James Alexander Barclay
Inducted: 2008
Jim Barclay
Category: Writer/Historian
Born: October 29, 1923
Place of Birth: Glasgow, Scotland
Death: December 3, 2011
Renowned as one of this country’s pre-eminent golf historians, Barclay is most famous for authoring Golf in Canada: A History – a book often referred to as Canada’s finest golf chronicle. Other notable works involve Canadian Professional Golfers – The Scottish Invasion of 1881 – 1933; The Toronto Terror; and St. George’s Golf and Country Club, Celebrating 75 Years. Barclay has also contributed to many other publications and served as volunteer curator of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum.
Author of:
- Golf in Canada: A History
- Canada’s Professional Golfers – The Scottish Invasion of 1881-1933
- The Toronto Terror: The Life and Times of Stanley Thompson Golf Course Architect
- St. George’s Golf & Country Club, Celebrating 75 Years (Published in 2004)
Contributor to:
- The Golf Historical Society of Canada newsletter
- Golf Canada Magazine
- Score Golf Magazine
- Canadian Banker’s Magazine
- Golfiana Magazine
Other works:
- Manuscript completed on the life of Alexa Sterling Fraser
Other Items of Note:
- Announced as a 2006 inductee to the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame
- Served as volunteer curator of the RCGA Museum and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame for several years
- Responsible for running the Canadian Golf Foundation from 1983 to 1986
- His indices (index) to the Canadian Golfer, Canadian Sport Monthly, among other publications have made it possible to successfully reference the history of clubs and tournaments throughout Canada, specifically during the years between the wars.
Awards:
- Inducted to St.George’s Golf & Country Club Hall of Fame in 2011
Resources:
Photos of Jim Barclay from our collection.