Golf Links: Chay Burgess, Francis Ouimet and the Bringing of Golf to America, Revised Edition

by Charles D. Burgess

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476667362
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/12/2017
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Charles D. Burgess has been a teacher, administrator and educational consultant in Greater Boston for forty years. His sports and entertainment writings have appeared in both the U.S. and Great Britain. He lives in Norwood, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface to the Revised Edition
1. Golf’s Beginning—1903
Historic Links
Montrose
Tom Morris and Bob Dow, “Grand Old Men” of Golf
Scottish Independence
Growing up Linkside
Montrose Tournament of 1888
Fieldstone’s, Football and Golf
Playing for Pay
Life in English Professional Football
2. 1903–1905
Golf’s Infancy in America
Alex Findlay, American Golf Pioneer
Willie Campbell, Donald Ross, George Wright
deleteand Golf’s Roots in Boston
Becoming a Scottish Golf Professional
A New “Merky” Clubhouse
Election to The PGA
3. 1905–1908
The International Links of Montrose
“The Great Triumvirate”: Taylor, Vardon and Braid
Charlie’s First Open
News of the World
Coronation Tankard
Links Championship
Vardon, Burgess and Braid
Becoming a Teacher
Surprising Setback
4. 1908–1909
Alex Findlay Returns
America Beckons
The Crossing and Arrival
5. 1909–1913
American Professionals and the USGA
Setting Up Shop
Finding Francis
Francis Ouimet
Lessons from Charlie
Back to School
Up in Flames
A Championship at Harvard
6. 1913
Ouimet’s Prelude to Prominence
A ­Star-Studded Field Gathers for the 1913 U.S. Open
The Match that Changed Golf Forever: The 1913 U.S. Open
7. 1913–1914
A Tribute to Francis
Pinehurst Privileges
Another Championship
Success and Celebrity
Most Pros Still Languish
Walter Hagen, the “Haig”
Charlie Burgess and the “Bambino”
Challenging Charlie
8. 1914–1919
The 1914 U.S. Amateur and Jesse Guilford
Francis Banned
The PGA of America
The Great War
Young Charlie
Opposition to Golf
9. 1920–1921
The Twenties Begin
Jock Blair’s Misfortune
A Return to Scotland
Two Kinds of American Pros
Chay’s Second National Champion
Professional Team Play
A Rebellion in the PGA
New England Professionals Prosper
The Tragedy of Tellier
10. 1921–1929
An Anniversary Back in Scotland
The Golf Center Shifts to America
The PGA Reforms
Jesse, Francis and the Walker Cup
Golf Grows in the Twenties
Guilford and Burgess Win New England Crown
The PGA, the USGA and the U.S. Open
America’s Forgotten Champion
Saving the Ryder Cup
A Tribute from Francis
The End of the Decade
11. 1930–1934
Ouimet and Guilford Challenge Von Elm and Burke
Ouimet’s Great Comeback
A Hero’s Return
The Nicoll Brothers
A Champion in Defeat
The Deepening Depression
12. 1935–1960
Ruth Returns
Bing Crosby
Big League Sluggers
A Special Order
Slighted by Snead
The Other Babe
Ted Bishop
Retirement
Back to Duty, World War II
A Third National Champion
Final Rounds
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

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.

From the Publisher