layout and subsequently extending to six along the banks of the Red River in the Norwood area of the city. The club later moved to another site off Portage Avenue and a second nine was added in 1896. The club changed its name to Norwood Golf Club in 1914.

Charles John Thomson b.13th April 1840, Edinburgh, son of William Thomson, baker to trade and his wife Charlotte Parker residing at No.7 W. Nicholson Street, Edinburgh. Thomson emigrated to Canada in 1883 and died 2nd June 1911 at Virden, Manitoba, He is buried in St Cuthberts Churchyard, Edinburgh.

In 1896, Jack Harrison was engaged as golf professional on the five-hole course at Fairfield in Connecticut before moving to the neighbouring nine-hole course at Ridgefield Country Club (1896-97) situated along what is now Golf Lane and Peaceable Street.

Harrison entered the US Open from Ridgefield Country Club in 1896 and 1897; He withdrew from the 1898 US Open in Philadelphia and entered the 1899 US Open from Dayton. The following year he played out of Biltmore and in 1900 he entered from Delaware Field Club, Wilmington. In 1901 and 1902 he represented Colonia Country Club and at Baltusrol in 1903 he withdrew after the second round. During the winter Harrison worked in the Gimble Brothers Department Store, Philadelphia (1897-98).

He moved to Philadelphia Country Club in 1898 where Harry Gullane was the pro. Jack struck up a friendship with Jimmy Campbell a professional from North Berwick. In March that year Jack and Jimmy Campbell accepted a challenge from Harry Gullane and Wiliiam W. Campbell, a member at Philadelphia. Harrison and W. H Way then challenged Gullane and Campbell to a match, two rounds at Meadow Brook and two at Philadelphia for $200. These challenge matches gave the players more exposure and generated huge interest with rival members.

In 1897 while at Ridgefield, Harrison played in the US Open championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Long Island. Joseph Lloyd won the championship and Willie Anderson from North Berwick was second. Jack Harrison won the longest driving contest among the professionals in a contest before the 1897 US Open Championship. His winning drive was 232 yards 4 inches, John Harrison was representing New York (probably Innis Arden GC) where he played in the Hollywood Tournament in August 1901.

In 1899 Jack and Jimmy Campbell were appointed to Dayton Golf Club, Ohio. In June that year Jack was recruited by the Crawford, McGregor & Canby Company of Dayton, Ohio. He joined Willie Dunn and Willie Hoare in managing the golf works - Shipping 100,000 rough turned persimmon heads to Scottish makers.

A.W. Tillinghast, the American golf course architect wrote in Golf magazine about his visit to Scotland in 1899. He described his pleasure of a days golf at Musselburgh with Henry Harrison of Edinburgh, brother of Jack Harrison the well known professional in America and golf representative of Crawford, McGregor & Canby Co. of Dayton Ohio. While playing Musselburgh Tillinghast used the services of local caddie Jackie Ferguson, brother of the former Open Champion Bob Ferguson. In the 1900 US Open at Chicago Golf Club at Wheaton, Illinious, Jack Harrison carded the highest ever 72-hole score of 393 to set an all time record. In 1901 Harrison and Campbell team-up again at the Delaware Field Club, later Wilmington Country Club. That year Harrison coached and carried the bag for Miss Genevieve Hecker from Essex Country Club when she won the Metropolitan Championship at Baltusrol. In 1902, Campbell remained at Wilmington and John Harrison went to Colonia Country Club in New Jersey.

In 1901 Harrison carried the bag and coached Miss Genevieve Hecker from Essex Country Club to success in the Metropolitain Championship at Baltusrol. In 1896 while at Ridgefield he played in a open championship on Long Island. In 1910 Harrison played in an exhibition match with Fred Newnham and David Ogilvie at the opening of the new 18 hole course of the Augusta Country Club at Bon Air.

Walter S. Hill

Walter Somerville Hill, born 1887 at 168 High Street, Musselburgh, son of James Hill, papermill engineer and his wife Isabella Somerville. On leaving school Walter apprenticed as a club maker and then a freelance professional on Musselburgh Links. In 1907 he resided with his parents in Harbour Cottage and that year he was appointed golf professional to Menaggio and Cadenabbia Golf Club, Lake Como, Italy where he remained for ten years. He also gave tuition at Sanremo Golf Club, Italy. In 1917 Walter Hill (pictured left) returned to Britain and enlisted in WW1. A report in the press suggested he was wounded in action. In 1920 he returned to Musselburgh and married Jane Hyde and worked as a caddie and professional on the old course. He died in 1924 aged 38 years.

David, Fred and Tom Hood

David Hood born 22nd May 1887, Links Road, Inveresk, Musselburgh son of Thomas Hood, golf club and ball maker and his wife Hannah Peake. He came form a family of professional golfers including his father, three brothers and two brother-in-laws. In 1871 the family resided at 2,Shrub Place, Edinburgh

Davie Hood learned to play golf at the Braid Hills in Edinburgh. He joined his elder brother Tom at Royal Dublin, then Portmarnock, Mid-Surrey and Raynes Park. In 1905 Davie followed his brother Fred Hood to New Zealand and he worked as a club maker in Jock McLaren (North Berwick) workshop at Balmacewen Golf Club. In 1906 McLaren won the Professional Championship of New Zealand by one stroke from Davie Hood. The youngster was assistant to Fred Hood at Auckland before moving to Hagley Golf Club, Christchurch. In 1908, Davie was runner-up in the second New Zealand Open Championship. In September 1908 he accepted the offer of the position of golf professional at Oamaru Golf Club. In 1913 Fred and Davie Hood were elected members of the first council of the Professional Golfers Association of New Zealand.

