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Scotland's 'forgotten golfer': From PoW
to sporting icon
Ken Banks and Ben Philip, BBC Scotland
When Scotsman Bobby Cruickshank was
taken prisoner during World War One, he could little have imagined he
would later find enduring fame in America as a golfing legend.
Born in Grantown-on-Spey in 1894, he escaped the prisoner of war camp
and eventually crossed the Atlantic to follow his golfing dream.
He went on to win more than 20 tournaments and be considered a sporting
great in the USA. But his story is far less well known back home in
Scotland.
Now the Highland course where he learned to play is offering golfers an
"immersive" experience in his honour, including the chance to use
hickory clubs of the style he played with in the 1920s and 1930s.
Bobby was born about 400 yards - or roughly the length of a par-four
hole - from Grantown-on-Spey golf course.
At the time, it was just a nine-hole course. But it was big enough for
Bobby.
He caddied there as well as learning to play the game.
Bobby later moved to Edinburgh where he developed his education and
sporting skills, ultimately resulting in him pursuing his golfing
ambitions.
But World War One got in the way. Bobby signed up and managed to survive
the horrors of the Somme only to be captured by the Germans.
He succeeded in escaping a PoW camp at Arras in France.
Bobby emigrated in 1921, joining a wave of Scottish golfers seeking
success in the growing American golf scene.
It was there that he ultimately won a series of tournaments and finished
runner-up in the US Open in 1923 and 1932.
He played alongside other greats of that era including Bobby Jones and
his golfing status saw him rub shoulders with Hollywood icons including
Charlie Chaplin.
In 1967 he was elected to the PGA of America Hall of Fame - the highest
honour it can bestow upon its membership or ambassadors of golf.
Other greats of the game to have the same honour include Jack Nicklaus
and Arnold Palmer.
Bobby died at the age of 80 in 1975.
Granddaughter Diana Smith, 82, who lives in Georgia, USA, is proud of
his achievements.
"He was one of the finest people you could ever meet," she told BBC
Scotland News.
"He loved the game dearly. He, along with his group of buddies in the
States, literally started the concept of what is now the golf tour."
"We had more laughs on the golf course than I can even tell you. He used
to chase the alligators away with his club," she said.
"When he couldn't play golf anymore, he quickly passed away."
Diana and the rest of Bobby's family are delighted by the new project at
his home course.
"We are thrilled. I know how much Grantown meant to my family and my
grandad. I'm very proud of him. And I'm happy that people are
recognising him.
"It's easy to forget, but he was so much part of the golf world and for
this chance for people to get to know him, does my heart good."
Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club - which was established in 1890 - has
launched the Bobby Cruickshank Hickory Experience.
Players can use a set of hickory clubs and see footage, photographs and
memorabilia related to Bobby's exploits.
Club member Bill Mitchell, 90, remembers Bobby Cruickshank well.
"I remember him coming over on holiday and he had a huge American car,"
he said.
"I recall him coming down one night and his nephew was practising bunker
shots.
"Bobby was all dressed up in his dinner jacket, ready to go out for a
meal with some friends.
"And he saw his nephew and Bobby said 'Give me your wedge and one ball
and I'll give you 10 shots if you can put it nearer to the hole'.
"And of course he just flopped it out, six inches away, and his nephew
had no chance.
"He was a class act, there's no doubt about it."
He added: "He had a super swing - a no-nonsense swing. One waggle and
away it went."
'Deserves his place in history'
Steve Stuart from Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club has been driving the legacy
project.
"He won 25 tournaments in America - I can't think of another Scot who
has done that," he said.
Mr Stuart described Scottish golf tourism as "amazing" with the best
courses in the world.
"Most of the tourists visit them, but you've also got lots of hidden
gems and we like to think that we're one of those," he said. "So what
we're trying to do is celebrate our unique selling point in Bobby
Cruickshank.
"Tourists can expect a true and immersive history lesson. And if they
have never played with hickory clubs, it's great fun.
"He played all his golf in America and he was a household name there.
"We sometimes get Americans coming here just to see the home of Bobby
Cruickshank and people here generally don't give a very good response
because nobody is clued up on it yet - but we're aiming to change that.
"He really is the forgotten golfer. He was one heck of a golfer. Bobby
Cruickshank deserves his place in history."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1eg57wn7o
BOBBY CRUICKSHANK TO BECOME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
Bobby Cruickshank and his wife, Helen
Cruickshank, who came to the United States in April, 1921, have taken
out their firpt papers in order to become American citizens. Cruickshank
is now professional at Progress Country Club, Purchase, New York.
Cruickshank was born in Scotland in 1894, and as an amateur was a member
of Turnhouse Club, Edinburgh. In March,' 1921 he turned professional and
went to the States. He tied for the American Open Championship in 1923,
but lost on replay. He won the New York State Open Championship in 1921,
the Los Angeles 10.000 Dollars Tournament in 1927. and. with T. D.
Armour, the four-ball professional championship, 1927.— Reuter
Bobby Cruickshank
DELRAY BEACH (AP) - Robert A. “Bobby" Cruickshank, 80, the "dour little
Scot” who was one of the leading moneywinners in the early days of the
professional golf tour, died here Wednesday after a brief illness.
Cruickshank was an active member of the PGA tour from 1921 to 1950,
winning 20 tournaments, six of them in 1927 when he led the tour with
winnings of $17,800. He missed two chances at winning the U.S. Open,
losing in a playoff with Bobby Jones at Inwood. N.Y. in 1923, and losing
to Gene Sarazen at Flushing, N.Y., in 1932.
Born in rural northern Scotland, he was tutored and urged to move to the
United States by the late Tommy Armour. Cruickshank had maintained a
residence in South Florida for about 45 years. For most of that time, he
served as winter club pro at the Gulfstream golf club.
He served with a British army unit in World War I and managed to escape
from a German prison camp after being captured in action.
Cruickshank was a member of the Golf Hall nf Fame
Cruickshank came home to Scotland to play at Muirfield in the 1929 Open
Championship. Despite only bringing two clubs with him and borrowing the
rest from the Gullane professional, he finished sixth. In a nod to his
old school, Cruickshank wore his Stewart's College tie while playing in
the second round of the championship. He won £10 for sixth place while
that years "Champion Golfer", Walter Hagen, won £75. |
