Shackamaxon Pro Faced Bobby Jones In Playoff For '23 Open Title

Just one year after accepting the job of head professional at Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains, Bobby Cruickshank found himself poised to win the 1923 U.S. Open at Inwood Country Club in Long Island.

All he had to do was defeat legendary Bobby Jones – the greatest golfer of his era – in a two-man playoff and he nearly did!

By the time Cruickshank had arrived in the United States in 1921 at age 25, he had already lived a full life. Married, he and his wife, Helen, left their native Scotland in February of that year. At the time, Scottish golfers had been at the forefront of the golf boom in this country and most found jobs in the golf industry here.

Cruickshank came from a poor childhood and was destined to meet films stars like Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Douglas Fairbanks as well as become one of the original inductees into the PGA Hall of Fame.

In 1909, a 15-year-old-Bobby and his younger brother, John, both caddies in Strathspey in Scotland had made an impression on Mrs. Isabella Usher, who was connected to a famous brewing family. Mrs. Usher offered to educate the Cruickshank boys at her expense and became their legal guardian.

Despite being short in stature, the 5-foot-4 Bobby was a gifted athlete. In his final year at school, 1912, Bobby set a record of 10.4 seconds in the 100-yard dash which would stand as the mark in Scotland until it was broken in 1960. He also excelled in boxing.

He was also progressing in the game of golf and at Braid Hills, he established a lifelong friendship with Tommy Armour, who would win three majors.

World War I, however, interrupted Cruickshank’s promising golf career. He and John enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders, and Armour joined the tank corps.

The brothers saw their first action in the Battle of the Somme in France in 1917. Sadly, John was one of 78 of the company of 110 who were killed a year later in the Battle of Ypres in Belgium.

According to an article published by The Scotsman newspaper, “Bobby sustained a leg wound in that same action and after convalescencing back home, returned to France in 1918. Within days, he was captured by the Germans and held at Arras. Who should he meet there but Sandy Armour, Tommy’s older brother and also an accomplished golfer.”

According to the article, Cruickshank managed to escape shortly before the Armistice and rejoined his regiment as a sergeant.

“With the war over, Bobby resumed his playing friendship with Tommy Armour, who had lost an eye in the war. This, said Bobby, was the key to Armour’s success as an outstanding putter,” the article recounted.

In each of the next two years Bobby won the Edinburgh Corporation Coronation Cup at Braid Hills, then the area’s top amateur tournament. Ironically, in 1919 it was Sandy Armour whom he defeated. In 1920, he reached the third round of the British Amateur Championship at Muirfield.

It was then, at age 26, that he made his decision to head to the United States. Within a year of arriving, he won the St. Joseph’s Open in Missouri, the Syracuse Open and the New York State Open.

In 1922, he reached the semifinals of the PGA Championship at Oakmont, then a match-play event, where he lost to eventual winner Gene Sarazen, another Hall of Famer.

Cruickshank, known as the “Wee Scot,” was a darling of the galleries, both for his diminutive size as well as his engaging personality.

At the 1923 U.S. Open at Inwood, Jones held a three-stroke lead through 54 holes, but struggled with his driver throughout the final round on Saturday afternoon.

Still with the lead heading to the 18th hole, Jones made a double-bogey 6 for a round of four-over-par 76 and eight-over 296 total. Cruickshank, playing behind Jones, had to birdie the last hole to tie Jones. He hit his approach shot to 5 feet to set up the birdie which forced the playoff.

During the 18-hole Sunday playoff, Jones and Cruickshank were tied heading to the 18th. After both players drove into the rough, Cruickshank lay up short of the green, but Jones went for it and hit a two-iron to eight feet. After Cruickshank failed to get up-and-down, Jones two-putted for the championship.

It was the first of Jones' four U.S. Open titles, equaling the tournament record.

In 1923, Cruickshank again reached the semifinal of the PGA Championship. He was also runner-up in the New Jersey State Open played at Englewood C.C. to Dave Campbell of Hollywood.

He was runner-up at the U.S. Open for a second time in 1932, losing by three shots to Sarazen, who played the final 28 holes in just 100 strokes.

Cruickshank had an excellent opportunity to finally win his first U.S. Open in 1934 at Merion. He led going into the 11th hole of the final round when his approach shot headed for a pond, but hit a rock and miraculously landed on the green. In his excitement, he threw his club in the air, which came down and gashed his skull, which would need several stitches.

He played the final seven holes in five over par to finish tied for third behind champion Olin Dutra and Sarazen. In 1937, he again finished third in the Open behind Ralph Guldahl, the head pro at nearby Braidburn (now Brooklake) Country Club in Florham Park, N.J., and runner-up Sam Snead. That came after he posted his top finish in The Masters in 1937 when he finished fourth.

Cruickshank stayed at Shackamaxon for four years (1922-26) as he began his legendary pro career.

He also served as a pro at Twin Hills C.C. (Conn.), and Country Club of Purchase (N.Y.). From 1932 to 1947, Bobby served as the head professional for the Country Club of Virginia. He left there, moving to Chartiers Country Club in Pittsburgh 1948 where he remained until his retirement in 1968. He was also a winter club pro at Gulfstream G.C. for four decades. He won six Virginia State Opens from 1933 to ’39.

Overall, he claimed 17 PGA victories, five of them coming in 1927, the same year he was runner-up in the Met Open. In 1927, he was the leading money winner on the tour with $17,800 in earnings.

The Wee Scot shot his age or better in 12 straight starts in PGA senior and stroke play events for at least a round. At age 79, he had two 75s and a 79. Also well-known as a fisherman and expert flycaster, he died in 1975 at age 80 in Delray Beach, Fla.

-- Mike Moretti