Bernard Nicholls
| Bernard Nicholls | |
|---|---|
| — Golfer — | |
 Bernard 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 |
| Spouse | Minnie Sharp |
| Children | 2 |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Best results in major championships | |
| U.S. Open | T4: 1904 |
| The Open Championship | T10: 1909 |
Frank Bernard Nicholls (19 April 1877 – 3 November 1924) was born in Dover, Kent, England.[1] He was an English professional golfer and golf course designer. Nicholls was the son of Frank Nicholls (1851–1930) and Lois Elizabeth Cordrey (1855–1935).[1] He compiled an outstanding record in a golf career that included numerous top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open.
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.[2][3]
Early life
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[4] who would later become a golf course architect.[5] At the age of 17, Nicholls was hired to design a golf course in France and by 1899 was the head professional at the Philadelphia Country Club. He also worked at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in 1912–13 and was at Wilmington Country Club with his younger brother Gilbert Nicholls in 1914. In 1915 he took a position at LuLu Country Club in Glenside, Pennsylvania and worked there until late 1916.
Building golf courses in France
Nicholls stated on 20 February 1916, "In the year 1894, at the age of 17, I was called to France to lay out the first golf course in Paris, which was but a miniature affair on an island situated in the Seine. In connection with this work I became acquainted with the Viscomte [Leon] de Janze, one of the oldest leaders of golf in the district of Paris and the man who is responsible for the excellent course at La Boulie ... as well as several others." Viscomte Leon de Janze was the founder of the Societe de Sport de Puteaux in 1896. Nicholls would go on to build another course at Aix-les-Bains in the French eastern frontier.
"Nicholls, if you can do that the Bank of France is open to you."
There, Nicholls said he met Monsier le Docteur Brachie, a leading physician and 'multimillionaire of the place'. Brachie said, "I want a golf course in Aix-les-Basin. Far up on the mountain side I have a piece of land. After breakfast we will take the mules and look over this property with a view to building a course there." Nicholls mentioned that difficulties were encountered in viewing the land due to the fact that it was heavily wooded. "I saw some beautiful olive and fig trees, but more important, I also saw 60 husky Italian laborers equipped and ready to work. After threading our way through this mountainous woodland and taking another look at the 60 huskies, I promised to give Monsier Le Docteur a golf course in six weeks", said Nicholls. Brachie retorted, "Nicholls, if you can do that the Bank of France is open to you. Moreover, I will have King Leopold of the Belgians and King George of Greece present for the grand opening."[6]
Building Spain's second golf course
In Nicholls' memoirs, written in 1916, he stated that he built Spain's second golf course on the Island of Toxa, belonging to Spain and situated in the Bay of Arousa, some 35 miles from Vigo, which Nicholls added, "boasts the second finest harbor in the world. It is said that is is capable of accommodating the combined navies of the world. It was by royal command of his majesty King Alphonso that I undertook the work."[6]
Golf career
Nicholls, who was called "Ben" by those who knew him, compiled results in the U.S. Open that were superb, albeit without a victory. He was very consistent in his play from 1897 through 1907, finishing in the top 10 on a number of occasions. Nicholls had a respectable T10 finish in the 1909 Open Championship held 10–11 June at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal, Kent, England. One major feather in the cap of Nicholls is that he was the only player to beat Harry Vardon, the famous British master golfer, on Vardon's 1900 exhibition tour to points across the US and Canada. In fact, Nicholls beat Vardon twice.[2]
On 17 February 1900, at Ormond, Florida, Nicholls soundly defeated Vardon 5 and 4.[7] His second victory over Vardon was on 13 October 1900 at Brae Burn Country Club, West Newton, Massachusetts, when he won 2 up in a 36-hole match.[2][8]
Family
His wife, Minnie Sharp Nicholls (born 1876), died in 1939. Nicholls had 8 siblings: brothers Gilbert, William and Alfred, and sisters Florence, Anne, Clara, Ethel and Blanche. He had two children of his own, son Norman Bernard Nicholls (1909–1985) and daughter Doris Lillian Nicholls (1899–1990).[1]
His younger brother, Gilbert Nicholls, was also a very fine player.[9]
Death
Bernard Nicholls died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 3 November 1924.[1]
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1909 | 1910 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open | ? | T4 | T8 | 17 | ? | T5[10] | 28 | 19 | T4 | T20 | T10 | T8 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| The Open Championship | T46 | T35 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T10 | WD | CUT |
Note: Nicholls never played in the Masters Tournament, founded in 1934, nor the PGA Championship.
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
Yellow background for top-10
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Frank Bernard Nicholls' ancestry". Ancestry.com.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Has Beaten Vardon – Bernard Nicholls, Who Players Here Saturday, Is a Top-Notcher". The Saint Paul Globe. 26 September 1901. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "The World of Sport". Newark Daily Advocate (Newark, Ohio). 19 March 1900. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ↑ "Flossmoor Country Club – Herbert F. Tweedie Original Architect". FlossmoorCC.org. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "The World of Golf". Newark Daily Advocate (Newark, Ohio). 19 March 1900. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Golfika: Ben Nicholls – His European Experience" (PDF). Philadelphia Public Ledger (golfika.com). 1916. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "English Champion Downed by the Philadelphia Professional in Florida". New York Tribune. 21 February 1900. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "Vardon's Chief Matches and Records". The Tribune Almanac for 1901. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "Gilbert Nicholls". Golf Major Championships. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
- ↑ "Alexander Smith and Willie Anderson Tied for the Open Championship at 331". New York Tribune. 16 June 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
