Robert W. White (golfer)

Robert W. White (June 2, 1876 – July 15, 1959)[2][3] was born in St Andrews, Scotland, and was a school teacher there before emigrating in 1894 to the United States to study agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He worked as a professional and greenkeeper at several clubs and was an excellent clubmaker. He first took up a post as professional at the Myopia Hunt Club in 1895[4] and served at a number of other clubs, including Shawnee Country Club in 1914. White helped many young men from the British Isles find work in the United States as golf professionals and greenkeepers. White, who was best known as a golf course architect and golf administrator, was an accomplished golfer but didn't post many notable results. He entered and played in a few U.S. Open tournaments around the turn of the century, in 1897 and again in 1901.[5] In the 1897 U.S. Open, White carded rounds of 89-97=186 and finished well back in the field.[6]

Robert White
White, c. 1920
Personal information
Full nameRobert W. White
BornJune 2, 1876
St Andrews, Scotland
DiedJuly 15, 1959, aged 83
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.
Sporting nationality Scotland
 United States
Children3
Career
CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
Turned professionalc. 1892
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. Open28th: 1897
The Open ChampionshipDNP
Achievements and awards
PGA Hall of Fame[1]1994

White served as president of the Western Professional Golfers' Association in 1908 and became the first president of the Professional Golfers' Association of America in 1916.[4] He held the office through 1919. During his career he also designed a number of golf courses, many located in eastern Pennsylvania. White also was one of the founders of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.[7][8] He was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 1994.[1] White is also credited with the initial design and construction of the first putting green for Dwight Eisenhower at The White House in Washington D.C. in 1954.[9]

Courses designed

Note: This list may be incomplete.

Source:[10]

Death

White died in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in July 1959. He was survived by a son and two daughters.[4]

References
  1. "PGA Hall of Fame: Robert White". PGA of America. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  2. "Robert White (1876-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial". Find a Grave.
  3. "FamilySearch: Sign In". FamilySearch. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  4. Graffis, Herb (August 30, 1959). "Robert White, Pro Pioneer, Dies in Myrtle Beach, S.C." (PDF). Golfdom. p. 30.
  5. "Robert W. White: Myopia/Cincinnati/Chicago". DMCSoft.com. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  6. "1897 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores". Golf.About.com. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  7. ""A Chronicle of the Philadelphia Section PGA and its Members: The Leaders and The Legends, 1895 to 1915," By Peter C. Trenham" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016.
  8. "The Society of Hickory Golfers; Results and Recent accounts Golf with Hickory Golf Clubs". Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  9. "Robert White, GCA". Golf Club Atlas. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  10. "Robert White designed golf courses, ratings and reviews". Golf Advisor. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  11. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
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