Errie Ball
| Errie Ball | |
|---|---|
Ball, c. 2006
Photo courtesy PGA Illinois Section |
|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Samuel Henry Ball |
| Born |
November 14, 1910 Bangor, Wales |
| Died | July 2, 2014 (aged 103) Stuart, Florida, United States |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) |
| Nationality |
 Wales United States
|
| Spouse | Maxwell "Maxie" Wright |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Professional wins | 12 |
| Best results in major championships |
|
| Masters Tournament | T38: 1934 |
| U.S. Open | T22: 1956 |
| The Open Championship | T23: 1936 |
| PGA Championship | T9: 1948 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| PGA Hall of Fame | 2011 |
| Illinois Golf Hall of Fame | 1990 |
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 and died at the age of 103.
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. "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."
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.
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.
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.
...
Wikipedia