In 1920, Davie Hood left New Zealand and travelled to the Philippines where he gave lessons at Manila Golf Club. From there he sailed to Tokyo and gave instruction to the Emperor of Japan. He also gave lessons to Prince Asaka and other members of the Imperial Household at Shinjuka Palace. Hood with his personal interpreter gave instruction to all the leading Japanese golf clubs including Rock, Maiko, Yokoya, and Naru in the Osaka District. David Hood created the original design for the East Course at the famous Ibaraki County Club, Japan in 1925.

Tom Hood

Thomas Francis Hood born 17th April 1870 at 2 Shrub Place, Edinburgh the eldest son of Thomas and Hannah Hood. Tom Hood Jnr trained as a club and ball maker with his father at 21 Millhill, Inveresk where his brother Frederick was born in 1880. Tom Hood Jnr opened a shop at 2 Braid Road, Edinburgh and in 1895 they had a workshop in the grounds of the Braid Hills Hotel. Tom's first apprentice was Peter Paxton (below).

In 1893 Tom was appointed the first greenkeeper and professional at Royal Worlington & Newmarket and in 1894 he moved to Raynes Park, London, and resided at 43, Calmington Road, Camberwell North. In 1899, he was appointed head pro at Royal Dublin and his family lived at 12, Conquer Hill, Clontarf East, Dublin. Tom was followed to Ireland by his brother Fred who was appointed to Malahide Golf Club, before sailing to New Zealand. During 1902-04 Tom followed his brother to New Zealand and was assistant to Fred at Royal Auckland Golf Club before he returned to Royal Dublin in 1904 and opened a retail shop at 10, Trinity Street and from 1906-1909 he worked from a property at 3 Church Lane, Dublin.

Tom Hood Jnr. entered the Open Championship in 1905 (St Andrews) and 1906 (Muirfield) but missed-the-cut on both occasions. He laid out a number of course in Ireland including Castle, Grange, Rathfarnham, Tramore and Wicklow and was a founder member of the Irish PGA in 1911. During WW1 Tom was a hotel-keeper running the White Hart Hotel, Ely, Cambridgeshire. He returned to Worlington for a short period before leaving in 1923 to run the Old Bridge Hotel at St Neots in Cambridgeshire.

Fred Hood

Frederick George Miller Hood born 24th December 1880, at 21, Millhill, Musselburgh, the second eldest son of Tom and Hannah Hood. In 1902 Fred Hood emigrated to New Zealand and was the first professional to be appointed to Royal Auckland Golf Club. In 1909 Tom extended the course to eighteen holes on a new site at Middlemore. Fred Hood was offered the position of professional at Malahide (1912-1921). He moved to Miramar where he gave lessons to Viscount Jellicoe, Governor General of New Zealand. In 1924 when His Excellency completed his term of office he was presented with two beautiful wooden clubs, a driver and brassy made especially by Fred Hood.

In December 1904, Fred took part in the first professional golf tournament in New Zealand. Played over the nine-hole course at New Plymouth during a Carnival and Exhibition week in the town. The tournament was held on the Nigamotu links which is now Rugby Park and the field included Jim Hutchison, and Alex McLaren, from North Berwick, and Fred Hood representing 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. Following a meeting in Dunedin in October 1913, Fred Hood was elected the first chairman of the PGA of New Zealand. Hood taight the game to J.A. (Joe) Clements professional at Waganui and winner of the New Zealand Open in 1908, 1909 and 1911. Fred was a two-time winner of the New Zealand Professional Championship in 1903 and 1906. Fred Hood died in 1926 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Their father Thomas Hood Snr. was a joiner to trade and a well known long nose golf club maker. He was also a Spirit Merchant with his second wife Mary Johnston at 45 High Street, Musselburgh. In 1890 Tom Snr. was an inmate in Inveresk Poor House and later he was incarcerated in Rosslynlee Asylum where he died in 1909.

Lord Charles M. Hope

Lord Charles Melbourne Hope born 20th February 1892, Ararta, Victoria, Australia, son of John Hope 7th Earl of Hopetoun and his wife Henesy Marchioness of Linlithgow. The family resided at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry near Edinburgh. Lord Charles was a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club wining the King William VI medal in 1909. He was a regular visitor to North Berwick during the season and played with Ben Sayers. In 1913, the 21 year old Lord Charles Hope won the French Amateur Championship after an extra hole at La Boulie. He also won the Don Memorial Challenge Cup at Royal Mid-Surrey. His brother the Marquis of Linlithgow was also a fine golfer and in 1920 they entered the U.S Amateur Championship at Engineers Country Club, Roslyn, Long Island.

Lord Charles M. Hope and his brother sailed to America from Liverpool on the S.S.Orduna and arrived in New York on 17th May 1919. Their American Tour was sponsored by J.P.Morgan of New York and Lord Charles played matches against Bobby Jones, Chick Evans and Francis Quimet. In 1929 Lord Charles sailed from Cannes, France to America to play in the US Amateur Championship, at Pebble Beach Golf Links. He continued his journey to Victoria, Australia before returning to Scotland. Lord Charles M. Hope died 11th June 1962, Ascot, Surrey, England.

Thomas Horsburgh

Thomas Horsburgh born 25th November 1856 at Niddrie Mill, Liberton, Edinburgh, son of Dickson Horsburgh, blacksmith and is wife Isabella Rennie. In 1873, Dickson Horsburgh opened a smiddy at Duddingston Mill on Willowbrae Road, where he employed three men and a boy. His son Tom Horsburgh continued the blacksmith business at Duddingston before moving to Johnsburn Mill, near Balerno, Edinburgh.

Tom Horsburgh was a founder member of Baberton Golf Club in Edinburgh and invented the steel-shaft clubs at his Johnsburn smiddy in the village of Baberton in Midlothian. The first steel-shaft clubs were forged and patented in 1893, and were made in solid one-piece iron with a reverse screw thread fixing into the head. At that time the invention created great interest, but could not get the clubs legalised and he eventually allowed the patent to lapse. The United States was left to develop the steel-shaft which was sanctioned by the USGA in 1924. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews refused to allow steel until January 1929.

