To understand the life of John Moffat and William Moffat it is necessary to observe the fact golf was a winter game in the northwest prior to 1915. The season began around October 1 and ended around May 1 the following spring. Why? The golf courses had no mechanized equipment to cut the grass. The grass grew very little during the fall and winter allowing the sheep to maintain the fairways at a playable length.<\/p>\n
The problem in researching these two early northwest professionals arose because many spellings for their names appeared in the newspapers. John Moffat appeared as John Moffit, John Moffet, John Moffatt, or Jack Moffatt. Even the engravings on the clubs the two produced has various spellings for their names.<\/p>\n
Please note: For clarity this article describes the life of John Moffat separate from William Moffat.<\/p>\n
Although the golfing season would end in about two months, John Moffat arrived at Waverley on March 25th<\/sup> 1900 with an outstanding resume. \u00a0Percy H. Blyth, a Waverley member, contacted his father Mr. Edward Blyth seeking his assistance to locate a young Scottish golf professional for his club.<\/p>\n The Oregonian March 25th<\/sup>, 1900<\/p>\n Waverley Secures Professional<\/p>\n \u201cThe Waverly Golf Club has been very fortunate in securing the services of a professional golf player, a gentleman especially imported for the club from the \u2018land of the heather\u2019. John Moffatt comes to Portland very highly recommended, not only by fellow-professionals, but by influential gentleman-players in the vicinity of Edinburgh. It was through the kindly offices of Edward l. Blyth, of Edinburgh, father of Percy Blyth, of this city, that the Waverley Club secured Moffatt\u2019s services.<\/p>\n Mr. Moffatt is a young, energetic player and comes to Portland from the Musselburgh Golf Links near Edinburgh- the oldest and most famous links in Scotland. Previous to coming here, he was in the employ of Willie Park, the champion professional golfer of Scotland. Through his long experience with Park, Moffatt has become not only a very expert player and teacher, but also a first-class maker of clubs and balls. Just now his time is very muck taken up with the giving of private instructions to beginners; some of the club\u2019s crack players are also going through a course of stunts under his guidance on the quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n For some reason from this moment onwards, John Moffatt is referred to Jack Moffat(t) during his entire career in the northwest. In the Edinburgh Times in March 10th<\/sup>, 1900 Willie Park praised his young apprentice as one of the most promising young professionals in the area. He wished John much success on the west coast of America.<\/p>\n Using the fact John Moffatt lived in Musselburgh and apprenticed under Willie Park, a search of the 1891 Scotland census in Ancestry revealed his family roots. David and Margaret lived on Links Pl adjacent to the old Musselburgh Golf Course. David did not work on the course. He owned his own bakery. The couple had eight children- seven boys and one girl. John Moffat, the eldest, born in 1879, chose golf as a future career. At age sixteen he left to school to begin his golf apprenticeship under the watchful eye of Willie Park Jr. Note: All Scottish census records listed the family surname as \u201cMoffat\u201d. On his arrival documents, John Moffat declared he was traveling to Portland, Oregon to be the professional and clubmaker at the Waverley.<\/p>\n L to R Jack Moffat\u00a0 \u00a0George Smith<\/p>\n From March 1900 until September 1905, Jack Moffat served the Waverley CC as their instructor, their club and ball maker during the winter months from Oct \u2013 April the following year. It is unclear where Moffat purchased his club heads, shafts, and ball making materials. These raw goods likely came from the Willie Park factory in Musselburgh. Jack assembled the rough heads and shafts. Then using metal and wood tools such as files, rasps and spokeshaves, he finished the clubs to match the players swing and playing ability. Jack then stamped the clubs indicating he had sold them.<\/p>\n Because Waverley only employed their professional during the winter months, newspaper records show him working at Gearhart on the Oregon coast renovating their course for summer play during 1901 \u2013 1903. For some reason he spent the 1904 summer at the Northland CC in Duluth, Minnesota. Duluth News-Tribune July 03 1904 \u201cMoffett Wins From Amateurs- In one of the best contests seen on the Northland golf links this season, Moffett, the professional of the club, defeated the best-ball of both WW Walker and Clarence Huist.\u201d Note the spelling for Jack Moffett.