Alf Padgham: Difference between revisions

Alf Padgham
Alf Padgham
Personal information
Full name	Alfred Harry Padgham
Born	2 July 1906; Caterham, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Died	4 March 1966 (aged 59); West Wickham, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Sporting nationality	England
Career
Status	Professional
Professional wins	21
Best results in major championships; (wins: 1)
Masters Tournament	DNP
PGA Championship	DNP
U.S. Open	DNP
The Open Championship	Won: 1936

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Alfred Harry Padgham (2 July 1906 – 4 March 1966^[1]) was one of the leading British professional golfers of the 1930s and 1940s. He won the 1936 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, Merseyside, England^[2] and played for Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1933, 1935 and 1937. He was captain of the Professional Golfers Association in 1936.

Early life[edit]

Padgham was born in Caterham, Surrey. His family had close ties to Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club in Sussex, where he served his apprenticeship under head professional Jack Rowe.

Career[edit]

As a tournament player, he came into prominence in 1931 when he won the News of the World Match Play at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, beating Mark Seymour in the final and receiving £300 in prize money.

On 20 May 1933, Padgham took part in an exhibition match against Percy Alliss, as the main event at the opening of the reconstructed West course at Sundridge Park Golf Club, in the south east suburbs of London, near Sevenoaks in Kent. Members of the management committee at the Sundridge Park were impressed with Padgham's skill, so he was approached and he agreed to become the club professional, on a five-year contract, working as senior partner with present club pro Jack Randall, working in tandem. Padgham's many successes in tournament golf in the years to come, beside his work at the club, were of great delight of the club.^[3]

He will be remembered most for his remarkable sequence of five victories between the autumn of 1935 and the summer of 1936. They included the News of the World Match Play for the second time, beating Percy Alliss in the final, and The Open Championship. He also captured the championships of Ireland, Germany and Holland.

He built up slowly towards his Open Championship victory in 1936. He was fourth in 1932, seventh the following year, then third behind Henry Cotton at Sandwich and second to Alf Perry at Muirfield in 1935 before the title became his at Royal Liverpool. On the longest course yet used for The Open at 7,708 yards, he came from behind with a last round of 71 to beat Jimmy Adams by a single stroke and Cotton by another stroke. On that final day, he had to break into the locked Hoylake pro shop to retrieve his clubs for an early tee time, but seemed completely unperturbed by the incident. On the final green he holed from 12 feet for a 3 to win.

Despite seeming to be a good match-play competitor, winning the News of the World Match Play twice and once being beaten in the final by Cotton, he failed to win a single point in his three Ryder Cup appearances in 1933, 1935 and 1937.

Personal life and retirement[edit]

Padgham was a tall and thin man with a natural smooth swing, a lot similar to that of the great Harry Vardon, but sometimes his putter let him down. Vardon, winner of six Open titles, had one word for Padgham's swing. He thought it "perfect". From a short, three-quarter backswing the club seemed to flow effortlessly into the ball and yet he was one of the longest hitters of his day.

Padgham was not a charismatic person, usually dressed in dark clothes, often a raincoat. He was shy and quiet and only showed his sense of humour with close friends.

He lost what might have been some of his best competitive years due to World War II. During the war, Padgham joined the full-time Special Police and part of the club house and golf course at Sundridge Park was used for military purpose. Nevertheless, in June 1940, Padgham took part in a 72-hole tournament at Sundridge Park, with gate receipts going to the Red Cross. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Padgham took part in many exhibition matches, the money going to good causes. In 1959, he was presented with a gold watch by Sundridge Park, for 25 years of service to the club. Unfortunately the watch did not go over his hand.

Whilst Padgham was absent from the club through sickness in the beginning of the 1960s, his eldest son died, which added to his suffering. He retired from the club in 1965, with failing health, and was succeeded by George Will.