Horsburgh was elected captain of Baberton Golf Club and to celebrate his eightieth birthday in 1937 the club presented him with a wireless set. The Tommy Horsburgh Collection including his steel-shaft clubs are on display in the Baberton Golf Clubouse.

Jimmy Huish

James Huish born 13th December 1879 at Winton Hill, Pencaitland, East Lothian son of William Huish ploughman and his wife Mary McDonald. Jimmy Huish had a tall slender physique and stood straight as a flagpole. He was a supporter of Heart Of Midlothian Football Club in Edinburgh and a close friend of Bobby Walker who was Heart's leading goal scorer and International player from 1902-12. Huish distinguished himself during the Second Boer War in South Africa and in 1911 he was listed as a chauffeur residing in Inveresk Village, Musselburgh. Bill Moffat also from Musselburgh, was golf pro at Victoria Golf Club, British Columbia, and he invited Jimmy to become his assistant. Huish sailed from Liverpool and arrived in Quebec on 17th August 1912.

After working under Moffat at Oak Bay, Huish went first to Vancouver Golf and Country Club and then spent the war years at the United Service Club near Macaulay Point. In August 1916, Jimmy Huish married Jenny Muirhead and they resided in Vine Street, Victoria. In 1920 he was appointed the first pro at Colwood Golf Club when they opened in 1920. The club became Royal Colwood in 1931.

In 1921, Huish played in an exhibition match with Davie Black (Shanghnessy G&CC) when they defeated the Australian champions Joe Kirkwood and Vic East. In 1922, Jimmy Huish organised a meeting at Victoria Golf Club to establish the British Columbia Golf Association. At the opening of the Point Grey Golf and Country Club on Victoria Day 1924 an exhibition match was played between the local pro Dave Ayton and Jimmy Huish against Davey Black and Alex Duthie. On 26th June 1926, the Langara Golf Links were opened, the first public course in the City of Vancouver. Jimmy Huish was among a group of professionals invited to the opening ceremony. That year Jimmy moved to Marine Drive Golf Club, where he established a new course record 67 in 1928. The popular Huish, known as Jimmy 'The Hush' Huish. He departed Marine Drive in 1940 to work in a munitions plant and when WW2 ended he worked as a club maker for Fred Wood and Eric Brown. Jim retired in 1942 following a testimonial dinner in his honour at the old Pacific Athletic Club, Marine Drive. Huish died on 18th April 1953 in Vancouver.

Thomas & Norman Hunter

Thomas Mansfield Hunter (b.1877) and his brother Norman Frederick Hunter sons of Dr. James Adam Hunter MD and his wife Marion Mansfield. They resided at 18 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh where their father had his medical practice. Thomas Mansfield Hunter was educated at Edinburgh Academy, and attended Cambridge University.

Mansfield played in the first Amateur Championship in 1885 and again in 1888. He was a member of Tantallon Golf Club and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. In July 1899 Mansfield Hunter and his partner Charles Dalziel played a 36-hole match against Freddie Tait and Robert Maxwell at Muirfield. Hunter and Dalziel won the match 2 & 1, but lost the return two days later. In 1901 he won the Tantallon Club Medal, and also the Victoria Jubilee Cup. He won the scratch medal at the spring meeting from a field which included John E Laidlay, Leslie Balfour-Melville and Robert Maxwell. Mansfield was elected captain of Tantallon Golf Club (1910-12), and during this period Tantallon played an annual match against The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society. Mansfield Hunter qualified as a Barrister-at-Law and in 1910 he resided in Carters Hotel, 14 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London. He gave up competitive golf in 1913 and devoted his time to politics as conservative candidate for the Berwickshire constituency. Thomas Mansfield Hunter died 14th July 1925 at Marylebone, London.

Norman Frederick Hunter was born 1st March 1879 in Edinburgh, and educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh before going up to Christ's College in Oxford University in 1897. He learned to play golf on Musselburgh links and was a member of the blue blood fraternity of amateur golfers at Tantalllon Golf Club, North Berwick. The best round Norman Hunter ever played was at the Autumn Medal at St Andrews in 1904 when he carded a 74 to win the medal and set a new course record which stood for a number of years.

He was captain of The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society when they toured America in 1903 and 1912.The Chicago golfers can still remember when the trim clean-cut Norman F. Hunter made his 71 on the Wheaton course. Norman and his brother Mansfield entered the Open Championship in1904-1906.

Norman Hunter visited Sydney in Australia and played the metropolitan courses in 1906. Hunter was a member of the rules of golf committee at St Andrews and a member of many clubs near London but plays chiefly on the West Links, North Berwick. In 1911 Norman and his wife Elizabeth were living on private means with a butler and three servants in Huntington, Ascot and was captain of Sunningdale Golf Club, where Jack White was the professional.

Norman was an underwriter with Lloyds Exchange in London before he was commissioned an officer in the Lloyds of London, 4th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment attached to the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Lieutenant Norman Hunter was posted to Belgium when he was reported as missing in action, presumed dead. The last reported sighting of him was included in a lletter sent through the Red Cross Society to a relative of Norman Hunter. The letter continues - 'At Hooge Wood' on June sixteenth when we made the charge, we took rows of trenches including the communication trench. Lieutenant Hunter was wounded at the third line of trenches and they put him in a dug-out and then we lost the communication trench leading to the wood, so we had to retire to the second line and Lieutenant Hunter was left in the third line. I myself saw him in the dug-out. The night after we tried to find him, but we could not get up as far, as the Germans held that line. Norman Hunter died of his wounds at the Battle of Bellewaarde on 16th June 1915 and is buried at Ypres, West Flanders. His military record states 'THIS DEATH HAS NOT TO BE ADVERTISED'.

