Musselburgh Winners: Drive To Give Open Champions Recognition

Old Musselburgh Golf Club tribute to champions who won there.

Thanks to reader Maple for sending this Avril Campbell story on an effort to properly memorialize some of Musselburgh (and golf’s) original champions.

Old Musselburgh Golf Club’s captain, Stevie Hill, is attempting to raise funds for headstones to recognize David Brown, Bob Ferguson and Jack White, all winners of the Open there and also important contributors to the early game.

In the 1970s, proper headstones were created for the Parks. But Hill is now attempting to correct the situation regarding other Open champions at his home course and the “Cradle of Golf.”

While out for his daily exercise during the Covid-19 lockdown, he noticed there were grave markers for Mr Ferguson, a three-time Open champion, and Mr White, but no headstones.

He also wants to properly recognise Mr Brown, who is buried there too.

He said he was keen that headstones with details of their victories be installed, as a reminder of their sporting prowess on the links and their connections with Musselburgh, which is known as ‘the cradle of golf ’.

Ferguson remains one of golf’s great stories, having won his trifecta at Musselburgh, Prestwick and St Andrews (!!), but also working as an instructor and greenkeeper.

In the 1970s, proper headstones were created for the Parks.

Here’s a nice item on Ferguson’s life as a clubmaker and golfer, with insights from Curt Sampson’s book. And this:

He was renowned for his putting and his use of a shot called by other golfers, without great enthusiasm, the “Musselburgh iron”, a wooden approaching putter for a run-up shot from well off the green.

Prestwick’s website also includes this excerpt from "British Open Champions" by Michael Hobbs:

This triple Open champion first made a name for himself at the age of 18 when, with a few borrowed clubs, he beat the cream of the professionals in the Leith Tournament. His 131 for four rounds of Leith's seven holes so impressed a local admirer that he paid for new clubs which Ferguson used for the rest of his career. He took part in several challenge matches against Young Tom Morris and usually came off second best although he did once win by four holes when the pair used cleeks only.