The phone rang. Nathaniel Crosby answered: “Hello?”
It was Wednesday, December 13, 2017, mid-morning on the east coast.
On the other end, a woman’s voice, unfamiliar to Nate.
“Hi, Nathaniel, this is Diana Murphy with the USGA.”
“Hi, Diana, what can I do for you?”
“Are you somewhere where we can talk?”
“Well, I’m driving, but that’s okay. Go ahead.”
“Well, if you think you’re safe to hear some news, then I’d like to tell you that you’ve been chosen as the Walker Cup captain!”
Doing his best to maintain his composure and keep from swerving off the road, Nate tried to focus on driving. He was elated with the news he had just received. Being a Walker Cup Captain was something he’d always had rattling around in the back of his mind as a possibility. To favorably move the process, he admits to “shamelessly lobbying for the job.”
Later that day, Crosby would espouse his sentiments to the world’s sports media relating:
I am thrilled and overwhelmed to be chosen captain of the next USA Walker Cup Team. It will again be a privilege to be a part of the Walker Cup competition that I was so fortunate to be a part of back in 1983. My experiences with the USGA, the Walker Cup Match and the World Amateur Team Championship have proved to be the most memorable weeks of my life, as I am sure it will be for the members of the 2019 Team. Many of my closest friends are former captains who will hopefully take the time to share their approaches in an effort to help me with my new responsibilities.
And with that, the newest chapter encircling Nathaniel Crosby’s golfing life was about to unfold and be memorialized. A growing compendium of golf reflections, when complete, would serve as another grand reflection recounting this newest Walker Cup adventure. Surely, it will weave a special memory in Nate’s heart and soul that will last for years to come—as it will with his players under Crosby’s captaincy, as Team USA bested Great Britain and Ireland 15 ½ to 10 ½.
Papa Bing would be, oh so proud!
So what got Nathaniel Crosby to be chosen as the Walker Cup captain? Here’s a look…
Growing up across the bay in Hillsborough, California, and being the youngest son of a golf-enamored, world-famous crooner—one who seems to have entertained as a means to pay his country club dues—set the stage for young Nate’s golfing aspirations. Golf was in Bing’s blood, and it would course through Nate’s veins even more.
From the time he was a wee lad attempting to swing a cut-down golf club for the first time in the Crosby family’s Hillsborough backyard, the golf path could be seen winding toward the horizon. Not long after, young Crosby would receive his first starter set of clubs from his godfather, and golfing icon, Jackie Burke, Jr.
Maurice Ver Brugge, the golf professional at Burlingame Country Club in Hillsborough, brought young Nathaniel under his coaching wing and developed him into a competent, talented player. Later, Nathaniel would hit thousands of balls with lessons provided by Bing’s friend and former touring professional, Toney Penna. Golf became a significant focus and profound influence in his life.
Was a sense of spiritual magic evoked, invading the depths of Nate’s soul, thanks to Bing?
Due to Bing’s hands-on, watchful, loving support and tutelage—coupled with his renowned celebrity influence—Nate was compelled to chronicle his father’s impact in his book, published in 2016, entitled, 18 Holes with Bing: Golf, Life, and Lessons from Dad. Within its pages, he affectionately capitulates tribute towards his famous father and the game of golf:
“The happiest times of my childhood were spent on the golf course with him.”
With Bing’s paternal endearment, his son’s golf resume became one of substantial accomplishment—notwithstanding Nate’s athletic proclivity to seamlessly gripping and swinging a golf club.
“Dad didn’t realize that I was so smitten with the game that I envisioned becoming the best in the world. You don’t want to put a lid on anything. I was competing well, so there is no reason to put a lid on your aspirations.”
In 1981, four years after Bing’s passing, Nate, a University of Miami sophomore, arrived at the 37th hole with the match all square. Gripping his putter and standing just outside the first cut of the green at the Lake Course’s first hole, Crosby sank his 20-foot birdie attempt to win the 81st playing of the United States Amateur Championship held at San Francisco’s famed Olympic Club, laying claim to his name being etched on the prestigious Havemeyer Trophy.
