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Bobby Cruickshank
Famous Scottish Golfer in America


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.


 

 


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