He began his working life as an apprentice to a clubmaker and sometimes partnered Old Tom Morris in the challenge matches which were a feature of golf at the time.

[4] Strath won The Open Championship in 1865,[5] becoming the only man to break the early domination of the event by Willie Park, Sr. and the two Tom Morrises, father and son.

His winning scorecard is on display in the clubhouse at Prestwick Golf Club, which also possesses Strath's application letter for the post of keeper of the green in 1865.

In 1865, he had succeeded Charlie Hunter, who moved to Blackheath less than a year after taking over from Old Tom Morris as green keeper at Prestwick.

Strath's tenure only lasted three years as he died in Prestwick golfhouse[6] of "pneumonia running on to phthisis"[6] (i.e. tuberculosis) at the age of 30.