John M. Inglis

John Milne Inglis born 1879 at 4 Milne Square, Edinburgh son of Adam Inglis, spirit merchant and his wife Margaret Milne. John worked as a clubmaker with William Frier at the Braid Hills Golf Club, Edinburgh and later with John and Alexander Dickson who had premises in Braid Road and 108 Rose Street behind Thornton & Co where John Forman worked as a ball and clubmaker.

Jock Inglis emigrated to America in 1897 and worked with Mungo Park for Slazenger & Son in New York City. In 1898 Inglis was appointed greenkeeper and professional at the Dutchess Golf and Country Club in New York. The nine-hole course was laid out the previous year by Mungo Park and the first pro was John Forman from Edinburgh. In 1902 he moved to Meriden Golf Club (CT), then to Fall River Country Club (Massachusetts) 1904-07 before moving to Fairview Country Club, Elmsford,(NY). During this period he wintered at Hampton Terrace, Augusta, GA and at Montgomery Country Club (Alabama) before moving permanently to Alabama (1904-19) and residing with his wife Annie at 218 Stephenson Street, Montgomery.

John M. Inglis (Left) and Gilbert Nichols (Right)

In November 1910, the members of Montgomery Country Club sent J.M.Inglis east to inspect the latest golf courses with a view to alter their own course. Inglis stopped on the journey at Henderson NC and laid out an 18-hole course for the Highland Lake Club. During his sixteen years at Montgomery, Jock Inglis developed wonderful Bermuda grass putting greens, which gave him a national reputation. He also established a successful golf club manufacturing business and was known as 'Inglis of the Perforated Grip Fame', mailing the calf leather grips he developed all over the country. In 1912 Inglis laid out an eighteen-hole course for the Capital City Golf Club in Montgomery.

On 8th September 1915 the Alabama Golf Association was established and Jock Inglis was elected secretary and treasurer, a position he held for a number of years. In 1920 he was appointed pro at Savannah Golf Club, Georgia and in 1923 he followed Wilfred Thomson from North Berwick at the Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, VA.

On 17th January 1924 he suddenly died of pneumonia at the age of 46 years, leaving his wife Anne Rutherford Inglis and five daughters, who later moved to Atlanta, Georgia. The obituary of John M. Inglis was carried in Golf Illustrated and the USGA periodical, and the members at the Country Club of Montgomery erected a plaque to his memory. The information above was diligently researched by Tom Buggy, a member of the Dutchess Golf and Country Club.

Herbert G. Irwin

Herbert Graham Irwin born 13 April 1894 in Carlisle son of Fred W. Irwin, a draper to trade, and his wife Jessie Hill Graham. Herbert moved with his parents to Edinburgh and resided at 17 Cathcart Place, and later at 7 Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh. He emigrated to America in 1913 and was engaged as a freelance professional working from 3209 Cresson Street in Philadelphia.

Herbert 'Scotty' Irwin became an America Citizen in June 1917 and enlisted in the US Army, 206 Aero Squadron at Fort Worth, Texas on 6th July 1918. He was appointed golf instructor at Mason City, Iowa (1925-27) then at Mississinewa Country Club, Oakdale, Indiana (1928) before being golf instructor at the Webster Hotel, Chicago IL (1925-28). In the 1940s he was attached to the Countryside Golf Club at Mundelein, Illinois.

Richard Leslie

Richard Leslie born December 1864, 4 West Row, Inveresk, Musselburgh son of James Leslie, railway surfaceman at the Fisherrow Depot and his wife Jane Wood. Richard worked as a Millworker before serving an apprenticeship as a golf club maker. He was also a freelance caddie on Musselburgh links. Richard emigrated to America, sailing on the S.S.Etruria he arrived in New York on 5 December 1896. He moved north to Manitoba and was appointed professional at the nine-hole course at Winnipeg Golf Club.

Leslie qualified for the 1897 US Open Championship at Chicago Golf Club, when Joe Lloyd was the winner and eighteen year old Willie Anderson from North Berwick was runner-up. That year Richard designed the course at Glen View Club, Chicago and was appointed the club's first professional. This was the start of a long working relationship with 'Larry' the green-keeper which lasted until 1911.

In 1903 Richard returned to Scotland and worked as a clubmaker and caddie while residing in Abbey Court, St Andrews. In 1905 Richard's brother William Leslie was working on the links at Musselburgh and in April 1905 the brothers sailed on S.S. Campana from Liverpool to New York. The passenger manifest listed Tom Bendelow as their contact at 147, Wabash Avenue, Chicago. A. G. Spalding & Bros also had offices on this street. Tom Bendelow travelled the country as director of golf course development for Spalding Bros.

In 1906 Richard assisted Tom Bendelow to layout the course at St Charles Country Club, seven miles west of Winnipeg. In 1912 Richard was appointed club maker and professional at St Paul's Town and Country Club and his family resided at 2049, Iglehart Avenue, Chicago.Richard's career included Winnipeg Golf Club (1897), St. Charles Country Club, MAN (1898-05), Glen View Club IL (1905-08), St Andrews, Scotland (1909-12), St Paul's Town and Country Club, MN (1913-14).

William Leslie

Richard's brother William Leslie born September 1872, High Street, Musselburgh was a baker to trade in the Fisherrow Depot. Willie was a golf ball maker and caddie at Musselburgh before emigrating to America in 1900. He was appointed professional at Milwaukee Country Club and his hand made 'guttie' golf balls were very popular with the members. In 1924 he moved to Sadaquada Golf Club, Utica, New York Mills, New York.

In 1903, Richard Leslie married Isabella Glen daughter of Willie Glen green-keeper at St Andrews Links. They married in Chicago where their son Richard Leslie Jnr. was born. He remained at Glen View for three years until tragedy struck his family, following the sudden death of their five year old son Richard from meningitis. In 17 December 1908 Leslie returned to Scotland with his wife and their son in a tiny casket. The Minneapolis Morning Tribune reported the couple could no longer bear to live in the land where death robbed them of their son but Leslie retuned to the Town and Country Club of St Paul for the 1913-1914 season.

