Harry Vardon – Golf’s First Superstar Part 1
Most of us are familiar with the Vardon trophy (awarded annually by the PGA to the Tour’s leader in scoring average) and some of us may be familiar with the Vardon grip (most of us use it) but few of us know who the heck he was or why these are named after him. Let’s take a closer look at golf’s first superstar.
First the basic facts. Vardon was born in Grouville, Jersey, Channel Islands. As a child growing up on the island of Jersey, he did not play much golf, but showed natural talent for the sport as a young caddie. His golf development was held back by poor family circumstances and a father who thought golf was a waste of time. Brother Tom actually made the move to England first to pursue a golf career. Harry followed Tom to England in the spring of 1890, taking a job as greenkeeper for a club in Yorkshire.
By his early 20s, Harry developed a demanding practice program, the most ambitious seen to that time. In 1896, Vardon won the first of his record six Open Championships (a record that still stands today). During his career, Vardon won 62 golf tournaments, including one run of 14 in a row, still a record to this day.
In 1900, he became golf’s first international celebrity when he toured the United States, playing in more than 80 matches and capping it off with a victory in the U.S. Open. He was golf’s first superstar.
Harry was the first professional golfer to play in Knickerbockers — the “proper” Englishman dressed in an uncomfortable shirt and tie with a buttoned jacket. Imagine playing in the heat wearing a suit. It boggles the mind.
Vardon was famous for the “Vardon Grip”, or overlapping grip, the grip most popular among professional golfers. In the Vardon grip, one places the little finger of the trailing hand (the one placed lower on the club – right hand for a right-handed player) in between the index and middle finger on the lead hand (the hand that is higher on the club). The lead-hand thumb should fit in the lifeline of the trailing hand. (Yes it is the same grip we use to lessen the influence of the right hand)
Vardon actually took up this grip after Johnny Laidlay, a champion Scottish amateur player, invented it. But history has credited Harry as the inventor of the grip.
Our next blog will discuss some obstacles life threw at Harry plus is he the author of the most popular golf book ever written?
