Henry William "Harry" Vardon was a man born in simpler times. Old Tom Morris and Willie Park, Sr were in their prime and Ulysses S Grant was one year into an eight year run as the 18th President of the United States.
Golf was growing as a popular sport. The gentlemen classes entered via the front door of their clubhouses and the lowly professionals through the back. But the man who would become one of the finest players of all time was not destined to be a golfer. His father had other plans.
Vardon was born on 9 May, 1870 in Grouville, Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, to Philippe and Elizabeth Vardon. They had a tough life, making do with whatever money Philippe could bring home from his work as a gardener. Philippe believed firmly that a man must have his trade. Anything as ridiculous as a golf professional would not be worth even considering. So as a boy, Vardon never really played golf at all. The town built their own course – now the respected Royal Jersey Golf Club – and that meant that money could be earned as a caddie. But he certainly did not entertain thoughts of membership. The game was not for his kind.
Vardon had five brothers and two sisters. Together they built their own golf course of sorts in the garden and it was here that Vardon learned how to strike the ball with a graceful upright swing that was never forced. A lesson for us all.
At the age of 13, Vardon became an apprentice gardener, which was a trade that suited his peaceful, calm demeanour quite perfectly. This mentality would filter through to the way he approached his sport. “Relaxation, added to a few necessary fundamental principles, is the basis of this great game,” he is on record as saying.
It was not until his late teens that he started to play the game properly. This was largely thanks to Vardon getting a job as gardener for Major Spofforth, a keen golfer and Captain of the club. He sometimes would ask young Vardon to accompany him for a round and soon spotted Vardon’s natural talent. As Spofforth would later relate, “I gave him one piece of advice: never give up the sport. It might prove useful in the future.”
Nevertheless, Vardon’s graceful game was still a hobby at best. His brother Tom had other ideas, though. Despite the advice of his father, Tom became a professional and, in search of competitive golf, made the crossing to England. His successes in tournaments were inspirational to Vardon. If Tom could do it, so could he.
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