In 1910 their second son Gordon Blair Leslie was born in Abbey Street, St Andrews. During an eighteen year period in America, Leslie crossed the Atlantic eight times, returning to Scotland in the winter. In 1912 he shared the voyage with George Gordon a former work colleague and club maker from St Andrews. At the time George was golf professional at Wannamoisett Country Club, Rumford, Rhode Island.

In 1915, Richard Leslie returned to Scotland permanently and resided at Glenesk, Lade Braes, St Andrews. He worked as a Market Gardener which was a reserved occupation during WW1. Richard Leslie died in September 1926, aged 62 years. Isabella followed him to the grave in April 1947 after complications during surgery at Dundee Royal Infirmary.

John 'Jackie' Little

John James Little, born 2 July 1938, Inveresk, Musselburgh, son of Richard Little, ships driller and his wife Marion Wilson. He started his apprenticeship as a club-maker with Ben Sayers Ltd. North Berwick in 1954. Jackie resided with his parents at 3e Monktonhall Terrace, Musselburgh, The same address as fellow pro John Aitken (above) and his family. Jackie was appointed assistant pro to John Catleugh at Trentham Golf Club, Staffordshire and following his national service Jackie joined David Houston at the Silverknowes course in Edinburgh. Later he was appointed to the Royal Calcutta Golf Club and on his return to Britain he was professional at the Crompton and Royton Club before being appointed head pro to Bernard Gallacher at Wentworth. In 1949 he moved back to Scotland, and following the death of Jack White he took over at Musselburgh Golf Club.

Robert B Martin

Robert Bell Martin born 7 January 1871, Linlithgow, West Lothian, son of William Martin, grocer and his wife Jessie Bell. Robert moved with his parents, a brother, three sisters and a domestic servant to 15 E.London Street, Edinburgh. Robert was a commercial traveller when he married Kate Cooper in 1894 and they resided at 27 Montgomerie Street, Edinburgh.

In 1904, Martin was manager of Walter Hislop's, West End Cycle and Golf Depot, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh. In 1905 he opened a golf equipment shop at 33, Frederick Street, and the following year went into partnership with Andrew Kirkaldy as Martin & Kirkaldy Ltd. with their workshop at 10, Young Street Lane off North Castle Street and their showroom at 8 York Buildings, Queen Street until 1912.

R. B.Martin was appointed professional at Dunfermline (Ferryhills 1905-06) then to Kirkcaldy Balwearie (1906-09). He transferred to Rosyth naval base and then was appointed to the famous Mortonhall (1909-10). He was a founder member and secretary of the Scottish section of the Professional Golfers Association (1907-10). 'RB' as he was known sailed to Australia, arriving in Sydney in May 1911. He was with Mick Simmons Ltd. for three years and was then appointed manager of the sports and tackle department in Newcastle (NSW). As a youth in Edinburgh he played football for St. James and St. Bernards and was one of the first motorists in Edinburgh when he represented Sunbeam cars.

On leaving the Martin & Kirkaldy business he joined up with A. G. Spalding Bros. and represented the sports firm at all principal golf tournaments until leaving for Australia. 'RB' also played baseball, cricket and bowls as a member of the Lowlands Club. He continued to represent Mick Simmons Ltd at their store on Hunter Street, Sydney. For some years he was president of the N.D British Football Association, a vice-president of the N.D Lawn Tennis Association and a member of Newcastle District Cricket Association. In the 1930s Robert was listed as a salesman residing with Kate and their two children at 59, Ray Road, Epping, Parramatta, NSW. In 1953 they moved to 13 Reserve Street, West Ryde, NSW.

Donald M. Mathieson

Donald Mackay Mathieson born 1875, Edinburgh son of John Mathieson, Railway Porter and his wife Jessie Mackay. Donald attended Edinburgh Academy and played for the school golf club while residing at 10, India Street, Edinburgh. He established the Boy's Amateur Championship and won the first Boy's tournament in 1921, when he defeated sixteen year old Henry Cotton on the first day at the Royal Ascot Club. In the final Mathieson defeated Guy Lintott at the 37th hole, and he won the title again at Dunbar in 1923. Mathieson was a member of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society and other golf clubs in the Lothians.

Donald trained as a Advocates Apprentice Clerk while residing at 1 Gayfield Street, Edinburgh. Mathieson was the founder and editor of the publication Golf Monthly in 1911. He was the pioneer of golf reporting and did more than anyone to popularise the game of golf during the first half of the Twentieth Century. He established The Golf Reporting Agency with offices in London and Edinburgh. This was long before the great national agencies such as the Press Association and the Exchange Telegraph Company were established. He founded the Golfers' Handbook in 1904 and published the Golf Traders' and Manufactures' Exhibition which was held annually at the British Open. Donald Mathieson died at 8, Doune Terrace, Edinburgh on 25 February 1954 and is buried in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh. His large book printing business was continued by his sons, Robert and Donald.

John Millar

John 'Jack' Millar, born 1863, Dambrae, Musselburgh, emigrated to America in 1903 and was appointed club maker to Merion Cricket Club, Philadelphia. Jack Millar was a joiner to trade working in Edinburgh for one of the twenty-six golf club makers in the capital including William Park & Son - Frederick Street, R. Anderson - Princes Street and A.G. Spalding & Bros.- Charlotte Street. Jack Millar resided in Conway Avenue, Narberth, Philadelphia.

In 1911 he moved to Cottage Street, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and was employed as a ship carpenter on Hog Island. He married Martha Bryceson from Pennsylvania and following WW2 he returned to his trade as a joiner. Jack Millar died in 1948 and is buried beside his wife and family in Beulah Cemetery, Doylestown. PA.

