Lot 322 - The Old Tom Morris Photograph Collection
(7, 8 & 9). A group of three photographic gravures by J. K. Home Crawford of Portobello portraying Tom Morris and other early professional golfers competing in the Grand Golf Tournament on Leith Links 14th May 1867, 6) the first on the links with Tom Morris seen addressing the ball, the image 6 by 9in., in a modern frame, photographer’s stamp not visible under the modern mounting 7) the second with a group posed on the steps of the clubhouse, 5 1/2 by 9 1/4in., unframed, on original card mount with photographer’s stamp 8) the third with a group gathering on a pathway, 5 1/2 by 9 1/4in., unframed, on original card mount with photographer’s stamp
All three photographs have legends identifying the golfers. The photograph with the fuller group featuring 22 golfers are as depicted left-to-right T. HUNTER, J. HUTCHISON, WILLIAM. PARK, D. PARK, ROBERT FERGUSON, BOB KIRK, GEORGE PATTERSON, WILLIE DUNN, Jno. CAMPBELL, TOM MORRIS Jnr., T. BROWN, JAMES ANDERSON, GEORGE MORRIS, W. DOW, A. GREIG, A. STRATH, BOB ANDREWS, TOM MORRIS, ALEXANDER BROWN, WILLIAM McDONALD, ROBERT DOW & JAMIE DUNN
The other two photographs feature 11 of the golfers who, helpfully, in both images have assumed the identical standing order, from left-to-right the golfers are A. STRATH, D. PARK, BOB KIRK, JAMES ANDERSON, JAMIE DUNN, WLLIAM DOW, WILLIE DUNN, A. GREIG, TOM MORRIS Snr., TOM MORRIS Jnr. & GEORGE MORRIS
Leith Links has been home to some of the most important golfing characters of the past: Mary, Queen of Scots probably played here, and it is known that James VII and Charles I enjoyed games at Leith. The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith were established in the early 18th century.
The first National Golf tournament for professionals took place over Leith Links on 14 May. (As such it was deemed worthy of 3 commemorative photographs by J.K. Home).
Organized by the Leith Thistle Golf Club, 11 competitors took part including Tom Morris Snr. George Morris and Tom Morris Jnr. of St Andrews; Willie Park Snr., Bob Ferguson and David Park of Musselburgh; Willie Dunn of Leith; Charles Hunter, Jamie Anderson of St Andrews; Robert Kirk from Musselburgh; Tom Brown and Charles Hunter. Total prize money for the tournament amounted to £25 (with £10 for the winner) with the tournament played over four rounds of seven holes. Bob Ferguson of Musselburgh won with a total of 131 with Hunter winning £6 in second place. Aged just 18, this brought Ferguson to the attention of a number of wealthy sponsors including Sir Charles Tennant who backed him in 1868 and 1869 when he defeated Tom Morris on six occasions. A bout of typhoid cut short Ferguson’s playing career and he was later appointed custodian of the old links. Ferguson died in 1915 and a fountain was erected adjoining the Musselburgh Links in his memory.
Leith Links is now a public park, with football, rugby, cricket pitches, public footpaths and allotments. Houses, shops, factories, offices and a busy road now stand where some of the original holes were sited.
REPORT FROM “THE LIFE OF TOM MORRIS” by William Weir TULLOCH. Published in 1908.
“On the 14th of May 1867 an open tournament was held at Leith, under the auspices of the Thistle Golf Club. We give the draw in full:
Davie Park v. Jamie Anderson; Old Tom v. Auld Willie (Park, sen.) Willie Dunn v. Willie Dow (of Musselburgh); George Morris (Old Tom’s brother) v. Bob Dow (Montrose); Walter M’Donald v. Tom Hunter; Bob Kirk v Young Tom; Tom Brown v. G. Paterson (both of Musselburgh); Alexander Brown v. I. Campbell (of Musselburgh); Bob Fergusson v. Jamie Hutchison; Jamie Dunn v. Sandy Greig; Bob Andrews (Perth) v. A. Smith (Prestwick). The result was as follows: Fergusson, 131; Hunter, 132; Anderson, 133; Andrews, 133; Park, 134. In playing off their tic Andrews beat Anderson.
Of the professionals who took part in this competition some very admirable photographs were published by Mr T. K. Home Crawford, photographer, 130 Princes Street, Edinburgh. They speak for themselves. Copies of these photographs may still be had from Mr Home Crawford at a reasonable figure, and would make valuable additions to the pictures on the walls of club-rooms and private libraries of golfers. On 1st May 1867 Young Tom and Willie Dow beat Bob Kirk and Jamie Anderson by 3 up and 1 to play. On the third there was a professional competition for money prizes. The following is the prize-list: Kirk, 80; D. Park, 89; Old Tom, 90 ; Young Tom, 91; George Morris (Tom’s brother), 91; Willie Dow, 95; Jamie Anderson, 95; Young Tom (84) beat Willie Dow (87) by 2 holes.”
77
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236