George Cumming

Education

Cumming finished in ninth place in the 1905 United States. Open.

Career

Cumming was often referred to as the “Dean of Canadian Professional Golfers” and his teachings as proprietor of the Toronto Golf Club launched the career of many of Canada’s best known professional golfers. He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum in 1971. Cumming was born in Bridge of Weir, Scotland, on 20 May 1879.

He was a championship player and a superb teacher of golf mechanics.

At age 10 he worked as a caddy at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club where he often caddied for Willie Campbell, one of the best players in Scotland. He was apprenticed at age 14 to the Forgan Golf Company in Glasgow as a club maker.

At 16 he moved to Dumfies and Galloway and eventually became head professional. Cumming was hired at age 21 as professional at the Toronto Golf Club and remained there for 50 years.

He had great success in four-ball matches with George Lyon.

In 1913 he partnered with Percy Barrett in a well-publicized match versus Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. He was described as a shorter hitter with a pleasant looking swing. He had strong hands and was a solid performer in all aspects of the game.

Golf course architecture

Cumming expanded the Mississauga Golf & Country Club – originally designed by Percy Barrett – to 18 holes in 1909.

The course started as 9 holes. In 1919 Donald Ross made several revisions.

Cumming is also responsible for the first 9 holes at the Idylwylde Golf and Country Club in Sudbury, Ontario, as well as Scarboro Golf and Country Club and Sarnia Golf and Curling Club. Cumming died on 26 March 1950 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

At the time of his death, he was Vice-President of the Canadian Professional Golfers" Association.

He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum in 1971.

Achievements

• He won the Canadian Open in 1905 and three of his assistants won the championship in the following years: Charles Murray, Albert Murray and Karl Keffer, each winning the championship twice. He carded rounds of 85-82-75-81=323 and won $30. As a player, Cumming won the Canadian Open in 1905 (score 148) and was second four times. He was ninth at the United States. Open at Myopia Hunt Club in 1905 and the next week won a 36-hole event at The Country Club in Brookline, near Boston.