David Robertson (golfer)

David Robertson

Full name	David Donaldson Robertson
Date of birth	12 March 1869(1869-03-12)
Place of birth	Shawlands, Scotland
Date of death	13 September 1937(1937-09-13) (aged 68)
Place of death	Berkshire, England
School	Haileybury School Glasgow Academy
University	Glasgow University Christ's College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)	Solicitor
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Threequarters
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
	Cambridge University
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1893	Scotland	1	(0)

David Donaldson Robertson (21 March 1869 - 13 September 1937) was a British sportsman who represented Britain at golf in the 1900 Summer Olympics, and also played international rugby for the Scotland.

Personal history

Robertson was born in Shawlands, Glasgow, Scotland to William Alexander Robertson, a wine merchant.^[1] He was educated at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire before entering the Glasgow Academy; he later studied at Glasgow University before matriculating to Christ's College, Cambridge in 1889.^[2] He received his BA in 1893 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1895.^[1]

With the outbreak of the First World War, Robertson joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Anti-Aircraft Division.

Robertson died aged 68 in Idstone, Berkshire, England.^[3]

Rugby career

Robertson first came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge University in the 1892 Varsity match.^[2] The 1893 game was a huge disappointment after heavy rainfall turned the Queen's Club ground into mud. Although both teams came to the match with excellent reputations for exciting play, the game "degenerated into a scramble in the mud"; and the game ended in a nil-nil draw.^[4] While still representing Cambridge at club level, Robertson was selected Scotland for a rugby international against Wales as part of the 1893 Home Nations Championship.^[5] The Welsh used the four three-quarter tactic to great effect and Scotland were well beaten on their own ground, 9-0.^[6] The Scottish selectors acted angrily towards the back positions, making six changes. Robertson was one of those dropped, and never represented Scotland at rugby again.

Golf career

Olympic medal record
Men's Golf
Bronze	1900 Paris	Individual

In 1900 he won the bronze medal in the men's competition in golf at the Olympics.

Note that he was not the David Robertson who was banned from golf for twenty years for cheating - that incident took place in 1985, long after the death of this article's subject.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Robertson, David Donaldson in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958.
2. ^ ^{a b} Fletcher Robinson & Rugby (Part VI), bfronline.biz. Retrieved on 12 July 2009.
3. ^ David Robertson, sports-reference.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2009.
4. ^ Marshall, Howard; Jordon, J.P. (1951). Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match. London: Clerke & Cockeran. pp. 80–81. 
5. ^ David Robertson player profile scrum.com Retrieved on 12 July 2009.
6. ^ Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. p. 2:9. ISBN 0-460-07003-7. 
7. ^ "The 10 greatest cheats in sporting history". The Guardian (London). http://observer.guardian.co.uk/toptens/story/0,,1079053,00.html. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 

External links

• Profile

Persondata
Name	Robertson, David
Alternative names	Robertson, David Donaldson
Short description	Amateur golfer, rugby union player
Date of birth	12 March 1869
Place of birth	Shawlands, Scotland
Date of death	13 September 1937
Place of death	Berkshire, England