James Ogilvie Fairlie

James Ogilvie Fairlie
— Golfer —

Fairlie in a formal pose, c. 1862
Personal information
Full name James Ogilvie Fairlie
Born (1809-10-10)10 October 1809
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Died 5 December 1870(1870-12-05) (aged 61)
Symington, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Nationality  Scotland
Spouse Anne Eliza MacLeod (m. 1840)
Elizabeth C. Houison-Crauford
Children 9
Career
Status Amateur
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament DNP
U.S. Open DNP
The Open Championship 8th: 1861
PGA Championship DNP
Fairlie with his grooms and the three principal steeplechasers in his stables. The painting was executed by John E. Ferneley, c. 1840.

James Ogilvie Fairlie (10 October 1809 – 5 December 1870) was a Scottish amateur golfer and aristocrat. Fairlie placed eighth in the 1861 Open Championship. He was a mentor to Old Tom Morris who named his son, James Ogilvie Fairlie Morris, after him.[1] Fairlie was a founding member of Prestwick Golf Club in 1851.

Playing on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Fairlie won the Silver Cross Medal in 1849, 1854, and 1860. He won the Gold Medal (King's Medal) in 1857 and 1862.

Fairlie served as the captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and was the principal organizer of the first Open Championship held at Prestwick in 1860. Fairlie was a friend and frequent playing partner of the Earl of Eglinton, Archibald Montgomerie,[2] who donated the "Challenge Belt" that was awarded to the Open Championship winner.[3]

Early life

Fairlie (left) with Old Tom Morris, c. 1850

Fairlie was born in Calcutta, West Bengal, India, on 10 October 1809.[4] He was the son of William Fairlie and Margaret Fairlie (née Ogilvie).[4][5] He took to the links as a youngster and quickly became an accomplished golfer.

His father was a partner in the banking firm of Fairlie, Bonner & Co. which was subsequently renamed Hartwell, Innes, Clerk, Brazier & Co. In William Fairlie's last will and testatment dated 9 October 1823, he bequeathed to his son the sum of £19,000 which was his share of the residuary estate, money that would not be his to spend until reaching the age of 25.[5]

In later life, as a result of his great wealth and social status, he name was often printed with the suffix "Esquire".[6]

Fairlie enjoyed participating in steeplechase and maintained a stable with several horses.[4]

Golf career

Open Championship organizer

Fairlie was the principal organizer of the first Open Championship held at Prestwick in 1860. With the untimely death of Allan Robertson, aged 42 in 1859, Prestwick members decided to conduct a challenge the following year that would determine the land's greatest golfer.

In a proposed competition for a "challenge belt", Fairlie sent out a series of letters to Blackheath, Perth, Edinburgh, Musselburgh and St. Andrews, inviting a player known as a "respectable caddie" to represent each of the clubs in a tournament to be held on 17 October 1860.[7]

1861 Open Championship

After first organizing the inaugural 1860 Open Championship, Fairlie became an entrant to actually play in the second Open Championship in 1861. The tournament was held at Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire, Scotland.

It was the first that allowed amateurs, as well as professionals, to enter. Ten professionals and eight amateurs contested the event, with Tom Morris, Sr. winning the championship by 4 shots from Willie Park, Sr. Fairlie's total was 184, giving him an eighth place finish in the tournament. He won no prize money due to his amateur status.[8]

Competitions at St. Andrews

Playing on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Fairlie won the Silver Cross Medal in 1849, 1854, and 1860. He won the Gold Medal (King's Medal) in 1857 and 1862. The two medals have been competed for since 1836 and 1837, respectively.[6]

While at St. Andrews, the English illustrator and painter Thomas Hodge produced a pen and monochrome watercolor depicting Fairlie on the links in the 1860s. The painting sold on 8 July 1999 at a Christie's auction in London, South Kensington, fetching $13,386 (£8,050).[9]

Military service

Fairlie served in the British military, achieving the rank of colonel.[6] He sometimes played golf with his friend and fellow veteran Vice Admiral William H. Heriot-Maitland-Dougall.

Death and legacy

Fairlie died on 5 December 1870 and is buried in the churchyard of Symington Parish Church, Symington, South Ayrshire, Scotland.[4] He is best remembered as the principal organizer of the inaugural 1860 Open Championship.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Lot 5: Original 1840s Salt Paper (Calotype) Photograph of J. O. Fairlie (Oldest Known Golf Related Photograph)". GreenJacketAuctions.com.
  2. ↑ Everard, H. S. C. (1907). "A History of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club St. Andrews from 1754-1900". Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Open – 4th Open – Prestwick 1863". Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Clan MacFarlane and associated clans genealogy". ClanMacFarlaneGenealogy.info.
  5. 1 2 "Fairlie v. Hartwell, Feb. 23 and 27, 1839". books.Google.com.
  6. 1 2 3 Clark, Edward (1875). Golf, a Royal and Ancient Game. R & R Clark, Edinburgh. pp. 85–86. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. 1 2 Joy, David (June 2003). "Prestwick Golf Club". Links Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "Thomas Hodge (1827–1907), Sale 8456, Lot 111". Christies.com. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
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