Henry Brown’s life is the perfect mix of grit, talent and charisma. Growing up in Augusta, Georgia, Brown’s early life was marked by trauma as one of ten siblings raised in the absence of a mother. His love of golf and his experiences working as a caddy at the elite Masters Tournament molded his identity and dreams.
Brown’s journey in golf started in his hometown of Chesterfield, where he honed his game on the area’s backyard greens and neighborhood fairways. He played with a cross-handed grip. This peculiar technique enabled him to contact the ball naturally with either his right hand or left hand, a rarity among most golfers. From when he was a teenager, he spent hundreds of hours playing at the Patch. This county-owned course was the favorite hangout of Augusta National caddies.
As a young man, Brown was a taxi driver in segregated Augusta. This job allowed him to rub elbows with all kinds of personalities, such as golfer Henry Elder, who played in the Masters. Their friendship was extremely meaningful to both of them. Brown was the first to greet Elder when he rolled up to Magnolia Lane in a red, custom-made limousine. That was the start of a special friendship that would tie their lives together in the game of golf.
Brown remembered that day vividly. He expressed his frustration to officials, saying, “If you set up this [qualifier] for me, you can even handcuff me between shots.” His enthusiasm for the game, though affected by defeats, was never diminished.
During his era of professional golf, Brown was particularly fond of Slazenger irons. He proved his greatness by being able to hit an iron from any spot on the golf course. His confidence was palpable as he claimed, “I’m No. 1. I can walk this course backwards. I know every blade of grass on it.” This self-assurance was evident during his time as a caddie for Elder, where he promised, “All I can promise is that he won’t be out-caddied.”
Brown’s exuberance and talent for the game did not escape attention. While attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open, Larry Adamson, the USGA’s director of championship administration, encountered Brown. It was just one of those fabulous moments in the qualification process. Adamson told us the story of how Brown insisted that P.J. Boatwright serve as his marker and scorekeeper during qualifying. But as it turned out, Adamson needed to tell him that “that’s not how golf worked.”
Even after this disappointment, Brown never lost faith in himself. He once wrote a letter to Adamson requesting another chance to try out for the U.S. Open: “I was not able to try to qualify for the U.S. Open, so if you would let me try wherever [when] I get out, I will be pleased.”
His tenacity extended beyond golf as well. During one period of his life, when he found himself in county jail, he expressed regret: “I was supposed to go to Atlanta [for a qualifier] at Horseshoe Bend. I could not because I am in the county jail and cannot get a bond out, so I hope that I can get another chance.”
Brown’s friends and compatriots in the sport treasured him. Lee Elder described him as someone who truly believed in his abilities: “Henry told the pro he was going to win the U.S. Open. He really believed that he could.” His confidence was not unfounded; Elder noted Brown’s impressive skills with both right- and left-handed shots: “He was that good… Most people would take that bet.”
Dave Wilmes, who became close with Brown after he moved to South Bend, Indiana, remarked on Brown’s character: “Henry Brown was a hell of a character — and a hell of a golfer… He was a wizard on the course with a super short game.”
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