Samuel Henry "Errie" Ball (November 14, 1910 – July 2, 2014) was a professional golfer best known for his long life and for having played in the first Augusta National tournament in 1934, the event now known as the Masters Tournament. Born in Wales, Ball emigrated to the United States as a young man and built a career primarily as a club professional and instructor while continuing to compete. In later years he became notable as the last living player who had competed in the inaugural Masters.

Early life and emigration

Ball was born in Bangor, a city in north-west Wales. He grew up in the surrounding county of Gwynedd and learned the game in a country with a deep golf tradition. In his twenties he moved to the United States at the request of family and to pursue opportunities in golf. His Welsh origins are often noted in biographies and histories of early American professionals; contemporary accounts call him Welsh by birth and, after many decades in America, American by residence.

Golf career and the 1934 Augusta field

Ball's competitive career spanned many decades, with his most visible early appearance coming at the first Augusta National tournament in 1934. That event later evolved into the Masters, one of golf's four major championships. Although Ball was never primarily known for major championship victories, he sustained a long presence in regional tournaments and served for many years as a club professional, teaching the game and managing golf facilities. He remained active in golf through the 1930s into the middle of the 20th century and continued to play and teach well beyond his competitive prime.

Personal life and longevity

Ball married Maxie, with whom he shared a marriage lasting 78 years. The couple had a daughter, Leslie. Errie Ball celebrated his 100th birthday in November 2010 and continued to be recognized by the golf community as one of the game's longest-lived figures. He spent his final years in Florida and died of natural causes in Stuart, Florida, on July 2, 2014, at the age of 103. His wife Maxie and their daughter survived him.

Legacy and notable facts

  • Full name: Samuel Henry "Errie" Ball.
  • Born in Bangor, county of Gwynedd, in north-west Wales.
  • Emigrated to the United States in his twenties and worked as a club professional and instructor.
  • Competitor at the first Augusta National tournament, 1934, and the last living participant from that field.
  • Turned 100 in November 2010 and died in Stuart, Florida, in 2014 at age 103.

Errie Ball's life links the early, formative years of organized professional golf in the United States with a modern era that remembers and honors pioneers of the game. As a teacher and club professional, his influence extended beyond tournament results to the many players and communities he served over a career that blended competition, instruction, and longevity.