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Errie Ball

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Errie Ball
Ball, c. 2006
Photo courtesy PGA Illinois Section
Personal information
Full nameSamuel Henry Ball
Born(1910-11-14)November 14, 1910
Bangor, Wales
DiedJuly 2, 2014(2014-07-02) (aged 103)
Stuart, Florida, United States
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)
Sporting nationality Wales
 United States
SpouseMaxwell "Maxie" Wright
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins12
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT38: 1934
PGA ChampionshipT9: 1948
U.S. OpenT22: 1956
The Open ChampionshipT23: 1936
Achievements and awards
PGA Hall of Fame2011
Illinois Golf Hall of Fame1990

Samuel Henry "Errie" Ball (November 14, 1910 – July 2, 2014) was a Welsh-American professional golfer who competed at the inaugural Augusta National golf tournament in 1934 (now known as the Masters Tournament). He was the last living person to compete in the first Masters[1] and died at the age of 103.[2]

Early life

Ball was born in Bangor, Wales, in 1910. He acquired the nickname "Errie" from his family's French maid who was tasked with caring for him and performing household duties. She had trouble pronouncing "Henry", hence the name Errie.[3] "My father’s name was William Henry Ball. Back in those days, Henry became 'Harry'," said Ball, prior to his 100th birthday party. “My mother, from what they tell me, didn’t like the fact that they would be calling my father Old Harry and me Young Harry. We had a French maid at that time, and she said, ‘Why don’t you call him ‘Errie?’ And I’ve gone by that ever since. I wouldn’t turn around if you called me Sam."[4]

Ball’s connection to Bobby Jones began in 1930, when he met the famed Georgian at the Open Championship in Hoylake, England, where Jones would win one leg of his Grand Slam. The relationship continued the day Ball arrived in America—September 27, 1930—just as Jones clinched the Grand Slam with a victory in the U.S. Amateur.[4]

Golf career

Ball's first job was serving for his uncle, Frank Ball, then the PGA head professional at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Ball later assisted George Sargent, who became PGA of America president. In 1933, Ball received a letter of recommendation from Jones that elevated him to his first head professional post at Mobile (Alabama) Country Club.[4]

Ball was still competitive even into his late 40s. At age 47—in the 1958 PGA Championship at Llanerch Country Club—he carded rounds of 79-72-72-73=296 and finished in a tie for 33rd place with Tom Talkington.[5]

Ball served as the head professional at Oak Park Country Club in Chicago, Illinois, for many years. During the winter months he was the head professional at Tucson Country Club in Tucson, Arizona, where his tenure was 14 years, from 1951 through April 1, 1965.[6] In September 1964, Tucson Country Club president Dr. George Bland stated that, "What we need is a full-time pro. The size of the club (about 700 members) dictates this necessity. We'll have a hard time replacing Errie—we're well aware of that."[6]

Achievement awards

Ball was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 1990. As of 2011, he was giving lessons at the Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart, Florida[7] and he turned 100 on November 14, 2010.[8] Golfweek magazine was on site when he celebrated this event with friends and members at Willoughby Golf Club and posted a story documenting the event.[9] Ball was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 2011.[2][10]

Death and legacy

Ball, the last of the inaugural Masters field of 1934 and the PGA of America’s oldest and longest-serving member, died July 2, 2014 at Martin Hospital South in Stuart, Florida, surrounded by his family. He was 103.[4]

Tournament wins

Note: This list may be incomplete.

Results in major championships

Tournament 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
Masters Tournament NYF T38 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open CUT ? ? ? ? ? ?
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP T23 DNP DNP DNP
PGA Championship DNP R32 DNP R32 DNP R64 DNP
Tournament 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP NT NT NT DNP DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open ? ? NT NT NT NT ? ? ? ?
The Open Championship NT NT NT NT NT NT DNP DNP DNP DNP
PGA Championship R32 DNP DNP NT DNP DNP DNP DNP R16 R64
Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT DNP DNP
U.S. Open ? ? ? T56 ? T34 T22 ? ? ?
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
PGA Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T33 DNP
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
PGA Championship CUT DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T64

NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

References

  1. ^ Sherman, Ed (April 5, 2008). "Errie Ball is Oldest Master". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 22, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Auclair, T.J. (July 2, 2014). "Errie Ball passes away at age 103". PGA of America.
  3. ^ Kindred, Dave (April 2006). "The oldest master: Errie Ball, 95 years young, is the last surviving participant of the first Masters". Golf Digest.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Denney, Bob. "Errie Ball – the PGA of America's Oldest and Longest-Serving Member dies at 103". Illinois PGA. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  5. ^ "Player Stats for Errie Ball". PGA of America. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Lindblom, John (September 24, 1964). "TCC Terminates Pro Errie Ball's 14 Years Service". Tucson Daily Citizen. p. 45. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  7. ^ "Members at Willoughby Golf Club Learn From Original Master Errie Ball". May 16, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009.
  8. ^ "Ball, the Last Master Standing, celebrates 100th birthday". PGA of America. November 16, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  9. ^ Schupak, Adam (November 15, 2010). "Inside Errie Ball's 100th birthday party". GolfWeek.
  10. ^ "Errie Ball, Class of 2011". PGA of America.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Willoughby name golf director emeritus". Boca Raton News. March 30, 1989. p. 3 (supplement).
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