Joe Carr was the greatest Irish champion of all time who captured the 1953, ’58 and ’60 British Amateur titles, his parents were stewards of Portmarnock GC, in twelve East of Ireland titles, twelve West of Ireland titles, six Irish Amateur Close Championships, four Irish Amateur Opens, and three South of Ireland titles. He was a member of a record eleven Walker Cup teams from 1947 to 1967, including non-playing captain in 1965 and playing captain in 1967, First Irishman to play in the Masters and only amateur to appear in a Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf epsiode.
He was an amazing player, however, as an ambassador, his impact was even greater. In 1961 he became the first non-American to receive the USGA’s Bob Jones Award for distinguished sportsmanship. In 1967, the same year he became the first native Irishman to play in the Masters, he was given the Hagen Trophy for his contribution to Anglo-American goodwill. In 1991, he was chosen the captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the first Irishman to hold the post.
Carr was never an outstanding putter, which made his singles victory over Charlie Coe in the 1959 Walker Cup at Muirfield particularly memorable. Carr was 1 up with seven to play when someone in the large gallery inadvertently stepped on his putter, snapping it in two. Carr went to his 3-iron, and closed out the match with a 15-footer on the 35th green.
