Murray Crafter

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Murray Richard Crafter (December 1930 – 3 January 2017) was an Australian professional golfer from Adelaide. As a boy, he started in golf as a caddie at Kooyonga and practised hard, sometimes waking at 4:30am to fit in a full round before school. He turned professional in his teens and spent most of his career as a club professional, mainly associated with Glenelg Golf Club in South Australia. He also worked as a golf course designer later in life and remained active in the game for many years.

Crafter dominated South Australian golf in the 1950s and early 1960s, winning numerous state titles. He claimed the South Australian PGA Championship several times and won the South Australian Open on multiple occasions, along with other regional events such as the Grange Open (shared) and the West End Tournament (shared with Kel Nagle). He also had success in national and open events in Australia and made a notable overseas trip in 1960 to compete in Europe, returning to Australia to continue his club-professional and design work.

In 1960 Crafter travelled to Europe to compete on the British and continental circuits, earning top finishes before returning home to continue his career in Australia. Back in Australia, he served as a club professional at Glenelg and later at other clubs, while also working as a golf course designer. He contributed to the game beyond playing, sharing his knowledge through coaching and mentoring.

Crafter’s achievements and impact were recognised late in life. In 2011 he was inducted into the South Australian Golf Hall of Fame and also into Glenelg Golf Club’s Hall of Fame. He married in 1951 and had four children; his niece, Jane Crafter, is also a professional golfer. Murray Crafter passed away on 3 January 2017 at the age of 86.