Tom Williamson

Tom Williamson (9 February 1880 – 4 April 1950) was an English professional golfer who played in the early 20th century. Williamson finished in the top 10 in the Open Championship on six occasions and played in it over fifty years. His best performance came in the 1914 Open Championship when he tied for fourth place, six shots behind the winner. With Harry Vardon he won the 1913 Sphere and Tatler Foursomes Tournament by a convincing 7 & 5 margin. He was Captain of England in 1909 and represented England between 1904 and 1913. He won the Midland Professional Championship when it was first held in 1897 and a further six times. He was a renowned club maker and was the first to number clubs in 1906. He experimented with score cards placing a course plan on the reverse side in 1930. He designed sixty courses, the majority in the East Midlands. He was a founder member of the PGA and became its Captain in 1928. He had a good reputation as a teacher and taught Enid Wilson who won the English Ladies Championship three times. He was known as a modest man of integrity. Early life Williamson was born in Grantham, England, to Edmund and Lilian on 9 February 1880. Golf career Williamson was professional at Notts Golf Club, now Hollinwell (Notts Golf Club), in Nottinghamshire, England, for 54 years. He was a regular competitor in the Open Championship, playing between 1897 and 1947. He last played in 1947. Williamson designed over sixty courses and by 1919 it was said that he had made recommendations to every course within 50 miles of Nottingham. He designed amongst others Stanton-on-the-Wolds Golf Club, Zurich Golf and Country Club, Coombe Park, Wollaton, Hillsborough, Radcliffe-on -Trent, Worksop and he made substantial alterations to Hollinwell, Kedleston Hall, Sherwood Forest and Burton-on-Trent, and designed other courses in the Midlands as well. 1914 Open Championship The 1914 Open Championship was the 54th Open Championship, held 18–19 June at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Harry Vardon won a record sixth Open Championship title, three strokes ahead of runner-up J.H. Taylor, the defending champion. Due to World War I, it was the last Open for six years, the next Open would not be contested until 1920.