Willie Campbell was born in Musselburgh and caddied for the three-time Open champion Bob Ferguson when he played on the local links. He played in five of the first six Open championships at Prestwick before finishing second in 1886, which was the closest he ever came to winning the event.
He had another near-miss the following year, actually, when the tournament was again played at Prestwick, where he had become the professional. Playing in torrential rain and a howling wind, Willie found a deep bunker (later named “Campbell’s Grave”) on the 16th and took several shots to extricate himself from the hazard, falling away into third place.
“Match play rather than stroke play was Campbell's forte, winning many money matches. In 1886, he defeated Willie Park twice over Musselburgh and North Berwick, beat the champion David Brown and had victories over Bob Martin and Willie Fernie,” commented Melvyn Morrow on golfclubatlas.com.
He moved on to Ranfurly Castle in Renfrewshire, where he designed the club’s 9-hole course and laid out several others (including The Machrie) before heading to America to become the first professional at Brookline Country Club in Boston.
“Campbell suffered from a rheumatic condition and immigrated to America in 1894 – setting up shop in Boston,” said Tom MacWood on golfclubatlas.com. “1894 was a critical year for golf in Boston and the United States. There were four major projects that year: the expansion of Brookline, the laying out of the first nines at Essex County, Quincy (Wollaston) and Mypoia Hunt. Campbell was responsible for all four. Considering the importance of these courses, particularly Brookline and Myopia, it’s surprising he hasn’t received more recognition.
Over the next few years, Willie continued to lay out courses throughout the region, including Oakley, Wannamoisett, Winchester, Worcester, New Bedford, Beaver Meadow and Franklin Park. Although not as prolific as some, he was without doubt one of the most important early golf architects, especially in America. Unfortunately, his place in American golf architecture history has been largely ignored.”
Campbell left the Country Club to become the professional at the Myopia Hunt Club in 1896. The following year, when the municipal authorities of Boston established a public links at Franklin Park, he was put in charge of the new golf operation and he served the city well for the next couple of years, despite his deteriorating health.
Sadly, Willie died a young man (aged 38) in 1900, leaving behind two children and his wife Georgina (also born in Musselburgh) who later became the first lady professional in the USA.
