Background
Ball was born in Bangor, Wales, in 1910.
Ball was born in Bangor, Wales, in 1910.
He was the last living person to compete in the first Masters and died at the age of 103. He acquired the nickname "Errie" from his family"s French maid who was tasked with caring for him and performing household duties. She had trouble pronouncing "Henry", hence the name Errie.
"My father’s name was William Henry Balliol
Back in those days, Henry became "Harry"," said Ball, prior to his 100th birthday party. We had a French maid at that time, and she said, ‘Why don’t you call him ‘Errie?’ And I’ve gone by that ever since.
I wouldn’t turn around if you called me Sam." The relationship continued the day Ball arrived in America—September 27, 1930—just as Jones clinched the Grand Slam with a victory in the United States. Amateur. Ball later assisted George Sargent, who became Professional Golf Association of America president
In 1933, Ball received a letter of recommendation from Jones that elevated him to his first head professional post at Mobile (Alabama) Country Club.
Ball was still competitive even into his late 40s. At age 47—in the 1958 Professional Golf Association Championship at Llanerch Country Club—he carded rounds of 79-72-72-73=296 and finished in a tie for 33rd place with Tom Talkington. Ball served as the head professional at Oak Park Country Club in Chicago, Illinois, for many years.
During the winter months he was the head professional at Tucson Country Club in Tucson, Arizona, where his tenure was 14 years, from 1951 through April 1, 1965.
In September 1964, Tucson Country Club president Doctor George Bland stated that, "What we need is a full-time pro. The size of the club (about 700 members) dictates this necessity.
We"ll have a hard time replacing Errie—we"re well aware of that." Ball, the last of the inaugural Masters field of 1934 and the Professional Golf Association of America’s oldest and longest-serving member, died July 2, 2014 at Martin Hospital South in Stuart, Florida, surrounded by his family. He was 103.