Bernard Nicholls
| Bernard Nicholls | |
|---|---|
Nicholls, c. 1897
|
|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Frank Bernard Nicholls |
| Nickname | Ben |
| Born |
19 April 1877 Dover, Kent, England |
| Died | 3 November 1924 (aged 47) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality |
 England United States
|
| Spouse | Minnie Sharp |
| Children | 2 |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | c. 1894 |
| Best results in major championships |
|
| U.S. Open | T4: 1904 |
| The Open Championship | T10: 1909 |
Frank Bernard "Ben" Nicholls (19 April 1877 – 3 November 1924) was an American professional golfer and golf course designer of English birth. He compiled an outstanding record in a golf career that included five top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open and one T10 finish in the Open Championship.
In 1900, during Harry Vardon's exhibition tour, Nicholls did what no other golfer in North America could accomplish—beat Harry Vardon. Nicholls defeated the legendary British golfer in two separate matches in resounding fashion.
Nicholls was born in Dover, Kent, England. He was the son of Frank Nicholls (1851–1930) and Lois Elizabeth Cordrey (1855–1935). Nicholls married Minnie Sharp on 16 May 1898 at St. George's Church in Deal, Kent, England. Prior to leaving England he worked at an athletic goods store in Liverpool and was almost a daily visitor to the Royal Liverpool Golf Club links at Hoylake, county of Cheshire. In his days at Hoylake he became good friends with fellow English golfers John Ball, Jr. – the great amateur player – and Herbert Tweedie who would later become a golf course architect.
At the age of 17, Nicholls – who was called "Ben" by those who knew him – was hired to design a golf course in France and by 1899 was the head professional at the Philadelphia Country Club. On 13 July 1905 he played in the first professional golf tournament ever played on a public links golf course in the United States when he competed in an Open Tournament at the Van Cortlandt Park course. Nicholls and Willie Anderson finished joint second five shots behind Isaac Mackie.
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