[2] He had a successful amateur career, winning a number of Irish championships and playing in the 1953 Walker Cup.

[5][6] In 1949, he won the inaugural Ulster Boys' Amateur Open Championship at Royal Belfast, beating John Glover at the 38th hole of the final.

[11] In early June, he won the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at County Louth, was a score of 306, three ahead of the field.

[12] Later in June, he won the Irish Amateur Open Championship at Portrush, beating Cecil Beamish 5&4 in the final.

[13] In July, he won the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Portrush, beating Billy Meharg 8&7 in the 36-hole final.

[15] His one failure came in September at the Irish Amateur Open Championship at Royal Belfast, where he lost at the last-16 stage.

[17] In 1953 the Men's Home Internationals were moved to an earlier date than usual, in June, at Killarney, the week before the Irish Amateur Open Championship which was also played there.

[20] Before the match, Drew played in the Canadian Amateur Championship at Kanawaki, Montreal, losing in the quarter-finals to Don Cherry.

[21] The Walker Cup match was played at the Kittansett Club in Massachusetts, the United States winning 9–3.

[23] Drew turned professional in November 1953, becoming an assistant to Sam Bacon at County Armagh.

[28] In 1957, Drew became an assistant again, to Sam Bacon at Knock, but it was only in early 1958 that he was reinstated as a member of the British PGA.

[31] 1959 was Drew's first full season on the British circuit and was to be his most successful, culminating with the Ryder Cup at Eldorado Golf Club, California, in November.

[32] Seven members of the 10-man British team were chosen using a Ryder Cup points system based on performances during the 1959 season.

[41][42] The season continued with Drew playing in the Amateurs–Professionals Match, winning the Irish Professional Championship and finishing joint runner-up in the Dunlop Masters behind Christy O'Connor Snr and level with Joe Carr.

[5] Gordon Drew is also a professional golfer, currently at Donaghadee Golf Club, County Down, Northern Ireland.