In asking him what he considered to be his greatest golfing accomplishment, Nate replied:
“Without a doubt, it was winning the U.S. Amateur. Coming from four shots down on the tenth hole and winning in my hometown was huge, especially with The Olympic Club not being my home course. That U.S Amateur win is what opened the door for everything that followed. I would be ranked as the number three amateur by Golf Digest and would keep that ranking following my U.S. Open appearance the next year. Another great take away from that win actually took place a couple of weeks later. I was playing in a tournament, when Arnold Palmer came up to me in the locker room and shared something I will always remember:
‘Winning the U.S. Amateur was the greatest accomplishment I ever had. It was my highlight.’
Having my name on the Havemeyer Trophy alongside Jones, Nicklaus, Palmer—as well as Tiger Woods and other greats, is something special.
With the U.S. Amateur win, Nate qualified to be in the field the following year for the 1982 U.S. Open that convened at Pebble Beach—a course familiar to him due to his dad’s annual Pro-Am tournament played there. Nate began playing in his dad’s event at age 14. Two years later, in 1978, with his older brother, Harry, he would begin hosting the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am for the next seven years—a favored venue of PGA Tour players held annually at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Six years later, at age twenty, divine Crosby good fortune smiled down again. Nate made the cut, finished 59th overall, and captured low amateur honors for the tournament.
I then asked Nate to recount his fondest memory from playing in the 1982 U.S. Open.
I have some great take backs. On the downside, I made triple bogey on the 4th and made a quadruple-bogey nine on the 14th hole. At one point, I think I was only 3 back of the lead. My playing partners were David Graham, the defending U.S. Open champion and Phil Rogers. Despite my earlier hiccups on four and nine, I felt proud to have held the tee fourteen of eighteen tees.
On the 17th, I hit my 1 iron, hooking it to the back left pin placement to four feet. Unfortunately, I missed the birdie putt. After hitting my shot, David Graham came up to me and said: ‘Laddie, I think that’s the best shot I’ve ever seen in my life.’ Being on the Dias receiving the low amateur medal ahead of Tom Watson is a great memory, especially after what Tom had done to win the U.S. Open.
That same year following the U.S Open, he would be rostered as a member of the U.S. team that would compete in the World Amateur Team Championship in Switzerland. Perched atop that elite golfing pinnacle featuring the world’s best amateurs, Nate would shoot a 68, which propelled the U.S. team to their victory.
The following year he would again be tabbed to represent his country as a member of the victorious 1983 USA Walker Cup team matches winning 13½ to 10½. Those matches were played at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England — the site of this year’s Walker Cup matches. Nate’s stellar amateur status paved his way into playing in three Masters: 1982, 1983 and 1984, along with two British Opens in 1982 and 1983 prior to playing the European Tour.
With Nathaniel Crosby being chosen to represent the 2019 version of the Walker Cup as its captain, Nate would not disappoint.
I asked Nate what this version of the Walker Cup was all about for him. He replied, “To go back and visit old memories from the 1983 matches I played in really wasn’t that much for me. It was more about the players and creating a winning memory for them that would last a lifetime. The positive memories are more important, because of confidence-building for their long term playing careers.”
Those sentiments just might be the best ever offered by any team captain. Good on ya, Laddie!
On Friday, October 25, 2019, the USGA honored Nathaniel Crosby once again by naming him to repeat as the captain for the upcoming 2021 Walker Cup team. Following the announcement, Crosby conveyed:
“The 2019 Walker Cup experience was an unbelievable journey from start to finish, and I am honored to be allowed to once again guide an outstanding group of young men in 2021. As a member of the 1983 Walker Cup Team, I formed bonds and created friendships that have lasted a lifetime. I hope that I have left this year’s players with that same sense of excitement and honor, and I look forward to passing it on to our next group of players.”
The matches will be played at Seminole Golf Club in Juno, Florida, where Crosby is a member.
You can view the1981 U.S. Amateur video at: https://www.usopen.com/content/usga/home-page/videos/2016/09/01/1981-u-s–amateur-vignette-mp4-5107990318001.html
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