Golf Links
Chay Burgess, Francis Ouimet and the Bringing of Golf to America, Revised Edition
$35.00
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About the Book
This book tells the story of the Scottish golf professionals who came to America in 1888 and struggled to earn a living and the respect of the wealthy amateur golf establishment and the United States Golf Association who controlled the sport. Charles “Chay” Burgess—founder of the New England PGA, teacher of three American national champions, and the savior of the Ryder cup—learned the game on ancient seaside links and competed against British greats. His arrival in the U.S. dramatically influenced the growth of golf and the reconciliation of differences between amateurs and professionals.
In 1913, the American Francis Ouimet—a working-class unknown under Burgess’ tutelage—won the U.S. Open against British celebrities Ted Ray and Harry Vardon. His triumph brought the game to mainstream America.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Charles D. Burgess
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 252
Bibliographic Info: 80 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6736-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2736-6
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments x
Preface to the Revised Edition 1
1. Golf’s Beginning—1903 3
Historic Links 3
Montrose 4
Tom Morris and Bob Dow, “Grand Old Men” of Golf 6
Scottish Independence 7
Growing up Linkside 8
Montrose Tournament of 1888 11
Fieldstone’s, Football and Golf 13
Playing for Pay 17
Life in English Professional Football 18
2. 1903–1905 24
Golf’s Infancy in America 24
Alex Findlay, American Golf Pioneer 25
Willie Campbell, Donald Ross, George Wright
and Golf’s Roots in Boston 26
Becoming a Scottish Golf Professional 29
A New “Merky” Clubhouse 35
Election to The PGA 36
3. 1905–1908 38
The International Links of Montrose 38
“The Great Triumvirate”: Taylor, Vardon and Braid 40
Charlie’s First Open 41
News of the World 42
Coronation Tankard 43
Links Championship 44
Vardon, Burgess and Braid 45
Becoming a Teacher 47
Surprising Setback 49
4. 1908–1909 53
Alex Findlay Returns 53
America Beckons 55
The Crossing and Arrival 58
5. 1909–1913 63
American Professionals and the USGA 63
Setting Up Shop 66
Finding Francis 68
Francis Ouimet 70
Lessons from Charlie 73
Back to School 74
Up in Flames 76
A Championship at Harvard 78
6. 1913 85
Ouimet’s Prelude to Prominence 85
A Star-Studded Field Gathers for the 1913 U.S. Open 88
The Match that Changed Golf Forever: The 1913 U.S. Open 92
7. 1913–1914 110
A Tribute to Francis 110
Pinehurst Privileges 115
Another Championship 116
Success and Celebrity 118
Most Pros Still Languish 119
Walter Hagen, the “Haig” 120
Charlie Burgess and the “Bambino” 122
Challenging Charlie 123
8. 1914–1919 125
The 1914 U.S. Amateur and Jesse Guilford 125
Francis Banned 127
The PGA of America 129
The Great War 130
Young Charlie 131
Opposition to Golf 133
9. 1920–1921 136
The Twenties Begin 136
Jock Blair’s Misfortune 137
A Return to Scotland 138
Two Kinds of American Pros 141
Chay’s Second National Champion 143
Professional Team Play 145
A Rebellion in the PGA 146
New England Professionals Prosper 149
The Tragedy of Tellier 153
10. 1921–1929 154
An Anniversary Back in Scotland 154
The Golf Center Shifts to America 156
The PGA Reforms 158
Jesse, Francis and the Walker Cup 160
Golf Grows in the Twenties 162
Guilford and Burgess Win New England Crown 164
The PGA, the USGA and the U.S. Open 167
America’s Forgotten Champion 168
Saving the Ryder Cup 169
A Tribute from Francis 174
The End of the Decade 176
11. 1930–1934 178
Ouimet and Guilford Challenge Von Elm and Burke 178
Ouimet’s Great Comeback 181
A Hero’s Return 185
The Nicoll Brothers 186
A Champion in Defeat 190
The Deepening Depression 191
12. 1935–1960 196
Ruth Returns 196
Bing Crosby 200
Big League Sluggers 202
A Special Order 204
Slighted by Snead 206
The Other Babe 207
Ted Bishop 208
Retirement 209
Back to Duty, World War II 212
A Third National Champion 214
Final Rounds 216
Chapter Notes 223
Bibliography 231
Index 235
Book Reviews & Awards
“I have very much enjoyed reading about ‘Chay’ Burgess. The account of his exploits in coming to America while golf was in its infancy in the United States is fascinating. The story of how he nurtured the talents of young Francis Ouimet, Jessie Guilford, and Ted Bishop is a testament to his teaching ability. But it is also a great insight as to what life was like just after the turn of the century in New England and in the East, where golfers in this country owe a great debt of gratitude. How lucky was Boston to have Charlie Burgess, Willie Campbell and the Ross brothers, Alex and Donald?”—Ben Crenshaw, Two-time Masters Champion, Member of the US World Cup Team, Member and Captain of the United States Ryder Cup Team; “Whatever progress I have made in golf I owe directly to Charlie Burgess. He always had the faculty of putting me in the proper frame of mind when entering an important match and I repeat he taught me whatever I know about the game.”—Francis Ouimet, US Open Champion, Two-time United States Amateur Champion, Member and Captain of the United States Walker Cup Team, First American elect as Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Original inductee to the PGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame.
