Johnny Laidlay is one of the greatest yet least recognized Scottish golfers. If history had been written differently, his name may have been much more familiar to the modern golfer. He used the overlapping grip that 90% of golfers currently use, prior to Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor popularizing it at the turn of the 20th century. The grip is now known as the Vardon Grip but could just as easily been called the Laidlay Grip. Laidlay enjoyed a long and distinguished run as a player and has been called, “the last of the gentleman golfers.”
His career highlights include:
-Won British Am in 1889 and 1891, runner-up three more times in 1888, 1890, and 1893
-Runner-up in the 1893 Open Championship
-Won over 130 amateur medals during his career
-Also played cricket for Scotland
In 1894, in an interview in “The Golfer” Laidlay was asked if he approved of constant practice…to which he answered: “For myself, I never practise. For instance this year I have only played three times since the first of May and I don’t think it would be any better for me if I played more. Golf can be overdone.”
