London Professional Foursomes Tournament

Last updated
London Professional Foursomes
Tournament information
Location England
Established 1907
Final year 1911
Final champion
Tom Ball and Fred Robson

The London Professional Foursomes Tournament was a professional golf tournament played annually from 1907 to 1911. In 1909 the southern section of the PGA took over the organisation of the event which was called the Southern Professional Foursomes Tournament. The winners received the "Dewar Shields" donated by Sir Thomas Dewar.

Contents

The Sphere and Tatler Foursomes Tournament started in 1911 and the Southern Professional Foursomes was not played again.

Sphere and Tatler Foursomes Tournament

The Sphere and Tatler Foursomes Tournament was a professional golf tournament played annually from 1911 to 1914. Total prize money was £350 provided by the owners of The Sphere and The Tatler. The winners received individual silver trophies. It followed a similar format to that used for the popular News of the World Matchplay except that it was a foursomes event rather than singles.

History

1907

In late 1906 Sir Thomas Dewar presented a 50-guinea challenge cup for a London Professional Foursomes Tournament. [1] The tournament was a knock-out event. In the early rounds the first named couple in the draw had the choice of course. The semi-finals and final were to be played at a neutral venue. Each round had to be completed by a specific date with the final to be completed by the end of February 1907. Matches were over 36 holes with a sudden-death playoff in the event of a tie. [2] Initially 7 first-round matches were played but, through some oversight, this only reduced the number of pairs to 18 and two further first-round matches were needed to reduce the number of pairs from the initial 25 to 16. [3] The final was between Rowland Jones/Alfred Toogood and Ralph Smith/Albert Tingey, Sr. and was arranged for 27 February. However, Jones had arranged to play in Grand Duke Michael's Tournament in Cannes on 26 and 27 February and so could not play on the pre-arranged date. It was suggested that the final be postponed but it was argued that Jones should not have entered unless he was available and so Smith and Tingey claimed the final. [4] [5] A fill-in match involving Smith and Tingey was arranged. The chief prizes were a pair of shields to be held for one year and gold medals presented by Mr F A Johnson. [4]

Rowland Thomas Jones was an English professional golfer who played in the late 19th and early 20th century. Jones had two top-10 finishes in the Open Championship. His best performance came in the 1905 Open Championship when he finished tied for second place.

Alfred Toogood English golfer

Alfred Henry Toogood, Sr. was an English professional golfer who played during the late 19th and early 20th century. Toogood finished fourth in the 1894 Open Championship and won £7. He also tied for ninth place in the 1895 Open Championship.

Grand Duke Michaels Tournament

Grand Duke Michael's Tournament was a professional invitational golf tournament played at Cannes Golf Club in Cannes, France and promoted by the Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia. The event was held just once, on 26 February 1907. The tournament was contested by 12 invited players. The main event was a stroke-play contest over 36 holes, won by Arnaud Massy, a stroke ahead of Ted Ray.

In late August a 108-hole match was arranged on the Isle of Wight between the finalists. 36 holes were played on three successive days on three different courses, at St Helens, the Needles and Sandown. [6] Jones and Toogood, both of whom were from the Isle of Wight, won comfortably 12&10. [7]

Isle of Wight County and island of England

The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest and second-most populous island in England. It is in the English Channel, between 2 and 5 miles off the coast of Hampshire, separated by the Solent. The island has resorts that have been holiday destinations since Victorian times, and is known for its mild climate, coastal scenery, and verdant landscape of fields, downland and chines.

St Helens, Isle of Wight village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England

St Helens is a village and civil parish located on the eastern side of the Isle of Wight.

The Needles 3 distinctive stacks of chalk, ca. 30 m tall, off the western end of the Isle of Wight, UK

The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise about 30m out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, close to Alum Bay, and part of Totland, the westernmost civil parish of the Isle of Wight. The Needles Lighthouse stands at the outer, western end of the formation. Built in 1859, it has been automated since 1994. The waters and adjoining seabed form part of the Needles Marine Conservation Zone and the Needles along with the shore and heath above are part of the Headon Warren and West High Down Site of Special Scientific Interest.

1908

The format was revised for 1908 with each round being played on the same day on a specific course. 13 matches were played at Banstead Downs on 3 March which reduced the field from 29 to 16 pairs. [8] The final was arranged for 6 April at Walton Heath and was to be between George Duncan/Charles Mayo and Ben Sayers, Jr./Jack White. Unfortunately Jack White was ill and, a postponement not being allowed, the final was awarded to George Duncan and Charles Mayo. [9]

George Duncan (golfer) professional golfer

George Duncan was a Scottish professional golfer. He was also a golf course designer. His much sought-after professional teaching and swing analysis skills lead to him being referred to as "the pro's pro." He won the 1920 Open Championship.