<\/p>\n It is unclear if Roderick Macleay, a Waverley member who won three successive PNGA Men\u2019s amateur titles (1903 \u2013 1905) utilized Jack Moffat as his instructor. Rudie Wilhelm won the 1901 Waverley caddy championship. Jack took him under his wing. Jack encouraged Rudie, a natural left-handed person, to switch to playing right-handed golf. Rudie won many championships during his Hall of Fame career including five Oregon State titles, two PNGA Men\u2019s titles and one Northwest Open title as an amateur.<\/p>\n Around 1899 railroad companies servicing California constructed golf courses and hotels to entice the eastern citizens to spend their winters in California, rather than the Carolinas and Florida. \u00a0To attract the eastern golf professionals westward, the hotels conducted lucrative professional exhibitions and tournaments. Many eastern professionals arrived in California around 1900. Jack Moffat was not the first golf professional to work at a golf club on the coast.<\/p>\n Following the model of the 1904 Olympic golf tournament in St Louis, PNGA President Stout encouraged his Waverley membership to host an even bigger showcase for golf. The Lewis & Clark Exposition promoted Oregon. The Lewis & Clark Exposition golf tournament boosted golfing interest throughout the northwest. Waverely advertised the Ladies\u2019, Mens\u2019 and Professional championships as the \u201cChampionships of the Pacific Coast\u201d. This event transformed the annual spring time PNGA championships into a two-week extravaganza for golf annually. For the next three decades the socialites of the northwest met every May or June at a private golf club in the northwest. Playing golf was not a prerequisite to attend. Violet Pooley Sweeny won the ladies title and Roderick Macleay the Men\u2019s. George Smith, from the famous Smith of St Andrews won the professional purse.<\/p>\n Jack Moffat Portland OR<\/p>\n With regard to Jack Moffat, the Victoria GC members attending the event enticed Moffat to head north in the fall to become their professional and greenskeeper. Until the summer of 1909 Jack served the Victoria members from September \u2013 the following May. For his summer assignment Jack worked at the St Charles CC and the Winnipeg GC.<\/p>\n In the September 28, 1907 edition of the Victoria Daily Times the following announcement appeared. \u201cLocally the golf season has not started, but in another week or so the links will be opened. Moffatt has returned from Winnipeg and not alone. He is now spending his honeymoon on the Oregon coast. And on his return to Victoria will again take up is duties with the local club.\u201d The Oregon State marriage records show Jack Brown Moffat and Truda Kuizenga married on September 25th<\/sup> 1907 in Portland, OR. The two had probably met while Jack served the Waverley CC. Truda worked as a stenographer for a local Portland business.<\/p>\n Jack Moffatt Victoria<\/p>\n The following announcement in the Edinburgh Times, Sept 07 1909 provided the clue to John Moffat\u2019s death on August 31, 1909. \u201cMr and Mrs. David Moffat and Mrs. John Moffat express their sincere gratitude to all their neighbours and friends who assisted them and for the sympathy extended for their recent bereavement.\u201d<\/p>\n For the details surrounding Jack (John) Moffat\u2019s death, the answer was found in a strange location. The Star-Phoenix newspaper in Saskatoon SK published the following announcement on Sept 8th<\/sup>, 1909. \u201cWord has just been received of the death of Jack Moffatt, the golf professional at the Victoria GC.\u201d The article described the circumstances surrounding his passing. Apparently, he and his wife spent the 1909 summer in Scotland visiting friends and in particular his mother. Prior to their departure from Victoria in June, Jack contracted a bad flu. The couple still departed on their journey. While in Scotland the illness grew worse. Finally in August Jack entered the hospital and died on August 30, 1909 from pneumonia.<\/p>\n Truda Moffat returned to Victoria in October 1909, sold all the couple\u2019s possessions at an auction conducted by Stewart Williams & Co in Victoria, and returned to Portland OR. According to Oregon State vital statistics, she remarried in August 1923 and died in Portland Oct 2, 1966.<\/p>\n The article now turns to William Moffat.<\/strong><\/p>\n From the 1891 Scotland census John Moffat had a younger brother William Moffat born in 1884. The 1901 census shows William working as an apprentice ball and club maker in the Willie Park factory in Musselburgh Scotland. After completing his apprenticeship, William Moffat assumed his first professional position at Royal Dornoch replacing long time professional TD Currie.<\/p>\n Jack probably encouraged William to join him at Waverley in the spring 1905. On his arrival documents, William declares \u201cHe is heading for Portland OR to work for his BROTHER.