William Fernie (7 May 1855 – 24 June 1924) was a Scottish professional golfer and golf course architect from St Andrews. He won the 1883 Open Championship at Musselburgh Links.[1] The tournament was scheduled to last four rounds of the nine-hole course on a Friday in November. Fernie tied with defending champion Bob Ferguson, with both men shooting 158. The following day Fernie won a playoff by a single stroke.
| Willie Fernie | |
|---|---|
 Fernie, c. 1900 | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | William Fernie |
| Born | 7 May 1855 St Andrews, Scotland |
| Died | 24 June 1924 (aged 69) Glasgow, Scotland |
| Sporting nationality |  Scotland |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Best results in major championships (wins: 1) | |
| U.S. Open | DNP |
| The Open Championship | Won: 1883 |
Early life edit
Fernie was born in St Andrews, Scotland, on 7 May 1855.[2]
Golf career edit
Fernie was runner-up in the Open Championship in 1882, 1884, 1890 and 1891. When George Strath left Royal Troon in 1887, Fernie took over as club professional and served for 37 years only retiring in January 1924, a few months before his death.[3] As a golf course designer he made alterations to the Old Course at St Andrews and Royal Troon, and designed Turnberry's Ailsa, Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club and Isle of Arran courses. He also designed Appleby Golf Club in 1903, and Dumfries and County Golf Club in 1912.
Family edit
Two of his sons, Tom and Harry withdrew from 1924 Open qualifying at Royal Liverpool Golf Club because of their father's illness. Tom Fernie had finished fifth in the 1923 Open at Troon.
Death and legacy edit
Fernie died in Glasgow, Scotland, on 24 June 1924.[4][5][6] He is best remembered for winning the 1883 Open Championship and finishing second four times.
Golf courses (original design) edit
- Craigie Hill GC
- Drumpellier Golf Club
- Dumfries and County Golf Club
- Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club
- Elderslie Golf Club
- Erskine Golf Club
- Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club
- Gatehouse of Fleet Golf Club
- Greenock Whinhill Golf Club
- Lamlash Golf Club
- Machrie Bay Golf Club
- New Cumnock Golf Club
- Pitlochry Golf Club
- Ralston Golf Club
- Royal Troon (Relief Course)
- Sanquhar Golf Club
- Seacroft Golf Club
- Shiskine Golf Club[7]
- Southerndown Golf Club
- Stirling Golf Club
- Strathaven Golf Club
- Strathendrick Golf Club
- Thornhill Golf Club
- Turnberry (Ailsa)[8]
- Turnberry (Arran)
- Whitecraigs Golf Club
- Whitsand Bay GC
Golf Courses (Renovation) edit
- Royal Troon (Old)
- St. Andrews (Old)
Major championships edit
Wins (1) edit
| Year | Championship | 18 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | The Open Championship | 2 shot lead | 38-37-40-43=158 | Playoff1 | Bob Ferguson
|
1In a 36-hole playoff, Fernie defeated Ferguson by 1 stroke.
Results timeline edit
| Tournament | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | T9 | T8 |
| Tournament | 1880 | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | 8 | 2 | 1 | T2 | T4 | T8 | T7 | 14 | 6 |
| Tournament | 1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | T2 | T2 | 8 | T23 | T5 | T6 | T3 | T22 | 7 | T5 |
| Tournament | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | CUT | CUT | T12 | T24 | CUT | T31 | CUT |
- Note: Fernie played only in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances edit
- England–Scotland Professional Match (representing Scotland): 1903 (winners), 1904 (tie)
References edit
- ^ "1883 Willie Fernie". The Open. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "Births in the Burgh of St Andrews in the County of Fife". Statutory Births 453/01 0075. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "Retirement of W. Fernie". The Times. 12 January 1924. p. 10.
- ^ "Deaths in the District of Hillhead in the Burgh of Glasgow". Statutory Deaths 644/12 0663. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "Death of Willie Fernie – Ex-Open champion golfer – A link with the past". The Glasgow Herald. 25 June 1924. p. 9.
- ^ "Death of Willie Fernie". The Times. 25 June 1924. p. 7.
- ^ "Shiskine - Golf Architect 1896".
- ^ "Turnberry - Links Golf Architect".
External links edit
- opengolf.com report on the 1883 Open Championship
- Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club History, including notes on Willie Fernie
- Royal Troon, Club professionals, note on Willie Fernie
- Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland, makers
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