Archibald Simpson (14 March 1866 – January 1955) was an American professional golfer. He was also a golf course designer and a golf club maker. He was runner-up in

The Open Championship The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later t ...

1885 Events January–March * January 3– 4 – Sino-French War – Battle of Núi Bop: French troops under General Oscar de Négrier defeat a numerically superior Qing Chinese force, in northern Vietnam. * January 4 &ndash ...

(won by Bob Martin), and

1890 Events January–March * January 1 ** The Kingdom of Italy establishes Eritrea as its colony, in the Horn of Africa. ** In Michigan, the wooden steamer ''Mackinaw'' burns in a fire on the Black River. * January 2 ** The steamship '' ...

(won by John Ball).

Early years

Simpson was born on 14 March 1866 in Earlsferry, Fifeshire,

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...

, to Alexander Simpson and Mary Simpson née Stewart. His was a notable golfing family, which included an elder brother, Bob Simpson, a

Carnoustie Carnoustie (; sco, Carnoustie, gd, Càrn Ùstaidh) is a town and former police burgh in the subdivisions of Scotland, council area of Angus, Scotland. It is at the mouth of the Barry Burn on the North Sea coast. In the UK census 2011, 2011 ce ...

-based club maker. His cousin was the golfer James Braid. As a boy, Simpson was the favourite caddy of Sir Alexander Grant, principal of the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, and a regular at the Elie Golf Club course in Earlsferry, where Simpson grew up.

Family

On 28 April 1891, he married Isabella Leslie Low in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

at the Court House by warrant of Sheriff Substitute of the Lothian and Peebles. The Simpsons had four children—Archibald, Mary, Isabella and Grace. All of their children were born between 1893 and 1906. His wife Isabella was born at Panmore Works Cottages, Barry,

, on 21 July 1867. In the 1920s he applied for, and was granted,

American citizenship Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by the Constitut ...

George Low Sr. George Anderson Low Sr. (November 1, 1874 – April 17, 1950) was a Scottish-American professional golfer. Low finished tied for second place in the 1899 U.S. Open championship. In total, he had five top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open. He won the ...

apprenticed under Simpson in his club-making business.

Golf career

Fellow professional and golf historian Horace Hutchinson speculated that Simpson was first engaged in golf at

Bembridge Bembridge is a village and civil parish located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. It had a population of 3,848 according to the 2001 census of the United Kingdom, leading to the implausible claim by some residents that Bembridge ...

, before removing to

, and then several years at the end of the 19th century at Balgownie, near

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), ...

, where he partnered with Ben Sayers. He was a professional and greenkeeper at the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club course between 1894 and 1911, during which he designed the new Murcar Links course to the north in 1909. He is credited with building at least two other golf courses at Aberdeen city's Deeside Golf Club, the Blair's Course as well as the Haughton Course.

Later years

He was later a professional at Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club from 1890 to 1891,

Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick Golf Club is a golf course in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is approximately southwest of Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. Prestwick is a classic links course, built on the rolling sandy land between the beach and the hin ...

from 1892 to 1893, and Carnoustie Golf Links in 1891–92, 1893–94 and again in 1921, after spending 10 years in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

, US. In Scotland, aside from the Murcar Links course, he designed the courses at Balgownie Golf Club,

Nairn Nairn (; gd, Inbhir Narann) is a town and royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is an ancient fishing port and market town around east of Inverness, at the point where the River Nairn enters the Moray Firth. It is the t ...

, and Cruden Bay Golf Club (with Braid). He returned to the United States in 1922, where he designed the

Vincennes Vincennes (, ) is a commune in the Val-de-Marne department in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is next to but does not include the Château de Vincennes and Bois de Vincennes, which are attach ...

Country Club course in

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

, and became a professional member there. He later moved to Tam O'Shanter in Detroit and Clovernook Golf Club in

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state lin ...

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

, as well as working in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

, but retired in Detroit.

Death and legacy

Simpson died in 1955 in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

. He was undoubtedly a fine golfer but is primarily known for his club-making skills and golf course architecture.

Results in major championships

''Note: Simpson played only in

.''
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
? = competed, finish unknown
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

Team appearances

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Archie American male golfers Golf course architects Golf equipment manufacturers Golfers from Detroit People from Elie and Earlsferry Scottish emigrants to the United States Sportspeople from Fife 1866 births 1955 deaths