Reg Whitcombe
Name:
Reginald Arthur WhitcombeAlso known as:
ReggieCountry:
EnglandLived:
[1898-1957]. Born on April 10, 1898 in Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. Died on Jan 11, 1957 in Hambledon, Surrey (aged 58).Original/Home Club:
Came Down GC, Dorset.Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
c.1919MAJORS (1): The Open (1938). Ryder Cup player (1929, 1931, 1935).
Reg Whitcombe was the youngest of the three Whitcombe brothers who successfully strode the English professional golfing stage in the 1920s and 1930s. All three played together in the 1935 Ryder Cup. In 1938 at a windy Royal St George's, Reg won the Open Championship title by two shots from Scotland's Jimmy Adams.
"Reggie" as he was often called, was the long-time professional at Parkstone GC in Poole, Dorset, from 1928 until his untimely death in 1957. He was succeeded at Parkstone by the Alliss brothers, Peter and Alec.
Europe
Penfold
Played as the Penfold Tournament. The competiton ended in a three-way tie between Dai Rees (Wales), Reg Whitcombe (Eng) and Norman Von Nida (Aus), who were all declared winners. [Stoke Park CC, Stoke Poges, Bucks].
Europe
Lotus
Played as the inaugural Lotus £1,500 Tournament (Aug 8-10). Second-placed Tom Haliburton (Scot) finished 4 shots behind Reg Whitcombe (Eng). [Stoke Park CC, Stoke Poges, Bucks].
Awards
British PGA
Whitcombe (Eng) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1939 Order of Merit winner. Award based on a points system for finishes in the season's top professional events. In previous and subsequent years, the Trophy was awarded for the lowest scoring average. If this method had been used in 1939, Sam King (Eng), with an average of 72.87, would have prevailed over Whitcombe (73.00).
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (73rd) (July 6-8). Second-placed James "Jimmy" Adams (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Whitcombe (Eng). [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].
Europe
x
Played as the Irish Open. Second-placed William H. "Bill" Davies (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Whitcombe (Eng), the third of the three Whitcombe brothers to win the Irish Open. [Royal Dublin GC, Dollymount, Dublin].
Europe
Penfold
Played as the Penfold-Fairhaven Tournament. Whitcombe (Eng) beat Mark Seymour (Eng) after both players shot 142 in a 36-hole playoff. Another nine holes was needed, in which Whitcombe's 34 beat Seymour's 36. [Fairhaven GC, Lytham, Lancs].
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
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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