bˈɔːɹn ɪn mˈɛdfɚd, mˌæsɐtʃˈuːsɪts, hiː wʌzɐ ɡɹˈændsʌn ʌv dʒˈeɪmz wˈɔːkɚ tˈʌfts, ðə fˈaʊndɚɹ ʌv pˈaɪnhɜːst ɹᵻzˈɔːɹt ɪn nˈɔːɹθ kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə, wˌɪtʃ wʌz lˈɔŋ ɐmˈɛɹɪkəz pɹiːˈɛmɪnənt ɡˈɑːlf ɹᵻzˈɔːɹt.
Born in Medford, Massachusetts, he was a grandson of James Walker Tufts, the founder of Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, which was long America's preeminent golf resort.