Henry Cotton (3 Open's, 4 Ryder Cup's, 2 Ryder Cup Captain's)
1907 - 1987
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Sir Thomas Henry Cotton, MBE (26 January 1907 – 22 December 1987), was an English professional golfer known for winning three Open Championships.Cotton started his career as a professional golfer at the age of 17 when he joined his younger brother Leslie as assistant teaching professional at Fulwell Golf Club under Fulwell's professional, George Oke, who had been at Honor Oak until 1921.[2][3][4]
Cotton was known for working extremely hard at his game, often practising until his hands bled. Cotton placed great emphasis upon accuracy and differed from modern golf teachers in the great emphasis he placed upon the role of the hands in the golf swing. Although emphasis was given to a correct grip, he also emphasised the need to build up the strength of the hands and forearms. The competition golfer, equipped with such assets could counter an off centre strike off the face of the club and still achieve a powerful, yet accurate shot. He also stated the need to "educate the hands" in that the competitive golfer had to achieve an awareness of the position of the hands during the golf swing itself, something modern teachers have not stressed greatly, preferring a more passive role for the hands.[citation needed]
He achieved fame during the 1930s and 1940s, with three victories in The Open Championship (1934, 1937, and 1948). His record round of 65, made during the 1934 Open Championship, led to the Dunlop golf company issuing the famous 'Dunlop 65' ball. Cotton placed 17 times in the top-10 at the Open. Cotton also succeeded in winning many titles on the European circuit during the 1930s. During this period he was a professional at the Ashridge Golf Club.[citation needed]
During World War II he served with the Royal Air Force, and raised money for the Red Cross by playing exhibition matches and shows. This earned him an MBE. At this time he was stationed at RAF Halton and was closely involved with what is now the Chiltern Forest Golf club. He added three holes to the course (taking it from 6 to 9) and made other improvements.[citation needed]
Cotton was a member of four British Ryder Cup teams, and served as captain of the team in 1947 and 1953. He competed only occasionally in the United States, without notable success.
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My Golfing Album.
England: Country Life, 1959. 248p, cloth. Cotton was for a decade before and after WW2 the shining example of British golfer. Many photos by Cotton. D&J C22690. More
Some Golfing 'IFs'.
United Kingdom: British Steel Golf Shafts, 1948. Very rare leather edition, not recorded anywhere. More
This Game of Golf.
England: Country Life, 1948. 248p. cloth Forword by Bernard Darwin. Cotton's best book, most photograph's taken by himself. D&J C23020. More
This Game of Golf.
England: Country Life, 1948. 248p. cloth Foreword by Bernard Darwin. Cotton's best book, most photograph's taken by himself. Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. D&J C23020. More
This Game of Golf.
England: Country Life, 1948. 248p. cloth Foreword by Bernard Darwin. Cotton's best book, most photograph's taken by himself. Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. D&J C23020. More
Golf Illustrated 1st July 1965
London: Golf Illustrated, 1965. Multi signed cover, amongst the others, Tony Lema, Peter Thomson, Sam Snead, Henry Cotton, Dai Rees, Kel Nagle, Winnie Palmer, Harry Weetman, Eric Brown, Doug Sanders, Gary Player and a few more. Very attractive cover of Troon Golf Clubs club house and 18th. More
Open Championship of Ireland
Belvoir Park Golf Links, Belfast: Golfing Union of Ireland, 1949. pp. rare programme to a great event. Won in 2016 by Rory Mclroy. The 1949 winner Harry Bradshaw won by 1 stroke over Bobby Locke. The first Irish Open in 1927 was played at Portmarnock Golf Club from 16 to..... More
Open Championship of Ireland
Royal Portrush Golf Links, Portrush: Golfing Union of Ireland, 1947. pp. rare programme to a great event. Won in 2016 by Rory Mclroy. The 1947 winner Harry Bradshaw won by 2 stroke over Flory van Donk The first Irish Open in 1927 was played at Portmarnock Golf Club from 16..... More
The Golf Course, Planning Design, Construction and Maintenance.
England: E & F.N. SPON, 1985. 212pp Foreword by Henry Cotton. Illustrated boards. Hard to find and important architecture title. D&J H10270. More
The Golf Course, Planning Design, Construction and Maintenance.
England: E & F.N. SPON, 1992. 212p Illustrated cloth. Foreword by Henry Cotton. Illustrated boards. Hard to find and important architecture title. Originally published in 1983 this being a reprinted edition from 1992. D&J H10270. More
The Golfers Companion.
England: Dent, 1938. 498p cloth edited by Lawless, reprinted edition 1st 1937. chapters by Bernard Darwin, Henry Cotton, Robert Browning, A.H. Padgham, Eleanor Helme, O.B. Keeler, and several more. Very nice copy in a hard to find Jacket. More
The Golfers Companion.
England: Dent, 1937. 498p cloth edited by Lawless. chapters by Bernard Darwin, Henry Cotton, Robert Browning, A.H. Padgham, Eleanor Helme, O.B. Keeler...... Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. More
ModernGolfing Methods by British and American experts; Special photographs of Harry Vardon, Archie Compston, Henry Cotton, George Duncan, Sandy Herd and Percy Alliss.
Scotland: Thornton and Company. 1933. 40p, illustrated wrappers. D&J M1390. More
Dinner Menu Signed! J.H. Taylor, Henry Cotton....; O.U.G.C. versus Mr J.H. Taylor's Team
Oxford: Oxford University, 1929. October 25th 1929. Dinner menu, signed by Open Champion's J.H. Taylor, Henry Cotton, Arthur Havers, C.A. Whitcombe. Attractive dinner menus signed by Pros and members of the University Team. More
The Open Championship 1948. Official Programme.
Muirfield: R & A, 1948. 8pp Henry Cotton's 3rd Open victory. Very good condition. Programme for the Final day, Friday. More
The Open Championship 1948. Official Programme.
Muirfield: R & A, 1948. 8pp Henry Cotton's 3rd Open victory. Very good condition. Programme for the Tuesday, final practice day. Friday programmes do come to the market, but virtually never a Tuesday. This has had the front wrapper professionally replaced with a facsimile, hardly noticable, the rest of the programme is. More
The Open Championship 1948. Official Programme.
Muirfield: R & A, 1948. 8p Henry Cotton's 3rd Open victory. Very good condition. Programme for the Final day, Monday. More
The Open Championship 1948. Official Programme.
Muirfield: R & A, 1948. 8p Henry Cotton's 3rd Open victory. Very good condition. Programme for the Final day, Tuesday. More
The Open Championship 1948. Official Programme.
Muirfield: R & A, 1948. 8p Henry Cotton's 3rd Open victory. Very good condition. Programme for the Final day, Thursday. More
The Open Championship 1968. Official Programme. SIGNED!
Carnoustie: R & A, 1968. 64pp. Early Open programme, won by Gary Player, previous winners as per cover, Tommy Armour, Henry Cotton and Ben Hogan, great programme, great course. Article THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP by Henry Longhurst. Programme signed on autograph page by Henry Cotton, Peter Thompson, Kel Nagle, Arnold Palmer..... More
cut autograph
ca. 1925. Fine example of all three Whitcombe brother's Reg, Ernest and Charles autograph's. Reg who won The Open. Reginald Arthur Whitcombe (10 April 1898 – 11 January 1957) was an English professional golfer. Whitcombe began his career at Came Down Golf Club in Dorset and served in the British..... More