Padgham died on 4 March 1966 at age 59 at his home in West Wickham, Greater London, Kent.^[4]

Professional wins (21)[edit]

1931 News of the World Match Play
1932 Irish Open
1933 Sussex Professional Championship^[5]
1934 German Open, Dunlop-Southport Tournament, Yorkshire Evening News Tournament, Kent President's Cup^[6]
1935 News of the World Match Play
1936 The Open Championship, Daily Mail Tournament, Silver King Tournament, Dunlop-Southport Tournament, Western Province Open
1938 Dutch Open, Kent Professional Championship
1939 Silver King Tournament, News Chronicle Tournament
1946 Daily Mail Tournament
1947 Silver King Tournament
1948 Kent President's Cup^[7]
1954 Kent Professional Championship^[8]

Major championships[edit]

Wins (1)[edit]

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1936	The Open Championship	1 shot deficit	73-72-71-71=287	1 stroke	Jimmy Adams

Results timeline[edit]

Tournament	1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939
The Open Championship	T39	T40	T4	T7	3	2	1	T7	T4

Tournament	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1948	1949
The Open Championship	NT	NT	NT	NT	NT	NT	T31	T13	T7	CUT

Tournament	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954
The Open Championship	T20	CUT		CUT	CUT

Note: Padgham only played in The Open Championship

Win

Top 10

Did not play

NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances[edit]

Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain): 1933 (winners), 1935, 1937
England–Scotland Professional Match (representing England): 1932 (winners), 1933 (winners), 1934 (winners), 1935 (winners), 1936 (winners), 1937 (winners), 1938 (winners)
England–Ireland Professional Match (representing England): 1932 (winners), 1933 (winners)
Coronation Match (representing the Ladies and Professionals): 1937
Llandudno International Golf Trophy (representing England): 1938 (winners)

References[edit]

^ "Mr Alfred Padgham. The Times, 5 March 1966; pg. 10; Issue 56572.
^ "1936 Alf Padgham". The Open. Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
^ "Black and White Photos of SPGC History". Sundridge Park Golf Club. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
^ "Death of Mr A. H. Padgham". The Glasgow Herald. 5 March 1966. p. 5.
^ "Alfred Padgham's Title". Birmingham Gazette. 29 September 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Golf | Padgham's record round". Bromley & West Kent Mercury. 24 September 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Course record smashed". The Chronicle and Courier. 23 July 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Golf Course Record in Kent Professional Championship". Kentish Express. 24 September 1954. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[1] "Mr Alfred Padgham. The Times, 5 March 1966; pg. 10; Issue 56572.

[2] "1936 Alf Padgham". The Open. Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

[3] "Black and White Photos of SPGC History". Sundridge Park Golf Club. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[4] "Death of Mr A. H. Padgham". The Glasgow Herald. 5 March 1966. p. 5.

