He travelled to America in 1866 as the 23 year old representative of the Australian Company, McLean Brothers and Rigg, exporters of hardwood and construction products. Walter Travis married Anne Bent in 18890 and became an American citizen.

He played his first game of golf when 35 years of age, within a month he won the Oakland Golf Club handicap competitition, and four years later the USA Championship. Walter Travis was a brilliant golfer for 25 years and was known as the "The Old Man" and the dean of American golfers.

Walter Travis was Amateur Golf Champion of America in 1900, 1901 and 1904, and of England in 1904. He was the first American golfer to win the British Championship.

After his retirement from competitive golf, he became a golf course architect and was responsible for the designing and layout of American golf courses.

Other sites:
Walter J Travis Society
Wikipedia