Nelson Whitney established himself as a golf pioneer in the early 1900s. He was the only player to win the Southern Amateur Championships (which was a match play event from 1902-63) five times.

He won the title in 1907 (Atlanta), 1908 (Memphis), 1913 (Montgomery), 1914 (Memphis) and 1919 in New Orleans. He was also the runner-up three times in the Southern Championships.

His greatest individual feat was likely defeating the legendary Bobby Jones head-to-head in the semifinals of the 1907 Southern Championships.

In his only US Open appearance, Whitney tied for 40th place in the event at Columbia Country Club in Maryland.

He was inducted into the Southern Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1974.