The following photos were taken from "Present Day Golf" by George Duncan and Bernard Darwin 1921. The photographs are by G.W. Beldam.
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(Extract from the NFGC Achives)
"Lord Northcliffe appointed Abe Mitchell as Professional at North Foreland Golf Club on a five year contract which ran from 1920 to 1925. Having seen the success of other prominent Clubs who had offered well-known playing Professionals contracts, Lord Northcliffe was determined that North Foreland should follow suit. The employment of Abe Mitchell, "acknowledged as the greatest striker of a ball in his era", was hailed by the golfing Press of the day as a major benefit for the Club.
"Mitchell's greatest achievement was to win the British Match Play Championship (second only to the Open in prestige) in 1919, 1920 and 1929. His greatest stroke play success came in the Irish Open at Portmarnock in a three-way play-off, one of his opponents being his friend, George Duncan.
"Ironically, he did win an Open, though it was never recognized as such. A so-called Victory Open was staged at St Andrew's in 1919, and Mitchell and Duncan tied for first place on 312 aggregate. There was no play-off. They were due to play an exhibition match the following day (Abe with James Braid and Duncan with Harry Vardon), and they agreed that the one with the lower score would take the gold medal - it went to Mitchell.
"In 1925, at the end of his contract in 1925, Mitchell announced that he intended to live in America and play the United States Tour. One of his pupils said: "Don't do that, come and be my personal professional at my new club, The Verulam at St Albans, you can play any tour events you wish, and I'll support you", and a very generous offer of salary and expenses was accepted.
"Mitchell's employer and his brother were wealthy seed merchants in St Albans, and with their increased involvement in international professional golf, they encouraged the setting up of a biennial match between the Professionals of Great Britain and America. The unofficial first competition at Wentworth was a great success, and the brothers offered to donate a trophy. They kept their word ... It should be no great surprise to know that Abe Mitchell's employer was Samuel Ryder and that the trophy was, and still is, the RYDER CUP.
"It is a sad epitaph that Abe Mitchell is remembered as "the greatest golfer never to win the Open Championship". However, when the Ryder Cup is held aloft by the winning Captain, it is the golfing figure of Abe Mitchell on the lid of the fabulous gold trophy which will forever remain a memorial to a great player and a tribute to the foresight of Lord Northcliffe."