Charles Mayo (golfer) golfer (1884-1977)

Charles Henry Mayo was an English professional golfer of the early 20th century. Mayo won the 1911 Belgian Open held at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium. Frenchman Arnaud Massy finished in second place. He had seven starts in the Open Championship, his best finish being T11 in 1912. He finished runner-up in the 1908 French Open and had five international appearances representing England against Scotland.

Jack White (golfer) Scottish professional golfer

John "Jack" White was a Scottish professional golfer. He posted six top-10 finishes in the Open Championship, including a victory in 1904.

1909

In early 1909 the southern section of the PGA took over the management of the event from Mr Johnson. Entry was restricted to southern section members. [10] The first four rounds were played at Bushey Hall on 6 and 7 April, matches being reduced to 18 holes. 27 pairs played. [11] The 36-hole final was played at Walton Heath on 26 May and resulted in a convincing win for James Batley and William Horne. [12]

James Benjamin Batley (1876–1964) was an English professional golfer. His main successes came in foursomes events, winning the 1909 London Professional Foursomes Tournament and the 1914 Sphere and Tatler Foursomes Tournament. He played for England in the 1912 England–Scotland Professional Match.

William Henry Horne was an English professional golfer. He finished in the top 10 in the Open Championship in 1909 and 1920 and was South African Open champion in 1919. He was a well-travelled professional and was also renowned for his long hitting.

1910

The 1910 event was planned for 26 to 28 January at Stoke Poges with four 18-hole rounds on the first two days followed by a 36-hole final. 26 pairs played. The ground was very frosty for the first two days and then there was snow followed by a rapid thaw which left the course waterlogged and the final had to be postponed. [13] The final was rearranged for 8 February and was won by the Taylor brothers, J.H. and Josh. [14]

1911

The 1911 event was played from 14 to 16 March at Fulwell. As in 1910 there were four 18-hole rounds on the first two days followed by a 36-hole final. 29 pairs played. The final was won by Tom Ball and Fred Robson. [15]

Winners

Year Winners Country Venue Margin
of victory
Runners-up Winner's
share (£)
Ref
London Professional Foursomes Tournament
1907 Ralph Smith &
Albert Tingey, Sr.
Flag of England.svg  England
Flag of England.svg  England
Bramshot Golf Club Walk-over Flag of England.svg Rowland Jones &
Flag of England.svg Alfred Toogood
[16]
1908 George Duncan &
Charles Mayo
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Flag of England.svg  England
Walton Heath Golf Club Walk-over Flag of Scotland.svg Ben Sayers, Jr. &
Flag of Scotland.svg Jack White
[17]
Southern Professional Foursomes Tournament
1909 James Batley &
William Horne
Flag of England.svg  England
Flag of England.svg  England
Walton Heath Golf Club 11 & 10 Flag of England.svg James Bradbeer &
Flag of England.svg George Charles
[12]
1910 J.H. Taylor &
Josh Taylor
Flag of England.svg  England
Flag of England.svg  England
Stoke Poges Golf Club 6 & 5 Flag of England.svg James Bradbeer &
Flag of England.svg George Charles
[14]
1911 Tom Ball &
Fred Robson
Flag of England.svg  England
Flag of England.svg  England
Fulwell Golf Club 3 & 2 Flag of England.svg Charles Johns &
Flag of England.svg Anthony Kettley
[15]

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References

  1. "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 21 December 1906. p. 10.
  2. "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 22 December 1906. p. 7.
  3. "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 19 January 1907. p. 7.
  4. 1 2 "Golf – London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 22 February 1907. p. 8.
  5. "Golf – London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 23 February 1907. p. 12.
  6. "Professional Foursome for £50". The Times. 23 May 1907. p. 10.
  7. "Professional Foursome for £50". The Times. 31 August 1907. p. 9.
  8. "Golf – London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 4 March 1908. p. 13.
  9. "Golf – The London Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 7 April 1908. p. 11.
  10. "London Professional Foursomes". The Times. 20 March 1909. p. 20.
  11. "Golf – Southern Professional Foursomes". The Times. 8 April 1909. p. 4.
  12. 1 2 "London professional foursomes". The Glasgow Herald . 27 May 1909. p. 13.
  13. "Golf – Southern Professional Foursome Tournament". The Times. 29 January 1910. p. 16.
  14. 1 2 "Southern professional foursomes – The Taylors win the final". The Glasgow Herald . 9 February 1910. p. 13.
  15. 1 2 "Professional golf foursome – Victory of Ball and Robson". The Glasgow Herald . 17 Mar 1911. p. 9.
  16. "Professional match at Bramshot". The Glasgow Herald . 28 February 1907. p. 13.
  17. "London foursomes". The Glasgow Herald . 7 April 1908. p. 13.