Francis Ouimet is regarded as the first golfer in America to break the barriers of golf’s elitist perception and bring the game to the masses. From his start a caddy to having one of the largest scholarship fund in the New England area became one of the most respected people in American golf.

Francis Ouimet grew up, in a working class family, across the street from The Country Club in Brookline. At the age of 11 Francis Ouimet began caddying at the Brookline Country Club. Later in life setting up a scholarship fund aimed at benefiting caddies wanting to further their education. As a player he began making a name for himself in local tournaments and in 1913 won the Massachusetts State Amateur Championship.

Francis Ouimet became a household name in 1913 by winning the US Open at The Country Club of Brookline. As an underdog he beat Harry Vardon and Ted Ray (the reigning British Open champion) in a 18 hole playoff. Ouimet leading by one stroke entering the 17 hole birdied to Harry Vardon’s bogey. This event inspired the book and later the movie of the same name “The Greatest Story Ever Played“.

After winning the US Open as an amateur Francis Ouimet won the US Amateur in 1914. While running a sporting goods store he lost his amateur status which was eventually reinstated. Francis was a member of the Walker Cup Team, 8 times as a player and four times as the captain, including the inaugural event in 1922. Ouimet won the US Amateur again in 1931 also he won the Massachusetts Amateur 6 times, the western amateur once, the North and South Amateur once, and the Massachusetts Open once.

In 1949 the Francis Ouimet Caddie Scholarship was founded. Today the fund is the second largest caddie scholarship fund in the USA. In 2005-2006 the fund awarded over one million dollars to 362 students; compared to its first year where $4600 was awarded to 13 students.

In 1951 the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews named Francis Ouimet their captain. He became the first American to be named their captain.

He has been called the “Father of American Golf”. After winning the US Open in 1913 participation in golf increased by over 500%, approximate values of 350,000 to 2,000,000 golfers, in 10 years. He was a true ambassador for the game golf by increasing the exposing more people to the game, representing the United Sates in The Walker Cup 12 times and a captain of he Royal and Ancient Club of St. Andrews and creating a scholarship fund for caddies. He not only promoted the game on and off the course but he very loyal to his roots in Massachusetts. Golf is lucky to be blessed to have Francis Ouimet as a competitor, supporter and promoter of the game.

Player Bio
Date of Birth: May 8, 1893
Date of Death: Sept. 2, 1967
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts

Tournament Accomplishmens
1909: Boston Interscholastic
1913: Massachusetts Amateur, U.S. Open
1914: U.S. Amateur, French Amateur, Massachusetts Amateur
1915: Massachusetts Amateur
1917: Western Amateur
1919: Massachusetts Amateur
1920: North and South Amateur
1922: Massachusetts Amateur, Houston Invitational
1923: St. George’s Challenge
1924: Crump Memorial
1925: Massachusetts Amateur, Golf Mashie Tournament
1927: Crump Memorial
1931: U.S. Amateur
1932: Massachusetts Open