In those early days of golf—years before he would even be able to be considered a U.S. citizen— Oscar Bunn, Shinnecock Montauk, was a marquee name. Bunn had been taught club making and the game by Shinnecock’s Scottish professional, Willie Dunn. At the second U.S. Open, in 1896 at Shinnecock Hills, Oscar Smith Bunn, came in at 12th. He played in the 1899 U.S. Open at Roland Park Baltimore with John Shippen.

In Golf, By Appointment, June 1899 issue, writing about a course in Florida, we find: “The professional record of 36 plus 39 equals 75 is held by Oscar Bunn, the club instructor who, although young, has proved himself to be a first-rate golfer as well as a capital instructor and clubmaker.” In 1900, he was hand-picked to meet the titan Harry Vardon at Lake Placid, when the “Vardon Invasion” came to spread the gospel of golf. Bunn and Vardon would link up twice with Oscar winning the second match. In an article titled “Vardon’s Waterloo,” from The New York Argus, August 20, 1900, we find written, “Harry Vardon was defeated by Oscar Bunn, ‘The Indian’ ... 33—38.” In 1901, he set the course record at Quinapoxet, Connecticut.

The July 15, 1905, edition of the New York Times. The headline reads: “Indian Contestant Holds His Own Well Against Scotch Rivals.” Bunn represented Shinnecock Hills at Van Cortlandt Park. A review of the literature finds him listed as a professional at Shinnecock Hills, NY; Lake Placid, NY; New Britain, CT; Jacksonville, FL; and Ampersand in Saranac Lake, NY.

In 1917, Oscar would follow Mungo Park II to Argentina, to assist in building the first golf course there.

With the help of Historians Victorian Nenno and Rosemary Maravertz of the USGA, Dr. Mark Wagner and the Bunn-Martine family initiated a process whereby Oscar's portrait -- painted by David Bunn Martine -- now hangs in the USGA Hall of Fame in Pinehurst.