Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland: Clubmakers

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Clubmakers

Ernest Foord
Berrow/Detroit/Flint
Born in Berrow on 3 June 1883 and pro at the local club, Burnham and Berrow, 1900-1916, taking over from his father Walter Foord, who had been the pro since 1894. As you can see, he became professional at the tender age of 16 and in 1913 he beat the former professional at Berrow, a certain J H Taylor, in an exhibition match over 36 holes with skills which impressed Taylor greatly.

In 1902 he was up in St Andrews for a period of months ‘for the purpose of learning the intricate art of clubmaking’.

Ernest competed regularly in the Open Championship between 1901 and 1914 with a top-20 performance in his last appearance. Through the Western PGA tournament he qualified for the final matchplay stages of the News of the World tournament in 1909, 1910 and 1912.

According to the Burnham club he emigrated to the USA during the First World War with his wife, Ada, but ‘did not respond to letters’. He became a professional in Kansas City at the Meadow Lake club and opened a winter golf school with Jim Watson and Joe Matthews in January 1919. His brother Fred was also a professional who emigrated to the USA and the pair beat Vardon and Ray on their 1920 tour over Fred’s home course at Lakewood in Kansas City.

He changed the spelling of his surname to Ford in America and moved to Michigan to take up the post of professional at the Plum Hollow club in 1922.

In 1924 he took over from Mike Brady as professional at Oakland Hills CC in Michigan, a ’distinct surprise’ according to the Detroit Free Press which expected a tournament star to be appointed. He remained here until 1930 at which time he became professional at the Flint CC.

He died in Flint on 28 October 1941.

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