James Hepburn (golfer)

James Melville Dron Hepburn (14 September 1876 – 1945) was a professional golfer from Scotland who played in the late 19th century into the early 20th century. He once served as the secretary of the British PGA and later became one of the founding members of the PGA of America. As a player, he posted two top-10 finishes in the Open Championship, a T8 result in 1909 and a T10 finish in 1911.

James Hepburn
Hepburn in 1932 in Bermuda
Personal information
Full nameJames Melville Dron Hepburn
Born(1876-09-14)14 September 1876
Barry, Angus, Scotland
Died1945
Nationality Scotland
SpouseEmily Preston
ChildrenDaphne, Joan
Career
Turned professionalc. 1894
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNF
The Open ChampionshipT8: 1909

Early life

Hepburn was born in Barry, Angus, Scotland, on 14 September 1876, the son of James Hepburn and Margaret Gray.[1][2] In 1903 he married Emily Preston at Royston, Hertfordshire, England.[3] He had an older brother Robert Gray Hepburn (1869–1940) who was also a professional golfer. Robert was the professional at Royston Golf Club from about 1892 to 1904.[4]

Golf career
Hepburn plays an iron shot on the National Golf Links of America course in Southampton, New York, as J. H. Taylor and Harry Vardon look on. (c. 1915)

Hepburn, a club maker of some renown, was one of the founding members of the PGA of America when he served as chairman of the seven-member organizing committee. He had formerly been the secretary of the British PGA.[5][6] He played in the England–Scotland Professional Match representing Scotland in 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910, 1912 and 1913. He was joint runner-up in the inaugural Tooting Bec Cup in 1901, three strokes behind the winner J. H. Taylor,[7] and was a semi-finalist in the British PGA Matchplay Championship in 1904 and 1909. In 1904 he lost 4&2 to Alfred Toogood in the semi-final while in 1909 he lost 5&4 to the eventual winner, Tom Ball.[8][9] He had two top-10 finishes in the Open Championship.[10]

One of his first postings as a professional came at Bush Hill Park from 1896 to 1897. He later served at Enfield (London) in 1897 and Church Stretton in 1898. He was co-designer of the Church Stretton course with Jack Morris. Hepburn also spent time at Home Park (Surbiton, Surrey), from 1900 until early 1915 where he maintained a successful club-making business by partnering with Hugh Williamson, brother of the noted touring professional Tom Williamson.[10]

In May 1915 he emigrated to the United States and became the professional at the National Golf Links in Southampton, New York, and remained there until 1928.[10] Soon after arriving he played in the 1915 U.S. Open at Baltusrol Golf Club. He made the 36-hole cut but his name is not recorded amongst the 54-hole finishers.[11] He taught golf lessons for several winters at Wanamaker's department store in Manhattan where he worked for Sam Wanamaker.[2]

Golf course architecture
  • Quogue Field Club, Quogue, New York (1897)[12]
  • Church Stretton Club, Church Stretton, England[10]

Death

Hepburn died of cancer in 1945.[2] The location of his death is unknown.

Results in major championships
Tournament 1897 1898 1899
The Open Championship T49 WD WD
U.S. Open
Tournament 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
The Open Championship T33 CUT CUT T25 T30 T24 T30 T35 T24 T8
U.S. Open
Tournament 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915
The Open Championship T19 T10 WD T56 NT
U.S. Open WD

Note: Hepburn only played in The Open Championship and the U.S. Open.

  Top 10
  Did not play

NT = No tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances
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References
  1. "World War I Registration Card". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  2. "Hepburn Brothers, Golfers". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  3. "James Melville Dron Hepburn". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  4. "About Robert Hepburn and Royston Golf Club". NWHickoryPlayers.org. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  5. "The History of the American PGA". WorldGolf.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  6. "PGA of America History: 1916–1919". Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  7. "London and Counties Professional Golfers' Association". The Times. 16 October 1901. p. 9.
  8. "Golf – Professionals' tournament at Richmond – Brilliant play". The Glasgow Herald. 6 October 1904. p. 13.
  9. "The professional golf tournament – Alex Gerd and Tom Ball in the final". The Glasgow Herald. 7 October 1909. p. 7.
  10. "Clubmakers: James Hepburn (Carnoustie/London/New York)". AntiqueGolfScotland.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  11. "Brady's wonderful shot". Boston Evening Transcript. 18 June 1915. p. 5.
  12. "Quogue Field Club". GolfNewYork.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
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