Willie Fernie

Who was Willie Fernie?

William Fernie was a Scottish golfer from the "Home of Golf", St Andrews. He won the 1883 Open Championship at Musselburgh Links. The tournament was scheduled to last four rounds of the nine hole course on a Friday in November. Fernie tied with defending champion Bob Ferguson, with both men shooting 158. The following day Fernie won a playoff by a single stroke.

Fernie was runner-up in the Open Championship in 1882, 1884, 1890 and 1891. When George Strath left Royal Troon in 1887, Fernie took over as club professional and served for 37 years. As a golf course designer he made alterations to the Old Course at St Andrews and Royal Troon, and designed Turnberry's Ailsa and Isle of Arran courses. He also designed the Southerndown Golf Club course in southern Wales in 1905. Fernie also designed The Dumfries and County Golf Club in 1912