[5] "Alfred Padgham's Title". Birmingham Gazette. 29 September 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Golf | Padgham's record round". Bromley & West Kent Mercury. 24 September 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[7] "Course record smashed". The Chronicle and Courier. 23 July 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Golf Course Record in Kent Professional Championship". Kentish Express. 24 September 1954. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|English professional golfer (1906–1966)}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
 {{Infobox golfer
 | name              = Alf Padgham
@@ Line 8: / Line 9: @@
 | nickname          =
 | birth_date        = {{Birth date|1906|7|2|df=y}}
-| birth_place       = [[Caterham]], England
+| birth_place       = [[Caterham]], Surrey, England, United Kingdom
 | death_date        = {{Death date and age|1966|3|4|1906|7|2|df=y}}
-| death_place       = [[West Wickham]], England
+| death_place       = [[West Wickham]], Kent, England, United Kingdom
 | height            = <!-- {{height|ft=|in=}} OR {{height|m=|precision=0}} -->
 | weight            = <!-- {{convert| |lb|kg st|abbr=on}} OR {{convert| |kg|lb st|abbr=on}} -->
@@ Line 20: / Line 21: @@
 | status            = Professional
 | yearpro           = <!-- Year turned professional -->
-| retired           = <!-- Year retired -->
 | extour            = <!-- Former tours which a member of -->
-| prowins           = 16
+| prowins           = 21
 | pgawins           = <!-- Number of PGA Tour wins -->
 | eurowins          = <!-- Number of European Tour wins -->
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 | awardssection     = <!-- location of awards page or section -->
 }}
-'''Alfred Harry Padgham''' (2 July 1906 – 4 March 1966<ref>"Mr Alfred Padgham. ''The Times'', 5 March 1966; pg. 10; Issue 56572.</ref>) was one of the leading British [[professional golfer]]s of the 1930s and 1940s.
+'''Alfred Harry Padgham''' (2 July 1906 – 4 March 1966<ref>"Mr Alfred Padgham. ''The Times'', 5 March 1966; pg. 10; Issue 56572.</ref>) was one of the leading British [[professional golfer]]s of the 1930s and 1940s. He won the [[1936 Open Championship]] at [[Royal Liverpool Golf Club]] in [[Hoylake]], [[Merseyside]], England<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx#player=Alf+PADGHAM |title=1936 Alf Padgham |publisher=The Open |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126022629/http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx |archive-date=26 November 2011 |access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref> and played for Great Britain in the [[Ryder Cup]] in 1933, 1935 and 1937. He was captain of the Professional Golfers Association in 1936.
+==Early life==
-Padgham was born in [[Caterham]], Surrey. After finishing third at [[The Open Championship]] in 1934, and coming second in 1935, he won the 1936 Open at [[Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake|Hoylake]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx#player=Alf+PADGHAM |title=1936 Alf Padgham |publisher=The Open |accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref>
+Padgham was born in [[Caterham]], Surrey. His family had close ties to Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club in Sussex, where he served his apprenticeship under head professional Jack Rowe.
+==Career==
-Padgham played for Great Britain in the [[Ryder Cup]] in 1933, 1935 and 1937, but he lost all six of his matches. He had an ungainly style, but was at times a brilliant putter. He lost what might have been some of his best competitive years due to [[World War II]]. He was club professional at [http://62.49.137.115/index.php Sundridge Park Golf Club] in the south east suburbs of London for many years.
+As a tournament player, he came into prominence in 1931 when he won the [[News of the World Match Play]] at [[Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club]], beating [[Mark Seymour (golfer)|Mark Seymour]] in the final and receiving £300 in prize money.
+On 20 May 1933, Padgham took part in an exhibition match against [[Percy Alliss]], as the main event at the opening of the reconstructed West course at Sundridge Park Golf Club, in the south east suburbs of London, near Sevenoaks in Kent. Members of the management committee at the Sundridge Park were impressed with Padgham's skill, so he was approached and he agreed to become the club professional, on a five-year contract, working as senior partner with present club pro Jack Randall, working in tandem. Padgham's many successes in tournament golf in the years to come, beside his work at the club, were of great delight of the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sundridgeparkgolfclub.co.uk/news.php?newsitem=304 |title=Black and White Photos of SPGC History |publisher=Sundridge Park Golf Club |access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref>
-Padgham died in [[West Wickham]], Greater London.
