Hilton was born in West Kirby and attended West Buckland School in Devon. In 1892, he won The Open Championship at Muirfield, becoming the second amateur to do so. He won again in 1897 at his home club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake. The only other amateurs who have won the Open Championship are John Ball and Bobby Jones. Hilton also won The Amateur Championship on four occasions, including 1911, when he became the only British player to win the British and U.S. Amateurs in the same year. Hilton retired with a 99–29 record at The Amateur Championship. From 1905 to 1915, Hilton was a member at Ashford Manor Golf Club in Middlesex, the club having been incorporated in 1902. In 1912, he played a major part in designing Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset which became an Open Championship qualifying course and one of the top 100 courses in the UK.
Hilton was also a golf writer. He was the first editor of Golf Monthly, and also the editor of Golf Illustrated. He also designed many courses and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978.
Tournament wins (47)
1889 Royal Liverpool Summer Lubbock Gold Medal, Royal Liverpool Autumn Kennard Gold Medal, Royal Liverpool St. Andrew's Gold Cross Medal, West Lancashire Golf Club Challenge Gold Medal, West Lancashire Golf Club Mayor's Prize, West Lancashire Golf Club St. Andrew's Challenge Gold Cross Medal
1891 Royal Liverpool Spring Club Gold Medal, Royal Liverpool Summer Lubbock Gold Medal, Birkdale Golf Club Crowther Cup
1892 The Open Championship, Formby Cullen Silver Medal, Royal Liverpool Summer Lubbock Gold Medal, West Lancashire Golf Club Gold Medal, West Lancashire Golf Club Silver Challenge Cup, West Lancashire Golf Club St. Andrew's Gold Cross, West Lancashire Golf Club Easter Challenge Cup, Southport Golf Club Pilkington Centenary Gold Medal,
1893 St. George's Challenge Cup, Formby Prestwich Gold Medal, Formby Cullen Silver Medal, Royal Liverpool Spring Club Gold Medal, Royal Liverpool Spring Connaught Challenge Star Medal, Royal Liverpool Autumn Kennard Gold Medal, West Lancashire Golf Club Cookson Prize, West Lancashire Golf Club Silver Cup, West Lancashire Golf Club St. Andrew's Challenge Gold Cross Medal, Lytham & St. Anne's Golf Club Silver Iron, Lytham & St. Anne's Golf Club Thistleton Medal
1899 Formby Prestwich Gold Medal, Formby Cullen Silver Medal, Formby St. Andrew's Medal, Royal Liverpool Spring Club Gold Medal, Royal Liverpool Spring Connaught Challenge Star Medal, Royal Liverpool Autumn Kennard Gold Medal, Royal Liverpool Milligan St. Andrew's Gold Cross
1900 The Amateur Championship, Irish Amateur Open Championship
1901 The Amateur Championship, Irish Amateur Open Championship
Note: Hilton only played in The Open Championship, U.S. Amateur, and The Amateur Championship. LA = Low amateur
M = Medalist
NYF = Tournament not yet founded NT = No tournament CUT = missed the half-way cut WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play