John Ball Jr. was born in Hoylake, England in 1861. He grew up playing golf at Hoylake against Harold Hilton. Even though he was known as a shy man he had a high competitive spirit. John Ball Jr. won the British Amateur eight times and the British Open once. He was to British amateur golf as Bobby Jones was the amateur golf in America.

John Ball Jr. first began competing in the British Open at the age of fifteen, at St Andrews and finish 6th, and at the age of seventeen, in 1878 at Prestwick, he placed fifth. He played in his first British Amateur in 1875 and won his first British Amateur in 1888. In 1890 he was the first golfer to win the British Amateur and the British Open in the same year. The only other golfer to match this feat was Bobby Jones forty years later in 1930 won he captured the Grand Slam. John Ball r. went on to win the British Amateur six more times. The British Open win was the first by an amateur. He was also one win away from winning 100 matches in the British Amateur.

John Ball jr.’s swing had style and grace. Today his grip would be called unconventional as he gripped the club tightly and in the palms. He also refused to carry a niblick, a higher lofted iron similar to a 9 iron, and criticized the Royal and Ancient’s Rules Committee for allowing the niblick in competition.

His refusal to adopt new technologies, like the niblick, and his competitive spirit made him a master shot maker. He was a determined foe in all his matches making him difficult to beat. These traits translated into nine major victories in his golfing career.

John Ball Jr. Bio
Date of Birth: Dec. 24, 1861
Date of Death: Dec. 2, 1940
Birthplace: Hoylake, England

Major Championship Wins
1888: British Amateur Championship
1890: British Amateur Championship, British Open
1892: British Amateur Championship
1894: British Amateur Championship
1899: British Amateur Championship
1907: British Amateur Championship
1910: British Amateur Championship
1912: British Amateur Championship