Scotland’s ‘forgotten golfer’: Pow to sports icon

When Scotsman Bobby Kricashank was taken to prisoners during the World War, he could have little imagined that he would later get permanent fame in the US as a golfing legend.

Born in the grant-on-size in 1894, he survived the prisoner of the war camp and eventually crossed the Atlantic to follow his golfing dream.

He went to win more than 20 tournaments and is considered a game great in the United States. But his story is rarely known to return home in Scotland.

Now the Highland course where he learned to play is providing golfers a “immersive” experience in his honor, including the opportunity to use the style of style played with him in the 1920s and 1930s.

Bobby was born about 400 yards-or broadly from a cross-four length-gantown-on-on-spy golf course.

At that time, it was just a nine-hole course. But it was quite large for Billy.

He also worked there along with learning to play the game.

Bobby later moved to Edinburgh where he developed his education and sports skills, resulting in he eventually pursued his golfing ambitions.

But world war came in a way. Bobby signed up and managed to avoid the horrors of Somme To capture only by Germans.

He managed to escape from a power camp in Aras, France.

Bobby joined a wave of Scottish golfers in 1921 and demanded success in the growing American golf scene.

It was there that he eventually won a series of tournaments and ended the runner-up at the US Open in 1922 and 1923.

He played with other great people in the region including Bobby Jones and his golfing position saw him rubbing shoulders with the Hollywood icon including Charlie Chaplin.

He was elected in 1967 America Hall of Fame PGA – The highest honor can be the best on its membership or golf ambassadors.

Other great people of the game include Jack Nickoss and Arnold Palmer in the same honor.

Bobby died in 1975 at the age of 80.

82 -year -old granddaughter Diana Smith, who lives in Georgia, United States, is proud of her achievements.

BBC told Scotland News, “He was one of the best people you could ever meet.”

“He loved the game very much. He, with a group of groups in states, literally began the concept of the Golf Tour.”

He said, “We can tell you more than more laughter on golf course. He used to chase crocodiles with his club,” he said.

“When he could not play golf anymore, he passed quickly.”

The rest of the family of Diana and Bobby were happy with the new project in their home syllabus.

“We are thrilled. I know how much Grantown matters for my family and my grandfather. I am very proud of him. And I am happy that people are recognizing him.

“It is easy to forget, but it was a very part of the golf world and people for this opportunity to know her, my heart is good.”

The Grantown -on -Spie Golf Club – which was installed in 1890 – has launched the Bobby Crickek Hicorie Experience.

Players can use a set of Hikari clubs and can see footage, photos and memorable to Bobby’s exploits.

Club member Bill Mitchell, 90, Bobby Crickeshk is well remembered.

“I remember he is coming on vacation and had a big American car,” he said.

“I remember he is coming down one night and his nephew was practicing bunker shots.

“Bobby wore all the clothes in his dinner jacket, ready to go out for food with some friends.

“And he looked at his nephew and Bobby said, ‘Give me your veg and a ball and I will give you 10 shots if you can keep it near the hole.”

“And of course he simply drove it out, six inches away, and his nephew had no chance.

“He was a class act, there is no doubt.”

He said: “He had a super swing – a nonsense swing. A Vaggal went away.”

Steve Stuart of Grantown-on-Spie Golf Club is running the project.

“He won 25 tournaments in the US – I can’t think of another Scott, who has done so,” he said.

Mr. Stuart described Scottish Golf Tourism as “amazing” with the world’s best courses.

“Most tourists go to meet him, but you have also found a lot of hidden gems and we like to think that we are one of them,” he said. “So what we are trying to do should celebrate our unique sales point in Bobby Cricketer.

“Tourists can expect a true and emergent history lesson. And if they have never played with Hikari clubs, it is very funny.

“He played all his golf in America and he was a domestic name there.

“We sometimes come to Americans to see Bobby Kricashank’s house to come here and people here generally do not respond very well because no one is yet on it – but we aim to change it.

“He really forgot the golfer. She was a cat in a golfer. Bobby Crickeshk deserves his place in history.”