Link Between Old Tom Morris and C B Macdonald

[Anthony Gray]

  Fact or hearsay? Did the actually know each other? Is there any documentation?


  Anthony



 

[Brian_Ewen]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_B._Macdonald

[Anthony Gray]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_B._Macdonald

  Thanks Brain, but I was looking for a little more.

  Anthony

[Melvyn Morrow]

Anthony

CBM had a locker in Old Tom’s shop, so I think they knew each other. I believe he was also taught the fine details of the game by Old Tom

CBM also played quite a few matches with Young Tom as we are talking about the 1870’s and returned home the year before the death of Young Tom.

A question in return, would the experience of being taught the art of the game of Golf by a National Champion  four times over and playing with another National Champion again  four times over create a last impression on any young man, perhaps even influence him on his future approach to golf?

CBM father was a Scot and his uncle and grandfather were Members of the R&A during his time at St Andrews University 1872-74.
 
So yes, he knew Old Tom

Melvyn

PS I believe there is an old photo of his locker in Old Tom's shop, not certain where it is though.

[Bill_McBride]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_B._Macdonald

  Thanks Brain, but I was looking for a little more.

  Anthony

Anthony, it's well documented in CBM's autobiography, "Scotland's Gift: Golf," that CB learned most of what he knew from the legendary Old Tom and played matches against Young Tom.  If you drop by the house, I'll loan you my copy.  And buy you a drink.

Owning both Scotland's Gift and George Bahto's "The Evangelist" of golf is a must for the serious golf historian.  You can order them both on Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_15?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=scotland%27s+gift+golf&sprefix=Scotland%27s+Gift

http://www.amazon.com/Evangelist-Golf-Story-Charles-MacDonald/dp/1886947201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251387546&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Evangelist-Golf-Story-Charles-MacDonald/dp/1886947201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251387546&sr=1-1#reader

The third link opens up the book itself, and you can click on "First Pages" to read about young Charles' arrival in St Andrews and his introduction to Old Tom by CBM's grandfather who was an R & A member.  Great stuff.

[Anthony Gray]

  Thanks Bill......Just don't have much time to read..

  Anthony

[Adam Clayman]

Having been taught by the legendary must be at the root of his frustration when the less sophisticated Americans began bastardizing many of the little things that make golf a bigger sport.

[Anthony Gray]

  Thank You Melvyn. Anything in Old Tom's writings that mentions C B Macdonald?


  
   How was he an american citizen?

  Anthony

 

  

[Garland Bayley]

  Thank You Melvyn. Anything in Old Tom's writings that mentions C B Macdonald?


   
   How was he an american citizen?

  Anthony

 

   

He was born in the US and sent to Scotland for college.

[Anthony Gray]

  Thank You Melvyn. Anything in Old Tom's writings that mentions C B Macdonald?


   
   How was he an american citizen?

  Anthony

 

   

He was born in the US and sent to Scotland for college.

  I have read he was born in Canada.

  Anthony

[Garland Bayley]

  Thank You Melvyn. Anything in Old Tom's writings that mentions C B Macdonald?


   
   How was he an american citizen?

  Anthony

 

   

He was born in the US and sent to Scotland for college.

  I have read he was born in Canada.

  Anthony

You might be right. I don't remember the details. Perhaps his parents were US citizens. But, in any case he was a new world progeny.

[Michael Blake]

Pretty sure he was born in Chicago.

[Anthony Gray]

Having been taught by the legendary must be at the root of his frustration when the less sophisticated Americans began bastardizing many of the little things that make golf a bigger sport.

  Adam,

  I must admit I had his story wrong. I was under the impression that he returned to Scotland only after being successful in business later in life. Studying in St Andrews and knowing Old Tom intrigues me.

  Anthony

[David Kelly]

Having been taught by the legendary must be at the root of his frustration when the less sophisticated Americans began bastardizing many of the little things that make golf a bigger sport.

  Adam,

  I must admit I had his story wrong. I was under the impression that he returned to Scotland only after being successful in business later in life. Studying in St Andrews and knowing Old Tom intrigues me.

  Anthony

No need for speculation, as Bill said, its all there in "Scotland's Gift" and "The Evangelist of Golf."

[Anthony Gray]

  Here is a list of ones that were inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in years prior to C B Macdonald's induction in 2007.

  John Jacobs
  Neil Coles
  Sir Michael Bonallack
  Deane Beman
  Karsten Solheim
  Harvey Penick
  Marlene Stewart Streit
  Bernard Darwin
  Mark McCormack
  Garland Bayley



  All deserving I'm sure,but how could their contributions be recognized before those of CBM.

  Anthony

[Anthony Gray]

Having been taught by the legendary must be at the root of his frustration when the less sophisticated Americans began bastardizing many of the little things that make golf a bigger sport.

  Adam,

  I must admit I had his story wrong. I was under the impression that he returned to Scotland only after being successful in business later in life. Studying in St Andrews and knowing Old Tom intrigues me.

  Anthony

No need for speculation, as Bill said, its all there in "Scotland's Gift" and "The Evangelist of Golf."

  David,

   Thanks. For one that has neither book,what way did CBM say he was influenced by OTM? Did they ever discuss architecture directly?

  Thanks....Anthony



.

[Garland Bayley]

Yes

[Bill_McBride]

  Thanks Bill......Just don't have much time to read..

  Anthony

Make time - this is important stuff. 

[Rich Goodale]

Anybody

Is there any corroboration of CBM's recollections of Old and Young Tom as written by him in "Scotland's Gift"?  Thanks in advance.

Somebody

[Andy Hughes]

Rich, I haven't picked the book up in a while, but weren't a number of the matches written about in the newspapers and included in the book?

[Garland Bayley]

  Thanks Bill......Just don't have much time to read..

  Anthony

I mixed some valium in your bottle of little blue pills. That way you will have some evenings with plenty of time to read.

[Bill_McBride]

Anybody

Is there any corroboration of CBM's recollections of Old and Young Tom as written by him in "Scotland's Gift"?  Thanks in advance.

Somebody

Melvyn would be the obvious source.  I also need to go back and scan "Tommy's Honour" for any CBM references.

[Adam Clayman]

CB was born in Canada.

[Dan Moore]

As Bill alluded to and provided the link, according to CBM in Scotland's Gift,  CBM met Old Tom his 2nd day in St Andrew's when his grandfather took him to Old Tom's shop and set him up with a locker and some clubs before his first round on the Old Course. 

[John Mayhugh]

I thought this was a pretty good article when I originally saw it.  Anthony, I hope you can find time to read this.

http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/Charles-Blair-Macdonald/1047/Default.aspx