USA 11 – 1 GB&I
September 1-2, 1961
Seattle Golf Club, Seattle, Washington
6,713 yards / Par 71
Captains: Jack Westland (USA) and Charles Lawrie (GB&I)
Day 1 Foursomes (USA players first)
Deane Beman / Jack Nicklaus beat James Walker / B.H.G. Chapman 6&5
Charles Coe / Don Cherry beat Maj David Blair / Martin Christmas 1 hole
William Hyndman III / Robert Gardner beat Joe Carr / Gordon Huddy 4&3
Robert Cochran / Eugene Andrews beat Michael Bonallack / Ronnie Shade 4&3
USA 4 GB&I 0
Day 2 Singles
Deane Beman beat Michael Bonallack 3&2
Charles Coe beat Michael Lunt 5&4
Dr. Frank Taylor Jr beat James Walker 3&2
William Hyndman III beat David Frame 7&6
Jack Nicklaus beat Joe Carr 6&4
Charles Smith lost to Martin Christmas 3&2
Robert Gardner beat Ronnie Shade 1 hole
Don Cherry beat Maj David Blair 5&4
USA 7 – GB&I 1
Match Result: USA 11 – GB&I 1
Series Results: USA 17 – GB&I 1 (after Match 18)
1961 U.S. Walker Cup Team
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Match Notes
The selection of Seattle G.C. meant 1961 was the first time the Walker Cup was played on the West Coast of America.
USA non-playing captain Jack Westland won the 1952 U.S. Amateur Championship at Seattle G.C. so there was a nice symmetry in his appointment. He played in the match in 1932, 1934 and 19 years later in 1953.
Mrs. Westland’s 1961 Walker Cup Badge (Photo: goldenageauctions.com)
Charles Lawrie, a Scottish International golfer, became the second GB&I captain not to have played in the match beforehand.
The USA picked four new caps all of whom were over 30 years old; Eugene Andrews (48), Robert Cochran (49), Robert Gardner (40) and Charles Smith (30).
The USA named three alternates 1) William J. Patton, 2) E. Harvie Ward and 3) Dr. Edgar R. Updegraff none of whom were ultimately required.
Martin Christmas (21), the youngest member of the GB&I team, prevented a complete whitewash in Seattle winning his Singles game against Charlie Smith 3&2. Ronnie Shade (22) was also competitive losing a tight singles to Robert Gardner on the final green.
Martin Christmas died in South Africa in June 2023 aged 83. After the Walker Cup in 1961 Martin was invited to become a member of The R&A. After he lost in Round 5 to Dr. Ronald Luceti, a Stanford graduate from California, he invited his opponent into the clubhouse for a post round drink. Upon being refused entry and being directed to the competitor’s marquee he immediately resigned his club membership. [Source: Halford Hewitt Obituary by James Twedell]
Joe Carr lost in the semi-final of the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach shortly after this match. Jack Nicklaus was the 1961 champion prior to turning professional.
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