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].
Tournament of Champions: the PGA Tour’s calendar-year starts, as it has done since 1999, with this iconic event in Hawaii. The field is drawn from players who won a PGA Tour event in 2022, or were amongst the top 30 in last year’s FedEx Cup final standings (Jan 6-9).
Desert Swing: the European (DP World) Tour launches into 2023 with three events in its UAE “Desert Swing”. Up first is the Abu Dhabi Championship (Jan 19-22), followed by the Dubai Desert Classic (Jan 26-29) and the Ras Al Kaimah Championship (Feb 2-5).
Kathy Whitworth: the end of 2022 saw the passing of LPGA Tour legend Kathy Whitworth. Her 88 LPGA Tour victories is more than achieved by any other golfer on either the LPGA or PGA Tours. Amongst her victories were six major championship titles.
Barry Lane: the golfing world was also saddened by the passing of Barry Lane, one of the European Tour and European Senior Tours most popular players. Enjoying success on both Tours, Lane was know for his excellent ball-striking and amiable personality.
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.
Costa’s "Cruise & Golf" allows golfers and their families to combine a unique golfing experience with the relaxation and fun of a cruise on board Costa Smeralda. Golf enthusiasts are offered a choice from 23 top-quality golf clubs; their chosen courses are played during the ship’s port calls in Italy, France and Spain. While the golfers are driving the fairways, accompanying non-golfers are able to enjoy the amenities and activities on-board, or explore wonderful places on day excursions organised by Costa. Read more ...
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.