+He will be remembered most for his remarkable sequence of five victories between the autumn of 1935 and the summer of 1936. They included the News of the World Match Play for the second time, beating Percy Alliss in the final, and The Open Championship. He also captured the championships of Ireland, Germany and Holland.
-==Tournament wins==
-:''This list may be incomplete.''
+He built up slowly towards his Open Championship victory in 1936. He was fourth in 1932, seventh the following year, then third behind [[Henry Cotton (golfer)|Henry Cotton]] at Sandwich and second to [[Alf Perry]] at Muirfield in 1935 before the title became his at Royal Liverpool. On the longest course yet used for The Open at 7,708 yards, he came from behind with a last round of 71 to beat [[Jimmy Adams (golfer)|Jimmy Adams]] by a single stroke and Cotton by another stroke. On that final day, he had to break into the locked Hoylake pro shop to retrieve his clubs for an early tee time, but seemed completely unperturbed by the incident. On the final green he holed from 12 feet for a 3 to win.
+Despite seeming to be a good match-play competitor, winning the News of the World Match Play twice and once being beaten in the final by Cotton, he failed to win a single point in his three [[Ryder Cup]] appearances in 1933, 1935 and 1937.
+==Personal life and retirement==
+Padgham was a tall and thin man with a natural smooth swing, a lot similar to that of the great [[Harry Vardon]], but sometimes his putter let him down. Vardon, winner of six Open titles, had one word for Padgham's swing. He thought it "perfect". From a short, three-quarter backswing the club seemed to flow effortlessly into the ball and yet he was one of the longest hitters of his day.
+Padgham was not a charismatic person, usually dressed in dark clothes, often a raincoat. He was shy and quiet and only showed his sense of humour with close friends.
+He lost what might have been some of his best competitive years due to [[World War II]]. During the war, Padgham joined the full-time Special Police and part of the club house and golf course at Sundridge Park was used for military purpose. Nevertheless, in June 1940, Padgham took part in a 72-hole tournament at Sundridge Park, with gate receipts going to the Red Cross. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Padgham took part in many exhibition matches, the money going to good causes. In 1959, he was presented with a gold watch by Sundridge Park, for 25 years of service to the club. Unfortunately the watch did not go over his hand.
+Whilst Padgham was absent from the club through sickness in the beginning of the 1960s, his eldest son died, which added to his suffering. He retired from the club in 1965, with failing health, and was succeeded by [[George Will (golfer)|George Will]].
+Padgham died on 4 March 1966 at age 59 at his home in [[West Wickham]], Greater London, Kent.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E4BAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1aMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3765%2C867091 |title=Death of Mr A. H. Padgham |date=5 March 1966 |newspaper=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |page=5}}</ref>
+== Professional wins (21) ==
+{{incompletelist|date=February 2023}}
 *1931 [[News of the World Match Play]]
 *1932 [[Irish Open (golf)|Irish Open]]
+*1933 Sussex Professional Championship<ref>{{cite news |title=Alfred Padgham's Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/783644809/ |work=Birmingham Gazette |date=29 September 1933 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=10 February 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
-*1934 [[German Open (golf)|German Open]], [[Dunlop-Southport Tournament]], [[Yorkshire Evening News Tournament]]
+*1934 [[German Open (golf)|German Open]], [[Dunlop-Southport Tournament]], [[Yorkshire Evening News Tournament]], Kent President's Cup<ref>{{cite news |title=Golf {{!}} Padgham's record round |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004288/19340518/022/0002 |work=Bromley & West Kent Mercury |date=24 September 1954 |page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive |access-date=10 February 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
 *1935 [[News of the World Match Play]]
-*1936 '''[[The Open Championship]]''', Daily Mail Tournament, Silver King Tournament, [[Dunlop-Southport Tournament]], Western Province Championship (South Africa)
+*1936 '''[[The Open Championship]]''', [[Daily Mail Tournament]], [[Silver King Tournament]], [[Dunlop-Southport Tournament]], [[Western Province Open]]
-*1938 [[Dutch Open (golf)|Dutch Open]]
+*1938 [[Dutch Open (golf)|Dutch Open]], Kent Professional Championship
-*1939 Silver King Tournament, News Chronicle Tournament
+*1939 [[Silver King Tournament]], [[News Chronicle Tournament]]
-*1946 Daily Mail Tournament
+*1946 [[Daily Mail Tournament]]
-*1947 Silver King Tournament
+*1947 [[Silver King Tournament]]
