James Braid was born in Earlsferry, Fife, Scotland and played golf from an early age, working as a clubmaker before turning professional in 1896. Initially his game was hindered by problems with his putting, but he overcame this after switching to an aluminium putter in 1900. He won The Open Championship in 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1910. In addition, Braid won four British PGA Matchplay Championships (1903, 1905, 1907 and 1911), as well as the 1910 French Open title. He was also runner-up in The Open Championship in 1897 and 1909. His 1906 victory in The Open Championship was the last successful defence of the title by a European until Pádraig Harrington replicated the feat in 2008.
In 1912, Braid scaled back his tournament golf, and became a club professional at Walton Heath. He developed a very successful career in golf course design, and is sometimes regarded as the "inventor" of the dogleg, although holes of similar design had been known for centuries (for example, the Road Hole at the Old Course at St Andrews). Among his designs are the "King's Course" and the "Queen's Course" at Gleneagles, and the 1926 remodelling of The Open Championship venue Carnoustie Golf Links.
Whitecraigs Golf Club
Club founded - 1905
Course opened - 1905
Course length - 6100 yards Par 70
William Fernie, the foremost West of Scotland course designer of his time (who included the Ailsa course at Turnberry amongst his commissions) laid out the course. Subsequently, in the nineteen thirties alterations were conducted under the supervision of James Braid. Whitecraigs has played host to numerous golfing events, none more prestigious than the visits of the American Ryder Cup teams of 1929 and 1933 that included such household names as Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen and Horton Smith. In 1976 Whitecraigs played host to the new event of the World Seniors’ Golf Championship and in 1983 the famous Jack Nicklaus arrived at the club to conduct an exhibition match and clinic. Throughout its one hundred years of history Whitecraigs has always been highly rated.
Club website - www.whitecraigsgolfclub.co.uk
The James Braid Golfing Society - www.thebraidsociety.com
The hints in the James Braid caches may require knowledge of golfing terms or rules. The rules of golf can be viewed online - Rules of Golf