Who's who: Gil Nicholls

  • Nairn GC.jpg
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Peterhead GC
  • 30bb297e-e7f4-4990-93c9-b8c1e64fdd82.JPG
  • Littlestone GC
  • Brora GC
  • Cabot Highlands - Castel Stuart course
  • Torrey Pines - South Course 1

Who's who: Gil Nicholls

  • Name:

    Gilbert Ernest "Gil" Nicholls
  • Country:

    England
  • Lived:

    [1878-1950]. Born on July 23, 1878 in Dover, Kent. Died on Jan 17, 1950 in Great Neck, New York (aged 71).
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, club pro and club maker.
  • Turned Pro:

Roll of Honour

Multiple wins on the American professional circuit in the 1910s and 20s.

Did you know?

Gil Nicholls and his older brother Bernard (Ben) grew up in Folkestone near Dover. Both were accomplished golfers, and both decided to ply their golfing skills in the United States. The Nicholls brothers become club professionals and leading contenders on the American professional circuit.

Top tournaments won by Gil Nicholls

1915
America
Fox Hills GC, NY
292
$150
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nicholls, Gil

Venue

Fox Hills GC, NY

Score

292

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 8-10). Gilbert "Gil" Nicholls (Eng/USA) beat Bob MacDonald (Scot/USA) in an 18-hole Saturday playoff (Nicholls 73, MacDonald 78). [Fox Hills GC, Clifton, Staten Island, NYC; club and course closed in 1935].

1915
America
295
$250
PGA of the East

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nicholls, Gil

Score

295

Prize money

$250

Title sponsor

PGA of the East

Played as the Shawnee Invitation tournament (June 9/10). Second-placed Walter Hagen (USA) finished 4 shots behind Gilbert "Gil" Nicholls (Eng/USA). [Shawnee CC & Inn, Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania; at the time the Inn was known as the Buckwood Inn].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nicholls, Gil

Score

145

Prize money

$100

Title sponsor

x

Played as the North & South Open (March 28; 36-hole one-day event). Second-placed John McDermott (USA) finished 2 shots behind Gilbert "Gil" Nicholls (Eng/USA), who recorded his second win in this event. [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nicholls, Gil

Score

141

Prize money

$100

Title sponsor

x

Played as the North & South Open (March 27; 36-hole one-day event). Second-placed Donald Ross (Scot/USA) finished 7 shots behind Gilbert "Gil" Nicholls (Eng/USA). Defending champion and Donald's brother Alec Ross finished a further three shots back in third. [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].

1911
America
Englewood
281
$150
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nicholls, Gil

Venue

Englewood

Score

281

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 12/13). Second-placed Jack Hobens (Scot/USA) finished 8 shots behind Gilbert "Gil" Nicholls (Eng/USA). At the time, Nicholls' 281 was one of the lowest 72-hole scores ever recorded in a "major" championship. [Englewood GC, Englewood, NJ. Course no longer exists].

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.

79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).

Who's Who

Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.

Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.

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

Popular videos

You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.

Whistling Straits (Wisconsin, US)

Hamburger GC - Falkenstein, Germany

Littlestone Golf Club (Kent, UK)