He was runner-up in the Leeds Cup, twice made the cut in the Open Championship, twice qualified for the final stages of the News of the World Match Play, was twice runner-up in the Irish Professional Championship and was good enough to beat Harry Vardon in a match in 1905,[1] before his 18th birthday.

[6] Within weeks of this course record Snowball had his first position as a full professional, at the newly formed Blankney Golf Club.

[7] At the official opening of the course in late August 1904, Snowball, "who has been appointed professional of the Blankney Club", played an afternoon foursomes match partnered with Willie Gaudin.

[10] In July that year the Scarborough Town professional, Willie Gaudin, left for a new appointment at Royal Portrush[11] and Snowball joined him there, presumably as an assistant.

[10] Snowball played in the 1906 Open Championship at Muirfield in June, by which time he was the professional at Portmarnock Golf Club.

Now in the Irish section of the PGA he gained one of the two places for the 1906 News of the World Match Play finals at Notts Golf Club, finishing second in the qualifying event at Royal Dublin.

[1][15] Prior to the championship Snowball had played in an international match for Ireland against a weak Scottish team.

[20] After leaving Portmarnock because of ill-health[21] Snowball returned to Scarborough, was married to Maria Cox in 1909, and was involved in the creation of the North Cliff course and was the club's first professional.

[1] Snowball was killed in action in World War I in France, near Flanders in the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915, while serving as a corporal with the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 5th Battalion.

[1] The report of the battle read in part: "Poor Bertie Snowball, a letter had to be opened to get his young wife's address".

[29] On 1 January 1917 some benefit matches were arranged to raise money for the widows of Snowball and Andrew Simpson, another Carnoustie golfer who had died in action in France.