Nathaniel Crosby - U.S. Walker Cup Captain

Nathaniel Patrick Crosby won the 1981 U.S. Amateur and played on the winning 1982 Eisenhower Trophy and 1983 Walker Cup teams. He turned professional but was later reinstated as an amateur. Crosby was born and raised in Hillsborough, California. He was the third and final child between Bing Crosby and actress Kathryn Grant. Although his father was a showbiz celebrity he was, in Nathaniel's words, "determined that we didn't grow up to be Hollywood brats." The family lived hundreds of miles from Los Angeles, in northern California, and Bing instilled a strong work ethic in his children. In the summer Nathaniel and his siblings worked sunup 'til sundown baling alfalfa and vaccinating cattle on the family ranch. Crosby stated later in life in his memoir 18 Holes with Bing, "I always longed for summer to end so I could go back to school." He had a cool relationship with his father and got into golf as a way to connect with his dad (who was a golf fanatic). Crosby states, “I learned golf so that I could spend more time with him." Crosby largely learned golf from the family's Irish nanny, Bridget. Bridget was also a pro golfer. Crosby won the club championship at the family's country club, Burlingame Country Club, at the age of 15. His father stated after the victory, "Today is the happiest day of my life." Crosby attended Burlingame High School and was on the golf team.

Crosby performed with his father, mother, brother, and sister in several Christmas television shows and at the London Palladium in 1976. He s… Read More