Willie Tucker
| Willie Tucker, Sr. | |
|---|---|
Tucker, c. 1904
|
|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | William Henry Tucker, Sr. |
| Born |
15 August 1872 England |
| Died | 6 October 1954 (aged 82) Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Nationality |
 England United States
|
| Career | |
| Turned professional | c. 1890 |
| Best results in major championships |
|
| Masters Tournament | DNP |
| U.S. Open | T7: 1896 |
| The Open Championship | T37: 1894 |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
William Henry "Willie" Tucker, Sr. (15 August 1872 – 6 October 1954) was an American professional golfer and golf course architect of English birth. Tucker placed seventh in the 1896 U.S. Open, held 18 July at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
Although a fine golfer, the bulk of his career would not be spent as a tournament player but rather as a golf course architect.
Tucker was born in England on 15 August 1872. He was the son of William Henry Tucker and Katherine Dunn who had married in Scotland earlier in 1872. Katherine was daughter of Willie Dunn, Sr. and the sister of Tom Dunn and Willie Dunn. William Henry Tucker was a gardener from Devon. After being widowed, Katherine also emigrated to the United States and lived with Tucker. She was still alive in 1930.
Tucker had three younger brothers, Samuel, John and Thomas, who also emigrated to the United States. His brother John Dunn Tucker was the first professional at Pinehurst and designed the second nine holes of the number 1 course.
As a youngster Tucker was taught how to play golf by his father, a green keeper at Wimbledon Common Golf Club. He also became a proficient sod roller but rather than golf course maintenance he yearned for a career as a professional golfer.
At first he moved to Biarritz, France, where he worked for Willie Dunn. He didn't stay there long and soon returned to London where he worked as a club maker for Slazenger. He was the professional at Redhill & Reigate Golf Club in the early 1890s, playing in the 1894 Open Championship. He emigrated to the United States in 1895 and went to work with his brother Sam who was the professional at St. Andrew's Golf Club in Yonkers, New York. The brothers manufactured hand-made golf clubs that they marketed under the name "Defiance". While at St. Andrew’s, Willie helped with the design of St. Andrew’s Mount Hope course. Later he designed such courses as the original North Hills in Douglaston and built the present 27-hole Ridgewood Country Club course in Paramus, New Jersey, for A. W. Tillinghast.
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