According to a story that has been passed down, one day in 1899, three golfers, George Crump (who later built Pine Valley Golf Club, about 45 miles away), William Poultney Smith (founding member of Pine Valley), and his brother Ab Smith, were playing together when Crump hit his second shot only inches from the cup on a par-four hole after his first shot had struck a bird in flight. Simultaneously, the Smith brothers exclaimed that Crump's shot was "a bird".
According to an account passed down through generations, one day in 1899, three golfers—George Crump (who later constructed Pine Valley Golf Club, approximately 45 miles away), William Poultney Smith (founder of Pine Valley), and his brother Ab Smith—were playing together when Crump hit his second shot very close to the cup on a par-four hole after his first shot had struck a bird in flight. Simultaneously, the Smith brothers noted that Crump's shot was "a bird."