Left: One armed John Haskins, Fred Haskins’ eldest brother, standing outside the family shop in Market street, Hoylake.
the two time Masters winner, was the first recipient of the award in 1971 and, along with Phil Mickelson, would go on to win it three times in total. Other notable winners include Matt
Kuchar, Justin Thomas, Curtis Strange, and
two British players, Graeme
Despite losing his arm at the age of nine John still became a very successful professional.
holes and few ground staff, but in the space of just two years Fred Haskins turned things around. This was no mean feat; he is
reported to have said that
when he took up the post, “I inherited two mules, six helpers, and six cases of dynamite, plus a lot of stumps.” He worked tirelessly and secured the
services of Donald Ross, the renowned golf architect who would redesign the course. Within two years the Club hosted The Georgia State Championship and Fred soon arranged exhibition matches with newly crowned British Open Champion, Walter Hagen, and Harold Callaway, the club designer. There were even visits from the
President, Franklin D Roosevelt. Fred was making a name for himself, not only for fashioning a successful and respected golf course, but also for his positive and effective teaching style. He quickly recognised the future was
in teaching promising youngsters the fundamentals of the game, and he did so in an engaging and positive way. He instilled qualities in his pupils that helped them in all aspects of their lives. His style was simple, compact and disciplined, and was an amalgam of many who had influenced him over the years: Ball, Hilton, Vardon, Maiden, Alex Smith and, more significantly, Bobby Jones. For over 30 years Fred became
legendary for teaching hundreds of players, many of whom would go on to become great champions. George Hamer was one of the most well-known of his early prodigies, and would be the first
ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2019–2020 MAGAZINE 29
‘southerner’ to represent America in the Walker Cup. As Fred moved into retirement support
grew for a trophy to honour America’s top college golfers and it seemed only fitting that it should be named after Haskins himself, the man who had done so much for young, aspiring players. Back home in Hoylake the original Haskins and Sons sports shop was eventually passed on to Arthur Haskins’ grandson. It thrived for many years selling all manner of sporting goods, but
eventually closed in 1974. Other
shops were opened in West Kirby and Prenton but these also went the same way. Many locals of a certain generation will remember them fondly. Despite his passing in 1981 Fred Haskins’ legacy lives on. Ben Crenshaw,
Above: Phil Mickelson also won the Award three times.
Left: Ben Crenshaw was the first time winner of the award and would go on to do so three times in total.
McDowell and Luke Donald. All started out in the amateur game, a game which Haskins had done so much to foster throughout his career. Many would go on to subsequently play in the Walker Cup. As The Royal Liverpool Golf Club
prepares to host the 47th playing of this famous amateur trophy in September, let’s pay tribute to Fred Haskins, a Hoylake man whose legacy was the knowledge, encouragement and self-belief he gave to so many over the years. n
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