William John Branch (20 February 1911 – 25 February 1985) was an English

professional golfer A professional golfer is somebody who receives payments or financial rewards in the sport of golf that are directly related to their skill or reputation. A person who earns money by teaching or playing golf is traditionally considered a "golf pr ...

. He finished 9th in the

1935 Open Championship The 1935 Open Championship was the 70th Open Championship, played 26–28 June at Muirfield in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. Alf Perry won his only major title, four strokes ahead of runner-up Alf Padgham. Qualifying took place on 24–25 ...

and won the Belgian Open 10 days later. His last major success was in the 1954

Gleneagles-Saxone Foursomes Tournament The Gleneagles Hotel Foursomes Tournament was a pro-am golf tournament played at the Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland. The event was held annually from 1953 to 1966. From 1953 to 1957 it was called the Gleneagles-Saxone Four ...

Golf career

Branch's father, Jack was a golf professional. Jack had been at Woolacombe Bay Golf Club in Devon and Stafford Castle but was professional at Alsager Golf Club in 1911 when Branch was born. Jack moved to

Henbury Henbury is a suburb of Bristol, England, approximately north west of the city centre. It was formerly a village in Gloucestershire and is now bordered by Westbury-on-Trym to the south; Brentry to the east and the Blaise Castle Estate, Blaise Ha ...

Golf Club near Bristol soon after Branch's birth and was professional there for 37 years until his death in 1949 aged 64. After leaving school Branch became an assistant to his father where he stayed until becoming an assistant at Leicestershire Golf Club in 1937. He left the Leicestershire club at the end of 1945 and was unattached for some time until joining Berkhamstead Golf Club in 1949 and then moving to

Ganton Golf Club Ganton Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course in Ganton, North Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1891, the course was initially designed by Tom Chisholm and Robert Bird, but modifications to the course have been made since by a number of people inclu ...

in 1951. He was professional at Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club in the 1960s eventually moving to

Fulford Golf Club Fulford Golf Club is a private golf club located approximately south of York, England. It was founded in 1906, moving to its current site, which had been approved by James Braid, in 1935. The golf course was designed by Charles MacKenzie, b ...

in 1971. Branch won the 1954

, in partnership with

Donald Cameron Donald Cameron may refer to: Scottish Clan Cameron * Donald Cameron of Lochiel (c. 1695 or 1700–1748), 19th Chief, and his descendants: ** Donald Cameron, 22nd Lochiel (1769–1832), 22nd Chief ** Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905), Scott ...

. He was runner-up in the 1950

Daily Telegraph Foursomes Tournament The Daily Telegraph Foursomes Tournament was a golf tournament played in England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northw ...

and joint runner-up in the 1953

Silver King Tournament The Silver King Tournament was a professional golf tournament played at Moor Park Golf Club near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The event was promoted by The Silvertown Company, manufacturer of the Silver King golf ball. It was held from 1936 to 1 ...

Tournament wins

*1930 PGA Assistants' Championship *1932 West of England Professional Championship *1935 Belgian Open *1936

Dunlop-Midland Professional Championship The Midland Professional Championship is an annual golf tournament played in the English Midlands. The event is organised by the Midlands Region of the Professional Golfers' Association. It is the oldest tournament in professional golf having be ...

*1954

(with

)

Results in major championships

''Note: Branch only played in The Open Championship.''
NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

England–Scotland Professional Match The England–Scotland Professional Match was an annual men's professional golf competition between teams representing England and Scotland. It was played from 1903 to the start of World War I and was then revived in 1932 and played until the star ...

(representing England): 1936 (winners) *

Slazenger Trophy The Slazenger Trophy was a men's professional team golf competition; one team representing Great Britain and Ireland, the other team representing the British Commonwealth and Empire. It was played just once, in 1956. Format The cup was contested o ...

(representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1956 (winners)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Branch, Bill English male golfers People from Alsager 1911 births 1985 deaths