Herbert Barker (golfer)

Herbert Barker

Barker in RFC uniform, c. 1916
Personal information
Full name Herbert Haydn Barker
Born 1883
Huddersfield, England
Died 14 June 1924 (aged 41)
Rastrick, Yorkshire, England
Nationality  England
Spouse Evelyn Barker[1]
Career
Turned professional c. 1907
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament DNP
U.S. Open T7: 1909, 1911
The Open Championship T31: 1907
PGA Championship DNP

Herbert Haydn Barker (1883 – 14 June 1924) was an English professional golfer and golf course architect who played in the early 20th century. Barker's best performance came in the 1909 U.S. Open when he tied for seventh place. He had an identical finish in the 1911 U.S. Open.[2]

Early life

Barker was born in Huddersfield, England, in 1883.

Golf career

Barker had a successful amateur career, winning several tournaments in Great Britain in the early 1900s representing Huddersfield Golf Club. His wins included the Yorkshire Amateur[3] in 1904 and 1906, the Irish Amateur Open Championship in 1906[4] and the Dartmouth Bowl for three consecutive years starting in 1905. He played in the Amateur Championship in 1905 and 1907 and qualified for the 1907 Open Championship. He also played for the England amateur team against Scotland in 1907. He sailed from Southampton on 21 September 1907 to take up a professional position in America.[5]

Barker served as head professional at Garden City Golf Club in Garden City, New York, from 1908 to 1911. He found golf to be more competitive in America and failed to win any events. But he also discovered less challenging courses and soon began designing and remodeling layouts with the intention of elevating the game in the United States.[6] After 1911 his appearances in tournaments were less frequent and he concentrated more on his work as a golf course architect.

Golf course designer

Barker moved to the southern U.S. after leaving Garden City, and laid out Roebuck Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama,[3][7] and stayed on as head professional for a time before taking a position at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond in the fall of 1914.[3]

Military service

Barker took a two-month leave of absence from the Country Club of Virginia and sailed back to Britain on 30 July 1915[3][8] to enlist in the military, joining the Royal Flying Corps. He was stationed at South Shields, Seaton Carew,[9][10][11] and RNAS Killingholme.[12]

Death

Although he told friends he intended to return after the war, Barker never returned to America. He died on 14 June 1924[1] after an extended illness, reportedly related to injuries he sustained in the war.[6]

Courses designed

Sources:[7][13]

Note: This list may be incomplete.

Results in major championships

Tournament 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915
Open Championship T31 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open DNP T17 T7 T8 T7 ? T36 ? T24

Note: Barker played only in the Open Championship and the U.S. Open.

DNP = Did not play
? = unknown
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

Notes

    † Remodeled by A. W. Tillinghast (1935) and Bob Cupp (2003)

    References

    1. 1 2 "Probate Search: Herbert Haydn Barker".
    2. ↑ Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Professionals to Play on Indoor Links on Top of Hotel Astor". New York Tribune. 19 December 1914. p. 13. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
    4. ↑ "Past winners of the Irish Amateur Open Championship Date" (PDF).
    5. ↑ "Golf". The Times. 23 September 1907. p. 5.
    6. 1 2 "Herbert H. Barker (1883-1924)" (PDF). rvcc1911.org. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
    7. 1 2 "Herbert Barker – Courses Built". worldgolf.com. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
    8. ↑ "Stuart Jones Leads in Branch Cup Race". Richmond Times Dispatch. 25 July 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
    9. ↑ "Seaton Carew (Landplane)". Airfields of Britain. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
    10. ↑ "Seaton Carew (Seaplane)". Airfields of Britain. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
    11. ↑ Charles, Dave. "History of Usworth Aerodrome". Retrieved 16 May 2015.
    12. ↑ Van Wyen, Adrian O. (1969). Naval Aviation in World War I. Washington, D.C.: Chief of Naval Operations. p. 80.
    13. ↑ "Club History: Columbia Country Club". ColumbiaCC.org. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
    14. ↑ "Golfing at Springhaven Club". TheSpringhavenClub.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
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