William Henry Horne (born 1880) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

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 in the top 10 in the Open Championship in 1909 and 1920 and was South African Open champion in 1919. He was a well-travelled professional and was also renowned for his long hitting.

Golf career

Horne was first professional at Royal Guernsey Golf Club in 1905. He then became the first professional at

Carlsbad Carlsbad may refer to: *Carlsbad, California, United States *Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States *Carlsbad, Texas, United States *Karlovy Vary Karlovy Vary (; german: Karlsbad, formerly also spelled ''Carlsbad'' in English) is a spa town, spa ...

Golf Club in 1906. Carlsbad is a spa town that was then part of Austria but is now in the Czech Republic. He was then at Beckenham Golf Club in 1907 and 1908 and at Chertsey Golf Club from 1909 to early 1912, when he resigned. He then moved to Greatstone Golf Club at Littlestone-on-Sea which he was representing when finishing third in the 1912 Baden-Baden Open Championship of Germany. Later in 1912 he travelled to New York and worked for a stunt as a "masked golfer" at the public golf course in

Van Cortlandt Park Van Cortlandt Park is a park located in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, it is managed with assistance from the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. The park, the city's third-lar ...

, New York. In early 1914, he became professional at Durban Golf Club in South Africa. In 1919, he won the South African Open by 9 strokes. He returned to England in late 1919 and played in a few tournaments in 1919 and 1920. In 1922, he became professional at Rye Country Club in New York. At the North Berwick Tournament in 1909, Horne set a record for the longest drive in a competition at 388 yards. At the 13th hole, played to a temporary green, Horne reached the green on the downhill sloping hole 12 yards short of the pin. There were initial reports that the drive was as much as 469 yards, but this seems to have been due to confusion about the tee used or the use of the temporary green. The distance was later measured.

Professional wins

*1909

Southern Professional Foursomes Tournament The London Professional Foursomes Tournament was a professional golf tournament played annually from 1907 to 1911. In 1909 the southern section of the PGA took over the organisation of the event which was called the Southern Professional Foursomes ...

(with James Batley) *1919 South African Open

Results in major championships

''Note: Horne only played in The Open Championship.''
NT = No tournament
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Family life

Horne was married to Hilda Barker, who was born on Guernsey. She left England in 1923 to join her husband. William and Hilda are both recorded in the 1940 US census living in

Harrison, New York Harrison is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States, northeast of Manhattan. The population was 28,218 at the 2020 census. History Harrison was established in 1696 by a patent granted by the British government to John Harrison a ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Horne, William Henry English male golfers Sportspeople from Dover, Kent 1880 births Year of death missing