William (Willie) Campbell


1862 - 1900

Golfer, golf course architect and club-maker. Born in Musselburgh (East Lothian), where he began his career as a caddy, including for Bob Ferguson (1846 - 1915) who went on to win the Open Championship three times. Campbell reached the top ten in the Open Championship eight times in the 1880s, with his best position as the runner-up in 1886 competition, played on Musselburgh Links Golf Course. He accepted many challenges to play for money, in which he was unbeaten, and became the professional at Prestwick in 1887, followed by North Berwick and then Ranfurly Castle Golf Club at Bridge of Weir. He also designed courses for Cowal Golf Club, Largs Golf Club, and Rothesay Golf Club, and the Machrie on Islay.

Campbell emigrated to USA in 1894, where he was runner-up in the first unofficial US Open the same year and was appointed the first professional at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. He became one of the most important early golf architects in the USA, laying out a number of courses.

He died in Boston (USA), aged only 38, and is buried there in Forest Hills Cemetery. His wife, Georgina, was the first ladies' professional in the USA at Franklin Park in Boston.


Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry arrow

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better