Considered the finest English golfer in the years between Harry Vardon and Nick Faldo’s successful reigns, Sir Henry Cotton had an attractive personality – combining, as it did, his cosmopolitan nature with the discipline of a sportsman. The same as occurred with Walter Hagen, he brought to golf a luxuriously fashionable style. “The best is always good enough for me”, was one of the favourite phrases of Cotton, well known for his appreciation of the good life, of champagne, caviar and tailor-made clothes. He was a true dandy.
Thomas Henry Cotton was born in Cheshire in 1907, to a middle-class family, and studied in a state school. It wasn’t until he turned 12 that he took up golf, changing from what had, until then, been his favourite sport, cricket (apparently he was banned from playing as a punishment). He took to it so well that just five years later, in 1924, he turned professional. It took him several more years, however, before he gained international recognition in the sport. In 1934 he won the British Open, repeating his success in 1937 and 1948. He was the only British golfer to win the title between 1914 and 1969.
Known for the phrase, “to be a champion, you have to act like one”, Cotton won 30 events in Europe, played in four Ryder Cups, and captained the Cup matches in 1947 and 1953.
He believed the low status of professional golfers at the time was unacceptable, and campaigned against this situation. He always insisted on being named an honorary member of any club he was associated with. He also helped establish the Golf Foundation, which enabled thousands of boys and girls to start playing golf. Nevertheless, it was the way he conducted himself, more than anything else, that helped professionals gain the respect they deserved.
His best season was 1937: he won a second British Open and several European tournaments.
He hardly competed in the US, only played the US Open during his years of splendour in the 1930s, and had no more opportunities because of World War II – during which he served his country in the Royal Air Force. He organised golf exhibitions to raise funds for the Red Cross, which earned him various honours.
After the end of the war, he returned to golf and won his third British Open, in 1948. He played the championship for the last time in 1977, at the age of 70.
Though he enjoyed the good life, Cotton also paid attention to his physical preparation and worked hard to fine-tune his game, at times until his hands bled.
Of course, he combined this dedication with the most expensive worldly pleasures: he always travelled in a Rolls Royce, stayed in the suite of a five-star hotel, and later moved to a spectacular mansion in the country, where he had a butler and other servants at his disposal.
When Cotton retired from competition, he became a journalist, writer (of a dozen books) and golf course designer. His designs, for example, included Penina on the Algarve in Portugal – a country which was his home for the last years of his life.
In recognition of his contribution to British golf, in 1968 the Royal and Ancient named him as an honorary member of the club, which – together with its US counterpart – has responsibility for the Rules of Golf throughout the world. In 1980 he was also named to golf’s World Hall of Fame.
He was knighted a few days before dying, in 1987, at the age of 80.
