Alfred Toogood

Alfred Henry Toogood, Sr. (1872 – July 1928) was an English professional golfer who played during the late 19th and early 20th century. Toogood finished fourth in the 1894 Open Championship and won £7. He also tied for ninth place in the 1895 Open Championship.

Early life Toogood lived at Eddington Road in the village of St Helens, located on the eastern side of the Isle of Wight. He was a frequent player at the Royal Links Club there. When he began to start a family he found it difficult to come up with enough money to play tournaments. He turned pro at the newly opened Eltham Warren Golf Club in London. He then worked at the Minchinhampton Golf Club in the Cotswolds (1895–1900), in Headingley at Leeds Golf Club (1900–1902), West Essex Golf Club (1902–1907), at Tramore in Ireland (1907–1909) and, finally, at Beckenham in Kent (1909–1911). His cousin Walter was also a professional golfer.

Golf career

1894 Open Championship The 1894 Open Championship was held 11–12 June at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. English professional J.H. Taylor won the Championship by five strokes from runner-up Douglas Rolland. In the 1905 News of the World PGA Match Play Championship, Toogood defeated Tom Simpson at the last-16 stage.

1905 Tooting Bec Cup Toogood won the 1905 Tooting Bec Cup. The event was a 36-hole stroke play event held on 3 May at Northwood Golf Club. James Braid led after the first round with a 74, with Toogood scoring 77. Braid had a poor second round of 79 and Toogood took the lead with a 73. J.H. Taylor missed an 8-foot putt to tie Toogood and finished second.

1907 London Professional Foursomes Tournament Toogood and Rowland Jones reached the final of the 1907 London Professional Foursomes Tournament. They were to play Ralph Smith and Albert Tingey, Sr. and the match was arranged for 27 February. However, Jones had arranged to play in Grand Duke Michael's Tournament in Cannes on 26 and 27 February and so could not play on the pre-arranged date. It was suggested that the final be postponed but it was argued that Jones should not have entered unless he was available and so Smith and Tingey claimed the final.

In late August a 108-hole match was arranged on the Isle of Wight between the finalists. 36 holes were played on three successive days on three different courses, at St Helens, the Needles and Sandown. Jones and Toogood, both of whom were from the Isle of Wight, won comfortably 12 and 10.

Family Toogood's son, Alf, was also a golf professional, winning the South Australian Professional Championship twice and the Tasmanian Open twice. His grandson, Peter Toogood, was a leading amateur golfer in the late 1940s and 1950s who won the Tasmanian Open eight times, including six consecutive: 1949, 1951, 1954–59. Peter Toogood was also the leading amateur four times in the Australian Open, and in 1954 was the leading amateur in The Open Championship.

Tournament wins (2) 1899 Midland Professional Championship 1905 Tooting Bec Cup

Results in major championships

Note: Toogood only played in The Open Championship.

DNP = Did not play CUT = Missed the half-way cut WD = Withdrew Yellow background for top-10

Team appearances England–Scotland Professional Match (representing England): 1904 (tie), 1905 (tie), 1906 (winners) 1907 (winners) Ireland–Scotland Professional Match (representing Ireland): 1907 (winners)