Jack and Bill Moffat

John 'Jack' Moffat, born 21st June 1879, at 29 Fishers Wynd, Fisherrow, Musselburgh son of David Moffat, baker journeyman and his wife Margaret Brown. Jack was a freelance golf professional on Musselburgh links and resided in Downles Buildings, Pinkie Road, Inveresk. In 1903, Jack sailed to America and the passenger manifest listed his final destination as Portland Golf Club, Oregon. At that time, golf was played in Portland on ground between 13th Avenue and Golf Junction. An early highlight for Jock was preparing the course for the fifth annual Pacific Northwest Golf Association tournament on 22nd April 1903.

Jack became the first resident golf pro in British Columbia when he was appointed to the Victoria Golf Club with a salary of forty dollars a month. In April 1903, Moffat played in one of the earliest professional matches on the Pacific Northwest, when he challenged Alex Smith pro at Spokane Country Club over 36 holes for a purse of $100. Moffat pro at the Waverley Country Club was defeated 6 and 5. A similar professional match took place in September 1906 which featured Robert Johnstone the Seattle Club professional and former North Berwick caddie.

In 1906 Jack began to coach Violet Pooley who became six-times winner of the PGA Women's Championship. Walter Gravlin, the first province born pro served his apprenticeship at Victoria under Jack Moffat. In 1907 Jack met Rudyard Kipling, winner of that years' Nobel Prize who was a guest of honour during the Pacific Northwest tournament at Oak Bay.

Jack's brother William 'Bill' Moffat (b.22nd February 1883) was a golf ball maker at 3 Millhill, Musselburgh. In 1899, Bill enlisted in the 2nd Batallion Seaforth Highlanders and served in the Second Boer War in South Africa. (1901-1903). On 23rd February 1905 he followed his brother to America, and resided with Jack and his wife at 401, First Street, Portland, Oregon. Bill was employed as golf instructor at Duluth in Minnesota, before moving to Harbor Point Golf Club, Harbor Springs Resort, Michigan.

In 1909, Jack and his American wife Freida Knizenga visited Scotland for the first time when tragedy struck and Jack fell ill and died on 31st August 1909, at 53, Millhill, Musselburgh aged 30 years. Jack's brother Bill Moffat escorted Fruda back to her home in Canada at 1606 Bank Street, Victoria on 18th October 1909. The following year Bill Moffat was invited to take over from his late brother as pro at Victoria Golf Club at Oak Bay. Bill Moffat brought Jimmy Huish over from Scotland as his assistant.

The 1911 Canadian Census lists Bill Moffat as a golf professional boarding at 177 Wallace Street, Toronto. In June 1915 Bill returned to Scotland and enlisted in WW1. His Military Record has not survived, but when the fighting was over Bill returned to Musselburgh and worked as a clubmaker from 120 Newbigging, Musselburgh. He remained single and died on 18th January 1940 at 11 Goose Green Road, Musselburgh. Bill Moffat's assistant Jimmy Huish was later attached to the United Service Club near Macaulay Point before he was appointed the first pro at Royal Colwood in 1914. Jimmy Huish (above) moved to Vancouver Golf and Country Club in 1917.

Peter McEwan

James McEwan born 27th December 1770 at Ardesier, son of John McEwan and his wife Jannet Mackay. James McEwan was a joiner to trade and in 1806 the Edinburgh & Leith Business Directory lists him as a clubmaker on Bruntsfield links. His son Peter McEwan (b.24th September 1781) apprenticed with his father and Peter's two sons Douglas McEwan (b.7th November 1809) and James (b.29th May 1805) followed in the family business.

In 1830 Peter McEwan was working from 42 Wrights Houses, Bruntisfield and James McEwan took over in 1835 at 36 Wrights Houses. Douglas McEwan was a fine golf club and ball maker and in 1840 he was listed at Valleyfield, Leith. In 1855 D. McEwan & Son moved to Millhill, Musselburgh.

In 1866 Peter McEwan married Ann Hutchison, sister of James L. Hutchison clubmaker to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and from 1889 his workshop was adjacent to the first tee at North Berwick. From 1885, Douglas McEwan & Son worked from 36 Wrights Houses at Bruntisfield and Golf House at Millhill, Musselburgh until 1897. Douglas McEwan was one of the first to open a timber workshop in Templar Place, Gullane where they repaired the golfers clubs and sold balls.

In 1868 Douglas McEwan resided at 132 Gilmore Place with his workshop at 36 Wright's Houses and later at 34 Leven Street, Edinburgh. John's younger brother Samuel Gourlay established a business as a gunmaker at 16 South St. Andrew Street, Edinburgh where he employed four men. His shotguns with the name 'Gourlay' stamped on the lock side plate are very collectable.

Peter McEwan, great grandson of the founder of the clubmaking firm had six sons all golf professionals, Douglas (Leasowe), William (Formby), David (Formby), Peter (Preston), Charles (Huddersfield) and Stewart (Harrisburg). Stewart McEwan emigrated to Philadelphia in 1900 and was assistant professional to James L Hutchison from North Berwick. He was appointed golf instructor at Harrisburg Park Golf Club, and died on 18th December 1917 at 2157 Atlas Street, Harrisburg aged 39 years.

William McMillan

William McMillan born 1869 in Kirknewton, son of William McMillan and his wife Janet Harkness. The family moved to Midlothian and resided on Belmont Road, Annfield, in Colinton. Willie was appointed greenskeeper and professional at Baberton Golf Club. (1895-1902).

