Golf’s Debt To Carnoustie

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 7

Golf’s Debt To Carnoustie

A Scottish newspaper makes an annual award to the Scots who have done most for the game of golf at home and abroad. The 1970 award is going to two exiles in the United States, Jock Hutchison and Fred Macleod. Both have been there over 50 years and have had distinguished careers. The Scottish tradition of teaching golf to the world, and particularly in' the States, was discussed in the 8.8. C. World Service radio magazine “Scotland Today,” in an interview with an expert on golf history, Harry Chapman from Carnoustie. Golf was taken to America in the first place by John

Reid of Dunfermline, recalled Harry Chapman. “In the States he became very homesick for his golf course, missed his Saturday afternoon game. A friend was coming over to Scotland on business and he asked him to bring back several sets of golf clubs. And those were the first clubs ever taken to America.” From about 1895 onwards there was almost a mass emigration from Angus and Fife crossing the Atlantic to take golf to the Americans. There was a tremendous demand for professionals in such a huge country. New clubs were springing up all over the place and their chief am-

bition was to get a Scot to teach golf. From Carnoustie some 250 youngsters went to become professionals in the States. And they went further afield, too. John Fotheringham won the South African open championship and his brother George won it five times. Carnegie Clark won the Australian open three times and a cousin of his, Dan Souter, won it once. There was a record year in 1910 when three of the then leading opens in the world were held by Carnoustie men. Alex Smith held the American, Souter the Australian and John Fotheringham the South African.