He was helped out by the fact that twice British Open champion Willie Park, Jr., who would have been odds-on favorite if he had reached the United States in time to play, did not arrive in America until the day after the tournament.

The following year the Open was played at Foulis's home club, and he finished tied for third with Willie Dunn, Jr.

The most notable aspect of his game was his driving; it is said that he often drove over three hundred yards using the relatively primitive clubs of his day.

In response to the demands of the new ball they developed the "mashie-niblick", the modern 7-iron, which fell between the traditional mashie (5-iron) and niblick (9-iron), and patented the design.

His nephew, Jim, son of brother David, also a professional golfer, won the 1933 St. Paul Open.