James Braid
Name:
James BraidCountry:
ScotlandLived:
[1870-1950]. Born on Feb 6, 1870 in Earlsferry, Fife. Died on Nov 27, 1950 in Kensington, London aged 80.Original/Home Club:
Earlsferry, Fife, Scotland.Occupation:
Professional golfer; golf course designer.Turned Pro:
1896Website:
http://www.thebraidsociety.comMAJORS (5). Multiple professional tournament wins. World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1976).
James Braid designs can be found the length and breadth of the UK. Some of his best known work includes:
SCOTLAND: Ballater (1892) / Blairgowrie GC (Rosemount course, 1889) / Boat of Garten (1898) / Brora (1891) / Carnoustie (Championship course remodelling, 1926) / Dalmahoy (East course, 1922) / Downfield (1932) / Gleneagles (King's course, 1919) (Queen's course, 1917) / Irvine, Bogside (1887) / Lundin (1868) / Nairn (improvements, 1920) / Powfoot (1903) / Royal Aberdeen (improvements, 1925) / Scotscraig (redesign, 1923) / West Kilbride (redesign, 1905).
ENGLAND & WALES: Aberdovey (with Herbert Fowler & Swan, 1892) / Berkhamsted (with Harry Colt, 1890) / Ganton (with Dunn, Vardon & Colt, 1891) / Hankley Common (1897) / Hunstanton (with George Fernie, 1891) / La Moye (1935) / Purdis Heath, Ipswich (1928) / Langland Bay (1901) / North Hants (1904) / Nefyn & District (with J.H.Taylor, 1920) / Parkstone (remodelling, 1937) / Pennard (1896) / Perrenporth (1927) / Sherwood Forest (redesign, 1925) / Southport & Ainsdale (1922) / St Enodoc (Church course, 1890) / Tenby (1888) / Thorpeness (1922) / Wrexham (1906).
James Braid was a five-time winner of the Open Championship (1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910). He was a member of what became known as the "Great Triumverate," along with J.H. Taylor and Harry Vardon. Together, these three legends of the game laid claim to 16 out of the 21 Open Championships that were played between 1894 and 1914. In the years when they did not win, at least one of them was runner-up.
From 1912 Braid reduced his play in tournaments and became the professional at Walton Heath Golf Club, just south of London. He concentrated on writing about the game and on his work as a prolific golf course designer. It was once said of him that "nobody could be as wise as James Braid looks".
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Oct 2-5). Braid (Scot) beat Ted Ray (Jersey) by 1 hole in the 36-hole final. Braid was the club professional at Walton Heath at the time. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (50th) (June 22-24). Second-placed Alex "Sandy" Herd (Scot) finished 4 shots behind Braid (Scot). This was the last of Braid's five Open Championship wins. [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].
Europe
x
Played as the Open de France. Second-placed Arnaud Massy (Fra) finished 2 shots behind Braid (Scot). [Vallée course, Racing Club de France (RCF), La Boulie GC, Versailles, nr Paris].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (48th) (June 18/19). Second-placed Tom Ball (Eng) finished 8 shots behind Braid (Scot). This was the fourth of Braid's five Open Championship wins. [Prestwick GC, Ayrshire, Scotland].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Oct 15-17). Braid (Scot) beat J.H. Taylor (Eng) 4 and 2 in the 36-hole final. [Old course, Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (46th) (June 13-15). Second-placed J.H. Taylor (Eng) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Braid (Scot). This was the third of Braid's five Open Championship wins. [Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, East Lothian].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Oct 3-5). Braid (Scot) beat Tom Vardon (Jersey) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. Braid was the club professional at Walton Heath at the time. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (45th) (June 7-9). Second-placed Rowland Jones (Eng) and J.H. Taylor (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Braid (Scot). This was the second of Braid's five Open Championship wins. [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].
Europe
News of the World
The inaugural Professional Golfers' Association "News of the World" Golf Tournament (Oct 13-15). Braid (Scot) beat Ted Ray (Jersey) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. [Old course, Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (41st) (June 5/6). Second-placed Harry Vardon (Jersey) finished 4 shots behind Braid (Scot). This was the first of Braid's five Open Championship wins. [Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, East Lothian].
Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).
Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).
Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.
Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).
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.
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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