Bobby Kricashank: 'forgotten golfer' which was a sporting icon

When Scotsman Bobby Kricashank was taken to prisoners throughout the World War, he might have little imagined that he would later get everlasting fame within the US as a {golfing} legend.

Born within the grant-on-size in 1894, he survived the prisoner of the conflict camp and ultimately crossed the Atlantic to observe his {golfing} dream.

He went to win greater than 20 tournaments and is taken into account a recreation nice within the United States. But his story isn’t identified to return residence in Scotland.

Now the Highland course the place he discovered to play is offering golfers a “immersive” expertise in his honor, together with the chance to make use of the type of fashion performed with him within the Twenties and Thirties.

Bobby was born about 400 yards-or broadly from a cross-four length-gantown-on-on-spy golf course.

At that point, it was only a nine-hole course. But it was fairly massive for Billy.

He additionally labored there together with studying to play the sport.

Bobby later moved to Edinburgh the place he developed his schooling and sports activities abilities, leading to he ultimately pursued his {golfing} ambitions.

But world conflict got here in a means. Bobby signed up and managed to keep away from the horrors of Somme To seize solely by Germans.

He managed to flee from an influence camp in Aras, France.

Bobby joined a wave of Scottish golfers in 1921 and demanded success within the rising American golf scene.

It was there that he ultimately received a sequence of tournaments and ended the runner-up on the US Open in 1922 and 1923.

He performed with different nice folks within the area together with Bobby Jones and his {golfing} place noticed him rubbing shoulders with the Hollywood icon together with Charlie Chaplin.

He was elected in 1967 America Hall of Fame PGA – The highest honor may be the most effective on its membership or golf ambassadors.

Other nice folks of the sport embody Jack Nickoss and Arnold Palmer in the identical honor.

Bobby died in 1975 on the age of 80.

82 -year -old granddaughter Diana Smith, who lives in Georgia, United States, is pleased with her achievements.

BBC informed Scotland News, “He was one of the best people you could ever meet.”

“He loved the game very much. He, with a group of groups in states, literally began the concept of the Golf Tour.”

He mentioned, “We can tell you more than more laughter on golf course. He used to chase crocodiles with his club,” he mentioned.

“When he could not play golf anymore, he passed quickly.”

The remainder of the household of Diana and Bobby had been pleased with the brand new undertaking of their residence syllabus.

“We are thrilled. I know how much Grantown matters for my family and my grandfather. I am very proud of him. And I am happy that people are recognizing him.

“It is straightforward to neglect, however it was a really a part of the golf world and other people for this chance to know her, my coronary heart is nice.”

The Grantown -on -Spie Golf Club – which was installed in 1890 – has launched the Bobby Crickek Hicorie Experience.

Players can use a set of Hikari clubs and can see footage, photos and memorable to Bobby's exploits.

Club member Bill Mitchell, 90, Bobby Crickeshk is well remembered.

“I keep in mind he’s approaching trip and had an enormous American automobile,” he mentioned.

“I keep in mind he’s coming down one night time and his nephew was working towards bunker photographs.

“Bobby wore all the clothes in his dinner jacket, ready to go out for food with some friends.

“And he checked out his nephew and Bobby mentioned, 'Give me your veg and a ball and I offers you 10 photographs when you can hold it close to the opening.”

“And in fact he merely drove it out, six inches away, and his nephew had no likelihood.

“He was a class act, there is no doubt.”

He mentioned: “He had a super swing – a nonsense swing. A Vaggal went away.”

Steve Stuart of Grantown-on-Spie Golf Club is operating the undertaking.

“He won 25 tournaments in the US – I can't think of another Scott, who has done so,” he mentioned.

Mr. Stuart described Scottish Golf Tourism as “amazing” with the world's greatest programs.

“Most tourists go to meet him, but you have also found a lot of hidden gems and we like to think that we are one of them,” he mentioned. “So what we are trying to do should celebrate our unique sales point in Bobby Cricketer.

“Tourists can count on a real and emergent historical past lesson. And if they’ve by no means performed with Hikari golf equipment, it is vitally humorous.

“He played all his golf in America and he was a domestic name there.

“We generally come to Americans to see Bobby Kricashank's home to return right here and other people right here usually don’t reply very effectively as a result of nobody is but on it – however we intention to vary it.

“He really forgot the golfer. She was a cat in a golfer. Bobby Crickeshk deserves his place in history.”