# George Strath

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{{short description|Scottish golfer and golf course designer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name              = George Strath
| image             = George Strath.PNG
| imagesize         = 140
| caption           = George Strath, {{circa|1875}}
| fullname          = 
| nickname          = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|df=yes|1843|10|1}}
| birth_place       = [St Andrews](/source/St_Andrews), [Scotland](/source/Scotland)
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1919|1|21|1843|10|1}}
| death_place       = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [New York](/source/New_York_(state))
| height            = <!-- {{height|ft=6|in=2}} OR {{height|m=|precision=0}} -->
| weight            = 
| nationality       = {{SCO}}
| residence         = 
| spouse            = Christina Ronald
| partner           = 
| children          = 1
| college           = 
| status            = Professional
| yearpro           = <!-- Year turned professional -->
| retired           = <!-- Year retired -->
| tour              = <!-- Current tours which a member of -->
| extour            = <!-- Former tours which a member of -->
| prowins           = 
| majorwins         = 
| masters           = DNP
| usopen            = DNP
| open              = 14th: 1878
| pga               = DNP
| wghofid           = 
| wghofyear         = 
| award1            = <!-- Achievement or award details -->
| year1             = <!-- Year(s) of achievement or award -->
| awardssection     = <!-- location of awards page or section -->
}}
'''George Strath''' (1 October 1843 – 21 January 1919) was a Scottish [professional golfer](/source/professional_golfer) and [golf course designer](/source/golf_course_designer) of the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was born in [St Andrews](/source/St_Andrews), [Fifeshire](/source/Fifeshire), [Scotland](/source/Scotland). As a young lad he worked as a [caddie](/source/caddie), carrying the clubs of [Old Tom Morris](/source/Old_Tom_Morris) at St Andrews.

Strath placed 14th in the [1878 Open Championship](/source/1878_Open_Championship) at [Prestwick](/source/Prestwick_Golf_Club). He served as the first professional at [Royal Troon Golf Club](/source/Royal_Troon_Golf_Club) in [Scotland](/source/Scotland) from 1881–87. In June 1883, Strath increased the links at Troon to twelve holes.  A further six holes were completed by 1885.<ref name=Strath>{{cite web|title=Royal Troon -- Club Professional History|url=http://www.royaltroon.co.uk/club-history/former-professionals|website=royaltroon.co.uk|accessdate=22 April 2015}}</ref>
Strath's brother—[Davie Strath](/source/Davie_Strath)—was also a fine golfer with seven top-10 finishes in the [Open Championship](/source/The_Open_Championship). His other brother, [Andrew Strath](/source/Andrew_Strath), won the [1865 Open Championship](/source/1865_Open_Championship). George had three brothers, one of which was not a professional golfer.<ref name="opengolf.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.opengolf.com/en/History/PreviousOpens.aspx?eventid=1865000&view= |title=Prestwick — 1865 |accessdate=21 April 2015 |publisher=The Open}}</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:Ilkley Golf Club.jpg|thumb|left|210px|Green keepers and their equipment at [Ilkley Golf Club](/source/Ilkley_Golf_Club). [Tom Vardon](/source/Tom_Vardon) stands far left, c. 1900.]]
Strath was born on 1 October 1843, the son of Alexander Strath and Susan Strath (née Reid). He married Christina Ronald on 31 December 1868 in St Andrews, Scotland. They had at least one child, a daughter named Susan. At the time of his marriage, Strath was working as a ship carpenter but would soon thereafter start a career in golf.

His first professional post was at the [Glasgow Golf Club](/source/Glasgow_Golf_Club)<ref name="Antique Golf">{{cite web|title=Clubmakers (George Strath) -- Troon / Southport / Brooklyn|url=http://www.antiquegolfscotland.com/antiquegolf/maker.php3?makerid=889|website=antiquegolfscotland.com|accessdate=22 April 2015}}</ref> where he was well known for the great condition of his golf course, especially the wonderful putting surfaces.<ref name="New York Tribune" /> He moved to the north of [England](/source/England) to become professional at Southport Old Links from 1888–92. He later served at North Manchester in 1894–95. Strath assisted in the design of [Ilkley Golf Club](/source/Ilkley_Golf_Club) (''pictured left'') which is the oldest club in [West Riding](/source/West_Riding) and the third oldest in [Yorkshire](/source/Yorkshire).<ref>Saywell 1990, p.1</ref>

A 9-hole course was established on [Rombald's Moor](/source/Rombald's_Moor) at the request of Ben Hirst and Alfred Potter in June 1890. The location for the original 9-hole course was planned with assistance from Strath, who after leaving Royal Troon was the club professional at Southport Old Links. After leaving Southport he then took a job as professional at [Stinchcombe](/source/Stinchcombe) in [Gloucestershire](/source/Gloucestershire%2C_England) from 1893–94.<ref name="Antique Golf" /><ref>Saywell 1990, p. 1</ref>