\u201d William\u2019s career is closely aligned with his older brother \u2018s career. For the summer 1905 employment, Jack probably recommended to the Northlands GC in Duluth Minnesota to hire his brother William. Newspaper accounts indicate William worked in Duluth during the summers from 1905 \u2013 1907. When Jack moved north to the Victoria GC in November 1905, again, he recommended William to Waverley. In 1906 Waverley hired the newly arrived Alex Duthie to be their professional. At this moment it is unclear where William (Willie) worked during the winter golfing season from 1906 \u2013 1909.<\/p>\n When Truda Moffat returned to Victoria in Sept 1909 accompanying her was William Moffat. Likely Willie knew the Victoria GC required a new golf professional to fill his brother\u2019s position. Victoria hired him. On his incoming travel documents, Willie declared his permanent residence as Harbor Springs GC in Michigan from 1908. Perhaps Willie spent the entire year living and working in Michigan. He returned to Scotland upon the announcement of his brother\u2019s death.<\/p>\n William Moffatt Victoria GC<\/p>\n During his tenure at the Victoria GC from Sept 1909 until winter 1915 it appears William resided permanently in Victoria except for the occasional summer visit to Musselburgh. During the Willie\u2019s residency at the Victoria GC, he played an important role in attracting Willie Park and David Brown trained golf professionals from Musselburgh to Victoria and the northwest. Bascially Willie supplied the United Services Golf Club at Esquimalt near Victoria with a well- trained golf professional when the need arose. Walter Giuthrie began his northwest career as Willie\u2019s Victoria GC assistant. After the War, Walter served the Nanaimo GC. Iin 1923 he assumed the head professional position at the newly constructed Wenatchee GC. He served the members until 1943.<\/p>\n L to R Phil Jefferson, Dave Findlay, Chester Horton, Chales lock, Alexduthie, William moffat, George Turnbull, Alf blinko, Ray Ball, Bob Johnstone, Guy Martinson, James Barnes.<\/p>\n Feb 1914 “Farewell Golf Tournament” for departure of James Barnes to Whitemarsh.<\/p>\n Jimmy Huish arrived in Victoria in 1912. He worked at United 1913 \u2013 1915, Colwood 1916 \u2013 1918, Vancouver 1919 \u2013 1925 and Marine Drive 1926 \u2013 1942.<\/p>\n Phil Jefferson began his northwest illustrious career in 1911 at the United Services Club in Victoria. \u00a0The Everett CC attracted him to their club in 1913. He served Everett for 16 years then moved to California. Phill encouraged his brother Joe to come to Seattle in 1915 to operate the new Jefferson Park Public Golf Course. Joe remained in that position for 30 years.<\/p>\n In 1915 William asked the Victoria GC for a leave of absence in order for him to join the British forces. The club refused the request. War records indicate Willie served in the Great War until 1918. Immigration records show he returned to Canada in 1920 seeking permanent residence and employment as a golf professional.<\/p>\n To show William Moffat\u2019s stature in the Edinburgh golfing community the following death announcement appeared in five local papers throughout the Midlothian region.<\/p>\n \u201cJanuary 19, 1940.<\/p>\n Musselburgh Golfer\u2019s Death<\/p>\n The death took place at his home in Musselburgh yesterday after a short illness of Mr. William Moffat who was one of the famous Old Musselburgh \u201cSchool of Golf\u201d professionals. Mr. Moffat served his apprenticeship in the work-shops of the late Willie Park Jr., British Open Champion, and after holding a club appointment at Dornoch, he went to America where he was a professional for twenty-six years. (1905 \u2013 1931) returning to his native Musselburgh about ten years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n At this time research has not shown where William moffat worked during the 1920\u2019s in north America. The museum has two hickory shafted clubs from the 1920\u2019s showing the name William Moffat. One in particular has his pre-WW1 Victoria Gc stamp. Willie may have sold this club after the War or Willie may have used his Victoria GC stamp for a period after the war.<\/p>\n William Moffat lined face late 1920’s<\/p>\n 1920’s club marked William Moffat Victoria<\/p>\n The Museum is on the search for any Jack Moffat(t) and William Moffat(t) stamped golf clubs<\/p>\n Contact email: office@bcgolfhouse.com<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What happened to Jack Moffat \u2013 the first golf professional in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3444\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/J.-Moffatt--186x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/J.-Moffat-3--300x245.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/J.-Moffat-1--300x252.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/J..-Moffat-Vic--300x236.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/W.-Moffat-93x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/W.-Moffatt-lines--300x245.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/NW-pros-14--300x115.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Wm-Moffat1--300x261.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n