W. C. Gaudin was the golf professional at my golf club - Dutchess Golf and Country Club in Poughkeepsie NY, USA - in 1906. What I know about W.C. (also called Will or Willie) is as follows:
- He was a member of the well know Gaudin golfing family from Jersey in the Channel Islands.
- In Recollections of My Early Golf Harry Vardon wrote that during his teenage years during which his golf play was limited "I played mostly with Willie Gaudin who subsequently went to America."
- He was the first professional at the Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club in North Yorkshire when the club was founded in 1903. He was also a club and ball maker.
- Per the Scarborough website, Gaudin left for Portrush in 1905 (which course in Portrush is not known).
- He became the professional at Dutchess in 1906. He went to the Midland Golf Club (Salisbury Links) in Garden City, Long Island in 1907.
- He participated in the U.S. Open in 1907 and finished in a tie for 30th place with a score of 325.
- In the 1920 U.S. Census his residence is listed as New York City and his occupation as golfer.
I am looking to "fill in the blanks" about Gaudin's activity pre-1902, in Portrush, and post-1907. I am also searching for a photograph and other artifacts related to him. Information that anyone can provide will be appreciated.
About Me
- Tom Buggy
- I am a historian at Dutchess Golf and Country Club in Poughkeepsie NY, USA. Our club was founded in 1897.
4 comments:
I have learned that Gaudin was a professional at the Bradford Golf Club in Yorshire from 1897 to 1902, at the Scarborough Siuthcliff Golf Club from 1903 to 1905, and at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Ireland in 1905.
A William Gaudin appears on a UK Incoming Passengers List in 1930 with a proposed address in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The occupation is listed as "None." I'm not sure if this is the same Gaudin. If it is, it's not clear if he was returning permanently or on a visit.
I have now found a New York Arrivals listing for a William Gaudin (same age) in October, 1930. The UK Arrival was June, 1930. Thus, it appears that this William Gaudin returned to America after a visit to the IK.
The Passenger Arrivals information in my previous comments must be related to another William Gaudin. I have obtained a New York City death record for the William Gaudin for whom I am seeking information. He died in NYC in 1921 of tuberculosis, which he apparently contracted around 1916.
I am still in search of information about his occupations between 1908 and his death in 1921. Various records as of different dates list his occupation as carpenter, golfer and clerk.
It appears that Gaudin maintained a residence in New York City at some point after 1907 and that he was in and out of golf. Family descendents mention that he was employed at Abercrombie & Fitch as a club maker at some point. In 1917 this company had a golf school in New York City with a resident professional. It is not known if Gaudin worked at the school.
A 1918 WWI Draft Registration record has his occupation as a carpenter working for the U.S. Government in Perryville, Maryland, site of a newly built munitions plant. As noted previously, the 1920 U.S. Census lists his occupation as golfer.
W.C. Gaudin died in New York City in August, 1921. The cause of death was tuberculosis. The death record lists his last occupation as clerk. It also mention that he was confined to a sanatorium in New York City beginning in January of 1921.
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