Nathaniel Crosby

Nathaniel Patrick Crosby (born October 29, 1961) is an American golfer. He won the 1981 U.S. Amateur and played on the winning 1982 Eisenhower Trophy and 1983 Walker Cup teams. He turned professional but had little success and was later reinstated as an amateur. He is the seventh child and sixth son of Bing Crosby. Early life Crosby was born and raised in Hillsborough, California. He was the third and youngest child between Bing Crosby and actress Kathryn Grant. (Bing Crosby also had four children from his first marriage.) Although his father was a showbiz celebrity he was, in Nathaniel's words, "determined that we didn't grow up to be Hollywood brats." The family lived hundreds of miles from Los Angeles, in northern California, and Bing instilled a strong work ethic in his children. In the summer Nathaniel and his siblings worked sunup 'til sundown baling alfalfa and vaccinating cattle on the family ranch. Crosby stated later in life in his memoir 18 Holes with Bing, "I always longed for summer to end so I could go back to school." He had a cool relationship with his father and got into golf as a way to connect with his dad (who was a golf fanatic). Crosby states, “I learned golf so that I could spend more time with him." Crosby largely learned golf from the family's Irish nanny, Bridget. Bridget was also a pro golfer. Crosby won the club championship at the family's country club, Burlingame Country Club, at the age of 15. His father stated after the victory, "Today is the happiest day of my life." Crosby attended Burlingame High School and was on the golf team. Crosby performed with his father, mother, brother, and sister in several Christmas television shows and at the London Palladium in 1976. He starred along with the rest of his family in the 1970 television musical Goldilocks. Crosby stated that he was embarrassed to perform in the Christmas specials as he was not a natural performer. Golf career Crosby attended the University of Miami and played for the golf team. At the University of Miami, he qualified for the 1981 U.S. Amateur held at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, which he won at age 19, making him the third youngest U.S. Amateur winner ever. In addition to this youth, Crosby was not considered a uniquely talented amateur golfer.