Walter Travis did n’t even play golf game until he was 35 long time honest-to-god , but he became one of the top figure in American golf game at the start of the twentieth hundred and was the first player from America to win the British Amateur .
Travis was actually hold inAustraliain 1862 , but his family go to the States when he was a male child . He did n’t take up golf until 1897 , but he catch on quick – he reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur one yr afterwards .
Travis also made the semi in 1899 , then deliver the goods the U.S. Amateur in 1900 , ' 01 , and ' 03 . During that stint , he won the qualifying decoration in 1900 , ' 01 , and ' 02 ( there was no limiting in 1903 ) .
Looking for another world to conquer , Travis decided to enter the 1904 British Amateur at Royal St. George ’s . He beat such top player as Harold Hilton and Horace Hutchinson on the path to the final , where he squared off against long - strike Edward Blackwell .
Travis was a inadequate hitter , but he was deadly precise and an outstanding putter . Those property carried him to a 4 & 3 triumph . The profits was not a popular one among his British host , who were put off by Travis ’s gruff fashion . Travis , for his part , felt he had been given an unfriendly welcome . A few month later , the eye - shafted Schenectady putter used by Travis in his victory was banned in Britain , though not in America .
By then , Travis was in his XL , and he did n’t bring home the bacon any more U.S. Amateurs ( or enter any more British Amateurs ) . But he stay competitive for another decennium , adopt the modification decoration in the 1906 , ' 07 , and ' 08 U.S. Amateurs and reaching the semifinals in 1906 , ' 08 , and ' 14 . He won the 1915 Metropolitan Amateur at the age of 53 .
Travis also made contributions to the secret plan in other area . He founded The American Golfer powder store in 1908 and served as its editor for many yr . He became involved in designing path , include Garden City Golf Club on Long Island and Westchester Country Club just north ofNew York City .