+*1948 Kent President's Cup<ref>{{cite news |title=Course record smashed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/808257288/ |work=The Chronicle and Courier |date=23 July 1948 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=10 February 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
+*1954 Kent Professional Championship<ref>{{cite news |title=Golf Course Record in Kent Professional Championship |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19540924/202/0014 |work=Kentish Express |date=24 September 1954 |page=14 |via=British Newspaper Archive |access-date=10 February 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
 ==Major championships==
 ===Wins (1)===
 {|class="wikitable"
@@ Line 70: / Line 91: @@
 ===Results timeline===
+{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
-:''Note: The Open Championship was the only [[Men's major golf championships|major]] Padgham played in.''
-{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
 |- style="background:#eeeeee;"
 !align="left"|Tournament
@@ Line 85: / Line 105: @@
 !1939
 |-
-|[[The Open Championship]]
+|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
-|align="center"|T39
+|T39
-|align="center"|T40
+|T40
-|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|T4
+|style="background:yellow;"|T4
-|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|T7
+|style="background:yellow;"|T7
-|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|3
+|style="background:yellow;"|3
-|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|2
+|style="background:yellow;"|2
-|align="center" style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
+|style="background:lime;"|'''1'''
-|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|T7
+|style="background:yellow;"|T7
-|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|T4
+|style="background:yellow;"|T4
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
-|align="center"|DNP
 |}
-{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
+{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
 |- style="background:#eeeeee;"
 !align="left"|Tournament
@@ Line 111: / Line 131: @@
 !1949
 |-
-|[[The Open Championship]]
+|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
-|align="center"|NT
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
-|align="center"|NT
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
-|align="center"|NT
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
-|align="center"|NT
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
-|align="center"|NT
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
-|align="center"|NT
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT
+|T31
-|align="center"|T30
-|align="center"|T13
+|T13
-|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|T7
+|style="background:yellow;"|T7
-|align="center"|CUT
+|CUT
 |}
-{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
+{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
 |- style="background:#eeeeee;"
 !align="left"|Tournament
@@ Line 132: / Line 152: @@
 !1954
 |-
-|[[The Open Championship]]
+|align=left|[[The Open Championship]]
-|align="center"|T20
+|T20
-|align="center"|CUT
+|CUT
+|style="background:#eeeeee;"|
-|align="center"|DNP
-|align="center"|CUT
+|CUT
-|align="center"|CUT
+|CUT
 |}
+''Note: Padgham only played in [[The Open Championship]]''<br>
+{{legend|lime|Win}}
+{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
+{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
 NT = No tournament<br>
-DNP = Did not play<br>
 CUT = missed the half-way cut<br>
-"T" indicates a tie for a place<br>
+"T" indicates a tie for a place
-Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
+==Team appearances==
+*[[Ryder Cup]] (representing Great Britain): [[1933 Ryder Cup|1933]] (winners), [[1935 Ryder Cup|1935]], [[1937 Ryder Cup|1937]]
+*[[England–Scotland Professional Match]] (representing England): 1932 (winners), 1933 (winners), 1934 (winners), 1935 (winners), 1936 (winners), 1937 (winners), 1938 (winners)
+*[[England–Ireland Professional Match]] (representing England): 1932 (winners), 1933 (winners)
+*Coronation Match (representing the Ladies and Professionals): 1937
+*[[Llandudno International Golf Trophy]] (representing England): 1938 (winners)
 ==References==
@@ Line 157: / Line 185: @@
 }}
-{{Persondata
-| NAME              = Padgham, Alf
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Padgham, Alfred Harry
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional golfer
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = 2 July 1906
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    = Caterham, England
-| DATE OF DEATH     = 4 March 1966
-| PLACE OF DEATH    = West Wickham, England
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Padgham, Alf}}
-[[Category:English golfers]]
+[[Category:English male golfers]]
 [[Category:Winners of men's major golf championships]]
 [[Category:Ryder Cup competitors for Europe]]