Indefatigable Exmoor And the Western Amateur of 1904 As 97 of the nation’s top players made travel plans to compete at Exmoor ... Several days before the first day of play … The south wing of Exmoor’s clubhouse was destroyed by fire. Move the event to another club? “Never,” declared club President B. F. Cummins and his event committee. Determined to stage this prestigious tournament, Exmoor members rallied: • Tents were erected to accommodate officials Exmoor’s H. Chandler Egan Vanquishes Field • Members with club living quarters gave up their rooms to After his clubs were destroyed in the clubhouse fire of contestants 1904, Exmoor’s 21-year-old Harvard star borrowed a set • The dining room was re-arranged to enable food service of clubs and set a new course record of 70 in the qualifying rounds. The event was a resounding success and established Exmoor as a club capable of staging national golf championships. In match play, Egan marched through the field: Won 7 & 6 over G. A. Miller of Detroit Won 5 & 4 over A. C. Perry of Windsor, Ontario Won 5 & 4 over R. Hoagland of Hinsdale Golf Club Won 2 & 1 over Fay Ingalls of Cincinnati Won 6 & 5 over D. E. Sawyer of Wheaton As the Chicago Tribune reported: “Yesterday’s victory was one of class, and the honor went where it rightfully belonged. Twice champion of the west and once holder of the intercollegiate honor.” Two weeks later, Egan traveled to the U. S. Amateur Championship in Springfield, N.J where he defeated A. W. Tillinghast in the first round. In the final 36-hole match, he defeated Fred Herreshoff 8 & 6 to bring Exmoor its first national golf champion. Images of the 1904 Western Amateur Championship at Exmoor Walter Egan Alan Reid Louis James (1881-1971) Exmoor, Chicago Golf Club Glen View Club, Western Champion U.S. Amateur 1903 Champion, 1902 (left) Exmoor’s Golf Professional in 1904, Alec Taylor, a native of St. Andrews, Scotland (right) Players of 1904 (left) On the lawn, with burned clubhouse in background. (above) Exmoor rebuilds after the devastating clubhouse fire of 1904..