# Willie Fernie (golfer)

William Fernie (7 May 1855 – 24 June 1924) was a Scottish professional golfer and golf course architect from St Andrews. He won the 1883 Open Championship at Musselburgh Links. The tournament was scheduled to last four rounds of the nine-hole course on a Friday in November. Fernie tied with defending champion Bob Ferguson, with both men shooting 158. The following day Fernie won a playoff by a single stroke.

## Early life

Fernie was born in St Andrews, Scotland, on 7 May 1855.

## Golf career

Fernie was runner-up in the Open Championship in 1882, 1884, 1890 and 1891. When George Strath left Royal Troon in 1887, Fernie took over as club professional and served for 37 years only retiring in January 1924, a few months before his death. As a golf course designer he made alterations to the Old Course at St Andrews and Royal Troon, and designed Turnberry's Ailsa, Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club and Isle of Arran courses. He also designed Appleby Golf Club in 1903, and Dumfries and County Golf Club in 1912.

## Family

Two of his sons, Tom and Harry withdrew from 1924 Open qualifying at Royal Liverpool Golf Club because of their father's illness. Tom Fernie had finished fifth in the 1923 Open at Troon.

## Death and legacy

Fernie died in Glasgow, Scotland, on 24 June 1924. He is best remembered for winning the 1883 Open Championship and finishing second four times.

## Golf courses (original design)

* Appleby Golf Club
* Craigie Hill GC
* Drumpellier Golf Club
* Dumfries and County Golf Club
* Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club
* Elderslie Golf Club
* Erskine Golf Club
* Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club
* Gatehouse of Fleet Golf Club
* Greenock Whinhill Golf Club
* Lamlash Golf Club
* Machrie Bay Golf Club
* New Cumnock Golf Club
* Pitlochry Golf Club
* Ralston Golf Club
* Royal Troon (Relief Course)
* Sanquhar Golf Club
* Seacroft Golf Club
* Shiskine Golf Club
* Southerndown Golf Club
* Stirling Golf Club
* Strathaven Golf Club
* Strathendrick Golf Club
* Thornhill Golf Club
* Turnberry (Ailsa)
* Turnberry (Arran)
* Whitecraigs Golf Club
* Whitsand Bay GC

## Golf courses (renovation)

* Royal Troon (Old)
* St. Andrews (Old)

## Major championships
### Wins (1)

| Year | Championship | 18 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
| 1883 | The Open Championship | 2 shot lead | 38-37-40-43=158 | Playoff$^1$ | Bob Ferguson |
$^1$In a 36-hole playoff, Fernie defeated Ferguson by 1 stroke.

### Results timeline

| Tournament | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 |
| The Open Championship | T9 | | | | | | T8 |
| Tournament | 1880 | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 |
| The Open Championship | | 8 | 2 | 1 | T2 | T4 | T8 | T7 | 14 | 6 |
| Tournament | 1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 |
| The Open Championship | T2 | T2 | 8 | T23 | T5 | T6 | T3 | T22 | 7 | T5 |
| Tournament | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 |
| The Open Championship | CUT | CUT | T12 | T24 | CUT | T31 | CUT |
* Note: Fernie played only in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place

## Team appearances

* England–Scotland Professional Match (representing Scotland): 1903 (winners), 1904 (tie)