 Willie Dunn at the top of his swing Full shoulder turn, left heel off the ground, right foot pointed out, club is parallel at the top - looks like a pretty modern swing. |
Willie
Dunn was descended from a Scottish golfing clan that played an important
role in the earliest development of golf. The Dunn twins, Jamie and Willie Senior were born in Musselburgh Scotland in 1821. They both took up employment with the Gourlay family as apprentice ballmakers at Bruntsfield. They both played in many challenge matches between 1840-1860. Willie Dunn was keeper of the green at Blackheath Links until 1864 when he returned to Leith Thistle before settling at North Berwick. Willie had two sons who were Tom and Willie Junior. Young Willie served as professional at Westward Ho! for a few months in 1886, before moving to Biarritz in France. It was while he was in France that the Vanderbilt family invited him to Shinnecock Hills on Long Island as greenkeeper and professional. The course was a 12 holer to which Willie added a ladies course and then in 1895 combined the two into 18 holes. Willie remained at Shinnecock for several years and won the first unofficial US Open in 1894. |