He was the son of William Ayton, one of the eleven founders of Street Andrews Golf Club in about 1843. Ayton was born on 25 May 1857 in Street Andrews, Scotland, to William Ayton, one of the eleven founders of Street Andrews Golf Club circa 1843.
He had three top-10 finishes in the Open Championship. He is best remembered for an event that never took place. Various sources (including his obituary in the Dundee Courier) refer to him taking 11 at the "Road hole" (the 17th) but a contemporary newspaper report gives his scores there as 6 and 7.
He also had top-10 finishes in the 1882 and 1888 Open Championships.
Ayton died in Street Andrews, Scotland, on 30 January 1931. He is best remembered for a fine third place finish in the 1885 Open Championship and for reputedly taking an 11 on the Road hole (#17) on the Old Course which, in fact, never happened.
