Walter Toogood

Walter George Toogood (1874 – 13 October 1914) was an English professional golfer who played in the late 19th century into the early 20th century. He was a consistent performer in the Open Championships where he posted a number of top-20 finishes. His best result came in 1907 when he finished 13th.[1]

Walter Toogood
Personal information
Full nameWalter George Toogood
Born1874
Ryde, Isle of Wight
Died13 October 1914 (aged 40)
Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight
Sporting nationality England
Career
Turned professionalc. 1894
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipT13: 1907

Early life

Toogood was born in Ryde on the Isle of Wight in 1874, but his family moved across the island to St Helens when he was quite young.[2] He was the son of Frank Toogood and Lucy Ann Barton.[2][3] He was one of a number of near-contemporaries who learnt their golf at the now-defunct Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club, near St Helens, and went on to become successful tournament golfers. The group included a cousin, Alfred, as well as Rowland Jones and Horace Rawlins.[4]

Golf career
A group photo of the 1903 England team. Toogood is seated far left.

Toogood was appointed professional at Eltham Warren Golf Club in south London in 1895 replacing his cousin.[5] Toogood was then appointed the professional at Rochford Hundred Golf Club in Essex when it opened in early 1897 and remained there until moving to Ilkley Golf Club in West Yorkshire, England, in early 1903[6][7] where he served as the head professional from 1903 until 1911.[8]

He was a frequent competitor in the Open Championship. His first start came in 1895 and he last played in 1911. Toogood played in the England–Scotland Professional Match—representing England—in 1903 and 1907.[9][10] Toogood was runner-up in the 1907 Leeds Cup. He led after the first round with a 71 but after an afternoon 74 he finished second to Ted Ray. He shared the prize with Ray for the lowest round of the day.[11]

1907 Open Championship

The 1907 Open Championship was held 20–21 June at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. Arnaud Massy, from France, won the Championship, two strokes ahead of runner-up J.H. Taylor.[1] Toogood started very strongly and was tied for 7th place after two rounds of play, carding rounds of 76 and 86 and finishing on 162. He eventually finished the tournament in 13th place.[1]

In early 1911 Toogood left Ilkley to become the professional at Alwoodley Golf Club on the north side of Leeds.[12]

Illness and death

On Friday 1 March 1912, Toogood was found in a semi-conscious state, by a stranger, face down in a field in the Upper Malone district near Belfast. The circumstances which led him to this location and condition were not known. Toogood had been given permission to be absent from Alwoodley Golf Club to go to Preston, Lancashire, on the Thursday and was to have returned the same day. He had been suffering from depression. When found Toogood was in possession of a number of items including a gold watch and chain. Attached to the chain was a gold medal with the words "England v Scotland 1903 W G Toogood" inscribed on it.[13][14] Toogood made something of a recovery and returned to Yorkshire. However, his condition then became critical and he gave up his post at Alwoodley.[15]

By November 1912, he had recovered somewhat and it was reported that he would be the professional at the new Camberley Heath Golf Club.[16] There was a long delay in taking up the post since he did not take up his position until late 1913.[17] The course was officially opened on 1 January 1914 with two exhibition matches. In the morning Toogood was partnered with Prince Albert Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and in the afternoon with Jack White, the Sunningdale professional.[18] The appointment was short-lived since Toogood resigned only a few days after the course opened.[19]

Toogood returned to the Isle of Wight where he died, unmarried, on 13 October 1914 in the County Lunatic Asylum in Carisbrooke at the age of 40. He was buried in St Helens.[20][21]

Results in major championships
Tournament 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911
The Open Championship T27 22 26 T19 20 CUT 28 T20 WD CUT T28 T15 T13 T18 ? 37 CUT

Note: Toogood only played in The Open Championship.

CUT = Missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
? = Finish unknown

Source:[22]

Team appearances

References
  1. Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860–2008. Vol. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
  2. "Toogood, Walter G." FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  3. "Walter George Toogood (1872–1914)". MyHeritage.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  4. "English Parishes & Welsh Communities N&C 2004". www.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. "From club and course". Pall Mall Gazette. 4 April 1895. Retrieved 26 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "New link at Rochford". Chelmsford Chronicle. 1 January 1897. Retrieved 26 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Ilkley Club". Leeds Mercury. 27 April 1903. Retrieved 26 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Ilkley Golf Club". Golf Illustrated. 31 July 1903. p. 91. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  9. "Golf – International Professional Match". The Times. 9 June 1903. p. 12.
  10. "Golf – The Professionals at Hoylake – Scotland v England". The Glasgow Herald. 17 June 1907. p. 12.
  11. "Leeds challenge cup". The Times. 15 May 1907. p. 11.
  12. "Professional appointments". The Times. 20 February 1911. p. 15.
  13. "A Belfast mystery – Professional golfer found unconscious". Dublin Daily Express. 4 March 1912. Retrieved 26 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "Golfer's strange journey – Popular professional in a state of collapse – Walter Toogood's experience". Yorkshire Evening Post. 4 March 1912. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Walter Toogood's illness". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 23 March 1912. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "New appointment for Walter Toogood". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 18 November 1912. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Walter Toogood's post". Yorkshire Evening Post. 15 November 1913. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Opening on the Camberley course". The Times. 2 January 1914. p. 11.
  19. "Walter Toogood". Yorkshire Evening Post. 17 January 1914. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "A well-known golfer's death – Mr Walter Toogood's association with Yorkshire". Yorkshire Evening Post. 22 October 1914. Retrieved 25 June 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. "Isle of Wight Family History Society". Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  22. "Toogood, Walter". TheOpen.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
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