Robert Neilson

Robert Neilson born 25th June 1875 at Leven Street, Edinburgh son of James Neilson, Paper Mill Labourer and his wife Elizabeth Neilson. He was educated at Inveresk secondary school and served an apprenticeship as a joiner. He started manufacturing his own golf clubs and balls at 28, Eskside North. Robert's ancestor George Neilson was a bowmaker and became the second official bower to the Royal Company of Archers who continue to hold their annual competeition on Musselburgh links. George Neilson trained several bowers who became golf-club makers including Thomas Comb and James Dickson from Leith. Robert Neilson resided with his parents, two sisters and three brothers in Dalrymple Loan, Inveresk. In 1901 Census Robert was listed as a golf club and ball maker with his workshop at 11 Links Place, Musselburgh. Diring the First World War he enlisted on 10th January 1916 in the Royal Garrison Artillery and resided with his wife Isabella Sullivan at 25 Hercus Loan Inveresk. Golf clubs made by Robert Neilson are popular with collectors particularly the handmade hickory shafted cleeks stamped on the back with R. Neilson, Musselburgh.

George P. Knox

George Percy Knox born 15th June 1885, Whitburn, West Lothian, son of Francis Knox, agricultural labourer and his wife Margaret Brown. The family moved to Cramond, Edinburgh in 1880 and then to Portobello in 1890. He apprenticed as a golf club maker and joined Lochend Golf Club, Leith. In 1898 George opened a shop known locally as ‘George Knox’s Corner’ at 53 High Street, Edinburgh selling golf equipment stamped with G.P.Knox Special. In 1909 George Knox emigrated to Canada and was appointed golf professional at Brantford Golf and Country Club (1909-1911) Ontario. Knox was hired as Kalamazoo Country Club’s first golf professional and stayed until the end of the 1915 season. During the winter of 1918-1925 Knox was engaged as greenkeeper at Chicago Beach Hotel (IL). He moved to Northmoor Country Club, Evanston, Illinois (1919-1921) Then as course superintendent at Calumet Country Club, Homewood (1924-1928) he wintered at The Shoreland Hotel, Chicago in 1928.

Willie Park and family

Willie Park Sen. born in June 1833 in the village of Wallyford south of Musselburgh, East Lothian, son of James Park, a farm worker and his wife Euphemia Kerr. When Willie was seven years old the family moved to Cottage Lane, Inveresk where Grace Park was born. Willie Park Snr. came to prominence around 1853 and was such a strong player that an abundance of money was forthcoming to back him. He played Tom Morris on at least six occasions for £100 and the honours were evenly divided. In the last of these at Musselburgh in 1882, the crowd anxious for their local man to win, repeatedly moved Morris's ball into a worse lie and the referee stopped play. When Morris and the referee retired to Foreman's public house, Park sent a message saying if Morris did not come out and finish the match he would play the remaining holes alone and claim the stake - which he did.

Left: Willie Park Snr. (1833-1903)

Willie Park Sen. had an easy swing with a pause at the end, and his accuracy with the putter from six or seven feet was deadly. He was the first winner of the Open at Prestwick in 1860, runner up the following year and champion again in 1863, 1866 and 1875. His brothers David and Mungo were both fine golfers with the later lifting the now familiar Claret Jug for the first time at Musselburgh in 1874.

Until Harry Vardon came along Willie Park Snr. was undoubtedly the best professional golfer alive and he was that by virtue of his fine putting. The goose-neck putter similar to the Schenectady type, was a Scottish idea. Willie Park's putting cleek was run over by a cart, bending the socket forward. Park to his surprise found he could putt better with it in its new shape and it was patented by him. Another feature of his game was his skill in running-up the ball from long distances with the wooden putter, a club which the golfers of other courses called in derisive bitterness the 'Musselburgh Iron'. Willie Park Jnr. was born in 1864 and apprenticed as a club maker with his uncle Mungo at Alnmouth. At the age of sixteen he was appointed green-keeper and professional at Ryton Golf Club where he stayed for four years before returning to his native town. Park lived for many years at 8 Mill Hill, Inveresk where he started in business as a club and ball maker. Willie Jnr. first came to the public's attention when he was seventeen, winning against a strong field at Alnmouth. He later went on to win the Open in 1887 and 1889. In a challenge match at Musselburgh against Archie Simpson, he holed the nine holes in thirty three strokes establishing a new course record.

Park made the most of his playing talents and business acumen. During the 1890s, with the increase in popularity of the game his patent clubs were in great demand. He persuaded many large stores to stock his branded clubs and through skillful advertising which was new at the time, he reached markets beyond the professional's shop. His workshop was at 10 Pinkie Road, Inveresk and his Golf Club Factory at 21, Mill Hill. In 1899, Park bought a house in North Berwick which he converted into a workshop and residence. He brought Robert Sullivan, a club maker in Musselburgh to manage the business. His apprentice, James Watt continued as a club maker in North Berwick for many years.

John A. Park

John Archibald Park born 11 March 1879, Newbigging, Musselburgh, son of William Park Snr. Golf Club and Ball Maker and his wife Susanna Law, His uncle Mungo Park was Open Champion in 1874 and brother Willie Park Jnr winner of the Open Championship twice in 1887 and 1889. In 1897, Park won an open tournament at Carnoustie, aged 18 years.

Jack emigrated to America in 1898 to manage his brothers' golf store at 25 W, 43rd Street, New York. Jack was appointed golf instructor at Essex County Country Club NJ (1898-1901). He finished sixth in the 1899 US Open at Baltimore and ninth in the 1901 US Open at Myopia Hunt Club, when the winner was Willie Anderson from North Berwick. In March 1907 Jack travelled to Argentina where he designed the nine hole course at Mar de Plata Golf Club, at the seaside resort of Buenos Aires.

In 1910, Jack spent the winter in Scotland and in March 1912 he sailed on the S.S.Columbia from Glasgow to New York. He was appointed golf professional at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, before moving to Maidstone Golf Club, New York (1915-26). Jack and his brother Willie Park designed the '18-Hole-Course' at Maidstone which continues to be listed among the top seventy courses in the USA.

