Background
Fotheringham was born in Carnoustie, Scotland, on 9 July 1883.
Fotheringham was born in Carnoustie, Scotland, on 9 July 1883.
As a boy he caddied and apprenticed as a club maker. He finished tied for 13th place in the 1912 Open Championship held at Muirfield.
In 1903 he moved to Durban, South Africa, and took up a position as professional at the Royal Durban Golf Club and remained there until 1914. In 1914 he was posted as professional at the Williamsport Country Club in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The tournament was not held during the war years of 1917 and 1918.
Professional Golf Association Championship
Fotheringham played in the first two Professional Golf Association Championship tournaments, held in 1916 and 1919.
He lost his match in 1916 to Jim Barnes 8 and 7 but defeated Eddie Loos 8 and 6 in 1919 and finished the event tied for ninth place. He finished second in both the 1920 Philadelphia Open and the 1924 New Jersey Open.
He died at the Westwood Hall Nursing Home in West Long Branch, New Jersey, on 4 April 1971, aged 87, and was buried at Glenwood Cemetery. He was survived by a daughter, Valerie Fotheringham Brown.
Founding member of Professional Golf Association of America
He was one of the founding members of the Professional Golf Association of America and played in the first two Professional Golf Association Championship tournaments, in 1916 and 1919. Fotheringham is best known for being a founding member of the Professional Golf Association of America and for winning the South African Open five times.