He was an excellent club maker, making beautiful long-nosed woods.<ref name="Antique Golf" /> When Strath left Troon in 1887, [Willie Fernie](/source/Willie_Fernie_(golfer)) took over as professional and served the club for 37 years. Fernie was also from a [St Andrews](/source/St_Andrews) family and won the Open Championship in [1883](/source/1883_Open_Championship).{{clear}}

==Emigration to the U.S.==
Strath and his wife Christina boarded the [RMS ''Umbria''](/source/RMS_Umbria) and sailed from [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool), arriving in New York City on 28 September 1895. Prior to leaving Scotland, Christina had been ill and doctors recommended a change of climate for her recovery.

==Golf career==
He began his U.S. golf career quickly by entering the [1896 U.S. Open](/source/1896_U.S._Open_(golf)) at [Shinnecock Hills Golf Club](/source/Shinnecock_Hills_Golf_Club) in [Southampton, New York](/source/Southampton_(town)%2C_New_York). He shot rounds of 91-89=180 and finished well back from the leaders.<ref name="1896 US Open">{{cite web|title=1896 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores|url=http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/l/bl1896usopen.htm|website=about.com|accessdate=20 August 2015|archive-date=12 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712204745/http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/l/bl1896usopen.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> After his arrival in the United States, Strath never made it a priority to be a tournament golfer, but rather he preferred the business side of the game by being a greens keeper and instructor, having no superiors in either of those categories.<ref name="New York Tribune">{{cite news |title=Strath's Death Removes Oldest of Pro Golfers |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1919-01-26/ed-1/seq-21/#date1=1836&index=1&rows=20&words=George+Strath&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1922&proxtext=George+Strath&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=22 April 2015|newspaper=The New York Tribune |date=26 January 1919}}</ref>

In late 1895 he laid out the links at Dyker Meadow Club in Brooklyn where [George Low](/source/George_Low_Sr.) would later be posted.<ref name="Geo Low Baltusrol">{{cite news  |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1903-04-11/ed-1/seq-10/ |title=George Low for Baltusrol |newspaper=New York Tribune |date=April 11, 1903 |page=10 |accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref> He left Dyker Meadow and took a post at [Shelter Island](/source/Shelter_Island%2C_New_York) in 1897. He later worked for a short time at Wee Burn Club in [Darien, Connecticut](/source/Darien%2C_Connecticut), in 1901. While at Wee Burn he instructed such champions as Charles H. Seely,<ref name="Instructor for Seeley">{{cite news |title=Travis Beaten by Seeley in Championship Semi-Finals–To Meet Douglas To-Day |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1901-05-25/ed-1/seq-4/#date1=1836&index=10&rows=20&words=George+Strath&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1922&proxtext=George+Strath&y=10&x=18&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=22 April 2015 |newspaper=New York Daily Tribune |date=25 May 1901}}</ref> 3-time champion of Connecticut from 1901–3, and twice winner of the [Metropolitan Amateur](/source/Metropolitan_Amateur) championship in 1905 and 1908. In 1909 Strath was appointed as president of the Eastern Professional Golf Association.<ref name="Eastern Pro">{{cite news |title=National Golf |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045396/1909-06-08/ed-1/seq-10/#date1=1836&index=13&rows=20&words=George+Strath&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1922&proxtext=George+Strath&y=10&x=18&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=22 April 2015 |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=8 June 1909}}</ref>

While still posted at Wee Burn, Strath was the golf instructor to [Genevieve Hecker](/source/Genevieve_Hecker) who was the [U.S. Women's Amateur](/source/U.S._Women's_Amateur) national champion in 1901 and 1902.  After his stint at Wee Burn, he spent one year at the Hillandale Golf Club in [Stamford, Connecticut](/source/Stamford%2C_Connecticut). He left Hillandale to design the Crescent Athletic Club links in Brooklyn where his tenure was from 1901 through 1918.<ref name="Antique Golf" /><ref name="New York Tribune" />

==Death==
Strath died—due to heart trouble—at the age of 76 in New York City on 21 January 1919.<ref name="New York Tribune" /><ref name="Oldest Golfer Dies">{{cite news |title=Oldest Golfer Dies |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038411/1919-01-24/ed-1/seq-17/#date1=1836&index=7&rows=20&words=George+Strath&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1922&proxtext=George+Strath&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=22 April 2015 |newspaper=The Harrisburg Telegraph |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |date=24 January 1919}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strath, George}}
Category:Scottish male golfers
Category:British golf course architects
Category:Golfers from St Andrews
Category:1843 births
Category:1919 deaths

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [George Strath](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Strath) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Strath?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.