NJSGA Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Spotlight: Oswald Kirkby
KENILWORTH, N.J. – Oswald Kirkby (1886-1934) was one of the leading golfers to help give New Jersey the national exposure it is so highly touted for in the golf sphere. His accomplishments were substantial both in this region and across the country. Kirkby won three New Jersey Amateur Championships in 1912, 1914 and 1916. He also collected three Metropolitan Amateur titles in 1914, 1916 and 1919.
Born in New York City and relocated to Englewood, New Jersey, Kirkby had a solid run throughout his amateur golf career, which spanned over a decade.
Prior to his first title, Kirkby came up short in both the New Jersey Amateur and the Metropolitan Amateur. However, 1912 was a turning point for Kirkby as he claimed the New Jersey Amateur at Atlantic City Country Club, defeating Jerome Travers of Upper Montclair. Kirkby and Travers had a long-standing rivalry. Journalists from the New York Times would refer to Kirkby to be under a spell of Travers when competing.
On the heels of a heartbreaking loss in the New Jersey Amateur and Met Am finals to Travers in 1911, Kirkby overcame those performance to take down the fellow New Jersey State Golf Association Hall of Fame inductee in the 1912 edition of the New Jersey Amateur.
In a 36-hole finale with Travers, Kirkby never trailed. He took a two-up lead early on but Travers knotted up the match through nine holes. After 18 holes, Kirbky led 2-up. The pair went back and forth in the final 18 holes, halving several holes, but Kirbky remained ahead. Kirkby ended up winning three of the final four holes to claim the significant victory. He went on to meet Travers in five of six of the local majors from 1911-13.
His breakthrough in stellar play remained consistent.
In 1912, Kirkby was tabbed one of six scratch golfers in the United States. The list, which featured Charles (Chick) Evans, Jr. of Chicago, Albert Seckel of Chicago, Jerome Travers of New Jersey, Walter Travis of New York, Fred Herreshoff of New York and Kirkby, was compiled by the United States Golf Association. The unofficial national ranking granted players access to the U.S. Amateur Championship, which was held September 2-7 at Chicago Golf Club.
His game continued to transcend for much of the 1910s and hit its peak in 1914, winning both the New Jersey and Metropolitan amateurs in the same year.
Kirkby was also a constant competitor in exhibition matches throughout the United States and Canada with other top players of the time. Locally, he was the leading player on the Englewood Golf Club team, and later the Knickerbocker Country Club team, both of which competed in the Bergen County Golf Association during the 1920s.
Following a successful golf career and business in insurance at the age of 48 years old, Kirkby passed away after suffering a bout of pneumonia. His legacy as a standout golfer would continue in the golf community for years to come.
The 2023 Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted on May 3, 2023 at Galloping Hill Golf Course. Tickets will be available March 1. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
All-Time NJSGA Hall of Fame Inductees
The NJSGA Hall of Fame, which launched in 2018, has inducted George A. Crump (2022), David Glenz (2022), Karen Noble (2022), Ed Whitman (2022), “Long” Jim Barnes (2021), Max Marston (2021), Marge Mason (2021), Leighton Calkins (2020), Michael Cestone (2020), Carolyn Cudone (2018), William Y. Dear (2018), Dr. Ralph Engel (2018), Johnny Farrell (2018), Leo Fraser (2019), Vic Ghezzi (2018), Charlotte Glutting (2018), Sherry Herman (2020), Arthur “Red” Hoffman (2018), Robert Housen (2018), Robert “Bobby” Jacobson (2019), Milton “Babe” Lichardus (2019), Nestor J. MacDonald (2018), Joseph McBride (2019), John McDermott (2020), Byron Nelson (2018), Maureen Orcutt (2018), Dorothy Germain Porter (2019), Chet Sanok (2018), John Shippen (2018), Allan Small (2020), Jeff Thomas (2019), Albert Warren Tillinghast (2018), Jerome Travers (2018), Dennis Walters (2019), Charles Whitehead (2018), Craig Wood (2019), and Billy Ziobro (2019).
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