Who's who: Eric Brown

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Eric Brown

  • Name:

    Eric Chalmers Brown
  • Country:

    Scotland
  • Lived:

    [1925-1986]. Born on Feb 15, 1925 in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. Died on March 6, 1986 in Haymarket, Edinburgh, aged 61.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Bathgate GC, West Lothian.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer and golf writer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1946

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1953, '55, '57, '59). Ryder Cup captain (1969, '71). Scottish Amateur champion (1946). 26 professional wins in Britain and Europe. Harry Vardon Trophy as British PGA Order of Merit winner (1957).

Did you know?

Between the end of World War II and the formation of the European Tour in 1972, Brown was the dominant professional golfer in Scotland, alongside John Panton. In the 21 years from 1948, they each won the Scottish PGA Championship eight times, and actually tied for the title in 1966. Brown also won the prestigious Northern Open on four occasions between 1950 and 1957, to Panton's eventual haul of seven Northern Opens. Whereas Panton represented Gt Britain & Ireland in three Ryder Cups (1951, '53, '61), Brown played in four (1953, '55, '57, '59). He was also the non-playing captain of the GB&I Ryder Cup teams in 1969 and 1971.

Although sharing the limelight as Scottish golf professionals, Panton and Brown possessed contrasting personalities. Panton was quieter and more introspective; he "let his clubs do the talking". The "Brown Bomber" was so outgoing and volatile that it was said he could start an argument in an empty house.

Top tournaments won by Eric Brown

1962
Europe
19th hole
£1,250
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Score

19th hole

Prize money

£1,250

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 5-8). Brown (Scot) beat Ross Whitehead (Eng) at the 19th hole in the final. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].

1960
Europe
20th hole
£750
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Score

20th hole

Prize money

£750

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 7-10). Brown (Scot) beat Harry Weetman (Eng) at the 20th hole in the final. [Ailsa course, Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Score

273

Prize money

£450

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop £2750 Tournament. Eric Brown (Scot) and Ralph Moffitt (Eng) finished in a tie for first place. Jimmy Hitchcock (Eng) finished 2 shots back in third place. [King's course, Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire].

1958
Europe
280
£375
Yorkshire Eve. News

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Score

280

Prize money

£375

Title sponsor

Yorkshire Eve. News

Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1550 Tournament (June 18-20). Eric Brown (Scot) and Harold Henning (S Africa) finished in a tie for first place. Defending champion Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 1 shot further back in third place. [Moortown GC, nr Leeds, W Yorks, England].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Score

275

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Masters (Sept 19-21). Second-placed Peter Alliss (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Brown (Scot). [Notts GC, Hollinwell, nr Mansfield, England].

1957
Awards
70.09
British PGA

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Venue

Score

70.09

Prize money

Title sponsor

British PGA

Brown (Scot) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1957 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top professional events.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Venue

Estoril

Score

260

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Portuguese Open. Won by Eric Brown (Scot). [Estoril GC, Estoril, Portugal].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Score

272

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Irish Open (the first Irish Open since 1950, and not to be played again until 1975). Second-placed Harry Weetman (Eng) finished 1 shot behind wire-to-wire winner Brown (Scot). [Belvoir Park GC, Belfast, N. Ireland].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Venue

Milano

Score

273

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Italian Open. Won by Eric Brown (Scot). [Milano GC, Villasanta, Monza, nr Milan].

1952
Europe
6 & 5
£500
Penfold

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Venue

Maesdu

Score

6 & 5

Prize money

£500

Title sponsor

Penfold

Played as the Penfold Tournament (36-hole strokeplay followed by match play for the top 32 players). Brown (Scot) beat Laurie Ayton Jr (Scot) 6 and 5 in the final. [Llandudno Maesdu GC, Llandudno, N Wales].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Eric

Score

267

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Swiss Open. Won by Eric Brown (Scot). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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