Jack returned to Great Britain on several occasions and became a member of the PGA in 1903 while working the links at Musselburgh. In 1909 he represented Scotland in the International match against England. In 1911 when Jack returned to America he listed A.G. Spalding as his contact in the passenger manifest. In 1910 Jack Park was invited to Belgium to play in a foursome match to celebrate the opening of the new course at Lombartzyde. Braid and Willie Park defeated Herd and Charles, while Jack Park and Harry Vardon halved their match with Taylor and Ray.

Jack accompanied his uncle Mungo to Argentina before returning to Maidstone Golf Club, LI and then to Amagansette Country Club, East Hampton NY (Retired 1925). He died 2 October 1935, at 274 Cooper Lane, East Hampton, Suffolk, and was buried in Cedar Lawn Cemetery.

In 1901, Willie Park Jnr. laid out the Sunningdale course which at that time offered a glimpse of the potential that inland golf could aspire. His next venture at the Huntercombe Club was not so successful which included three golf courses, a hotel and housing development. Park put up the finance himself and when the project failed he lost heavily. When he sold the property in North Berwick Willie returned to Musselburgh and was living at 6, Victoria Street. He also wrote the first golf instruction book by a professional called 'The Game of Golf' in 1896 and 'The Art of Putting' in 1920. Willie Park Jnr. died in 1925 at the age of 61 years and is to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013. Philip Mackenzie Ross, a respected golf architect from North Berwick, stated that Wille Park Jnr. was the pioneer of the modern ideas of golf course construction.

Mungo Park

Mungo Park born 1877, High Street, Fisherrow, son of Wilie Park Snr. and his wife Susanna Law. Mungo followed his father as a golf pro at Musselburgh before moving to the West Links at North Berwick where he was granted a pro license on 16th June 1894 and was living at 17, Victoria Road. Mungo Park was appointed to Foxrock Golf Club, Dublin in 1894 and that year he moved to Portmarnock Golf Club. In an article the club expressed satisfaction with his skill as a coach which was attributed to his early experience at North Berwick in Scotland where the fairways are famously rock hard and the course was at that time closely grazed by sheep.

His brother Willie Park Jnr opened a store in New York City in 1895 and 19 year old Mungo was sent over to manage the shop. In 1897 Mungo laid out the nine-hole course at the Dutchess Golf Club (NY). The following year he was appointed pro at Dyker Meadow Golf Club, Brooklyn, while working during the winter months as a clubmaker for Slazenger & Son in New York City.

In the winter of 1899 he laid out the first nine holes for Galveston Golf Club, but the course was washed away by a hurricane a year later. In 1905 Mungo was the first winner of the Argentina Open played at Buenos Aires Golf Club, which he won again in 1907 and 1912. Mungo laid out the 18 hole course at San Andres Golf Club, Buenos Aires in 1907. That year he was joined in Argentina by his brother Jack who came second to Mungo in the 1907 Argentina Open (El Abierto). Jack worked at the Belgrano Golf Club and the Golf Club Argentino in Buenos Aires. Jack was also credited with laying out a junior course at Mar del Plata.

Mungo Park Jnr. moved to Gullane in 1914 and was living at 9 Stanley Road, repairing clubs and giving lessons. In July 1915 he enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was sent to France. Following the conflict Mungo returned to Argentina and then back to America to assist his father to layout the course at St Johnsbury Country Club, Vermont in 1923. During the winter months of 1923 and 1924 Mungo returned to Argentina.

Left: Willie Park Jnr. (1864-1925)

Willie Park was born on 4th February 1864 at 52 High Street, Musselburgh son of Willie Park Snr, golf club and ball maker and his wife Susanna Law. Willie Park emigrated to American in 1916 sailing from Liverpool on the SS.St Paul he arrived in New York on 5th April 1916. In 1919 Willie Park was professional at the Mount Brune Country Club, Montreal. Park featured in several big state matches in Great Britain. In 1889 he defeated Ben Sayers for £500 at Musselburgh and North Berwick, and in 1897 took on J.H. Taylor at Musselburgh and Sudbrooke for a hundred pounds stake. A year later for the same sum he took the measure of Willie Fernie at Musselburgh and Troon. However he found his match the following year when he ran up against Harry Vardon in a 72-hole contest at North Berwick and Ganton. Park often played for Scotland in the international professional team matches. His father Willie Park Snr. was the first Open Champion of Great Britain in 1860 and he won the title three times. Willie Park Jnr. won the open title in 1887 and 1889 and was runner-up in 1898. in later years he was been known better as a golf architect than as a player.

In 1925 he laid out the course at Port-Au-Peck on the Shrewsbury River, New Jersey and in 1926 he was pro at the nine-hole course at Lake Mohonk. The following year he moved to Hollow Brook, near Peekskill (NY) and in 1928 he was based at Castle Hot Springs Golf Club in Arizona. In 1930, Mungo laid out the 9-hole course at the Red Hook Golf Club in Red Hook (NY).

Mungo's wife Grace Morrison was a school teacher and she travelled with him to Argentina in 1904. Grace was a fine golfer and the first winner of the Ladies Open Championship of the River Plate in 1904, and again in 1909 and 1910. They returned to Scotland with their three children in 1914 and were living at Dunedin, Levenhall, Musselburgh. Mungo remained in America until 1936 when he returned to Scotland permanently. His final piece of design work was in 1939 at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club where he carried out substantial alterations to James Braid's original work.

In 1923, Willie Park Jnr made his last trip to America and by the following year he was unable to cope with the pressure of work. Mungo took his older brother home, travelling to Southampton where they were met by Margaret, Willie's wife. They travelled north together by train and Willie was found a place in Craighouse Hospital, Edinburgh where Willie died on 22nd May 1925.

Mungo's niece Doris Park represented Great Britain in International matches throughout the 1930s. (Mrs. Aylmer Porter). Mungo's daughter Kaye (Catherine) was also a Scottish Internationalist, she lived in Haddington where Mungo died in 1960 at the age of 83. Jack Park died in 1935 at East Hampton, New York State.

Frank 'Park' Glass