By Roseanna Smith
Communications In-House Intern

James Braid contributed much to the game of golf in many capacities — as a player, a course architect and visionary. He is remembered amongst the elite — as one leg of the “Great Triumvirate” of British golfers of the early 20th century.

James Braid

Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor were Braid’s contemporaries in the early 1900s, winning British Opens while Braid struggled with putting. A switch from a wooden-headed to an aluminum-headed putter made by Mills of Sunderland is said to have made the difference, and in 1901, Braid won his first Open. But then, Vardon and Taylor had already won three times, but it was Braid who was the first man to reach five wins at Muirfield in 1910.

Taylor caught the milestone in 1913 and Vardon accomplished six, the most ever, in 1914. Among the contemporary record books, Braid and Taylor are amongst just two others to have won five Opens: Tom Watson and Peter Thomson. But Braid was the first Open player to break 70: in 1904 he shot a 69 in the third round. Braid finished runner-up in the 1897 and 1909 Opens and also captured the French Open title in 1910.

The recordmaker was known for more than his remarkable finish among the world’s elite. Taylor described Braid as a friend who was “sincere, trustworthy and loyal.” Braid, born in 1870 in Fife, Scotland, took up golf at an early age despite little support from his family and was good enough to win his first event at age eight. He reconditioned old clubs for his personal use and after an education as a carpenter and joiner, Braid was paid to work as a clubmaker for the Army and Navy Stores in London for eight pence an hour.  He snuck in rounds of golf on Sundays and after three years, he turned professional at the age of 26. He also worked as a club pro at Romford, Essex.

In addition to his huge success at the Open, Braid won the British Professional Match Play four times. His most impressive Open victory is said to have been in 1908 when he shot the record of 291 to win by eight strokes over Tom Ball. The record stood until 1927.

Braid retired in 1912 and became the Walton Health club professional until his death. One of Braid’s true gifts in golf was in course design — he was responsible for the King’s and Queen’s courses at Gleneagles and had a hand in the design or redesign of around 250 courses in the United Kingdom. His courses were known as “traditional” and “testing” because they used the natural land to create challenges with as little earth movement as possible. Braid’s farming background was said to help him ensure proper drainage on inland courses, and he made extensive use of the dogleg hole.

Braid never worked in the United States because he had a fear of flying and experienced motion sickness, but neither prevented his success in golf at any level. Braid was an initial founder of the British PGA, and helped lay the groundwork for the game abroad. He also was known for his authorship of the instructional book, “Advanced Golf.”