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A Golfing Tour of the United Kingdom by EDWARD S

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A Golfing Tour of the United Kingdom by EDWARD S 18 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 195S A Golfing Tour of the United Kingdom By EDWARD S. KNAPP, JR. USGA EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Every year a few doughty American ginia Water, which is to be the scene of golfers have a go at the British golf the 1953 Ryder Cup Match, October 2 championships. In 1952, their number and 3. soared above forty. In addition, hundreds A little more than two hours southeast travel abroad every year. There will be of London, on the Kent coast of the Eng­ a special lure this year, the coronation lish Channel, lie three of England's storied of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2. The seaside courses. The golfers' bible surely date falls conveniently between the British must contain a verse stating that God Amateur Championship at Hoylake, May created the East coast of Kent as a Gardeh 25-30, the British Women's Championship of Eden for golfers. Royal St. George's. at Royal Porthcawl, June 22-26, and the and Prince's, at Sandwich, and Royal British Open Championship at Carnoustie, Cinque Ports, at Deal, are ideal seaside July 6-11. links. St. George's and Deal have been The ambitious pilgrim also can take the scenes of many British Amateur and in the French Amateur at Chantilly, June Open Championships. At St. George's in 4-7, or the French Women's at St. Cloud, 1922, Hagen won his first British Open. June 12-14. Prince's has been completely rebuilt on Many who go to witness the pomp the same ground and is said to be su­ and circumstance of the coronation thus perior to its prewar predecessor. The can enjoy a golfing holiday. Guilford Hotel at Deal is within taxi or One does not have to be a champion­ walking distance of all three courses. ship contender, however, to enjoy the Leaving England and traveling north­ better known courses which should be ward along the North Sea coast, a golfer part of the itinerary of the golf lover in comes to the south shore of the Firth of Great Britain. Forth and the Scottish seaside links of North Berwick, Muirfield and Gullane* In the London Area The first of these was put to various In the London area there are many military uses during the war and has fine courses which are easily reached since been revitalized. Gullane has three by car or suburban train. Perhaps the fine, 18-hole courses. The Honourable best known is Sunningdale, 22 miles from Company of Edinburgh Golfers, founded Hyde Park Corner. The Old Course, scene in 1744, has played at Muirfield since of Bob Jones' 66 in the qualifying rounds 1891, and this course is considered one for the British Open of 1926, is one of of the grandest and most difficult tests the world's great inland courses and in the British Isles. All three clubs are will remind Americans of Pine Valley separated by not more than six or eight with a touch of heather. The New Course, miles and can be reached by bus from a little longer, has replaced the Old for Edinburgh in less than an hour. tournaments. The two courses combine Crossing the Firth of Forth and pro­ to challenge the tiger golfers and pro­ ceeding northeast, the golfer comes to vide as fine a test of inland golf as can St. Andrews, in Fifeshire. It is here that be found anywhere in the world. Other the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and its fine courses near London include Coombe ancestor, the Society of St. Andrews Hill, near New Maiden; Moor Park, at Golfers, have existed continuously since Rickmansworth, and Wentworth, at Vir­ 1754. The Old Course at St. Andrews USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1953 19 is the most famous in the world. It is Lytham and St. Anne's, set in an unpre- here that the ruling body of British golf possessing, built-up area a few hundred has sat for almost two centuries. It is yards from the Irish Sea. Don't let the here Old Tom Morris had his shop and setting deceive you. Here is one of the here that Bob J ones took the first trick greatest golf courses of them all. Here in his Grand Slam of 1930. From the Bob Jones won his first British Open in first tee of the Old Course, Francis Oui- 1926. The iron with which he made his met drove himself in as the only Ameri- historic second shot of 175 yards from £an captain of the Royal and Ancient a bunker to the middle of the seventeenth Golf Club. The very air enveloping this green in the fourth round still hangs in hit of Scotland smacks of golf. The Old the clubhouse. Course at St. Andrews is an absolute South of Blackpool are Formby and must for a golfing pilgrim. Birkdale, two fine championship courses North of S1. Andrews is Carnoustie, which can be reached easily by suburban within motoring distance of Dundee. The train or bus from Liverpool. Just south championship course is among the most of Liverpool, in Cheshire, is H oylake, the rugged tests of golf and will be the scene course of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. of this year's British Open Champion- This was the home of John Ball, eight ship. Another course, the Burnside, while times British Amateur Champion, and not quite so difficult, is nevertheless very Harold Hilton, the only English winner fine. of our Amateur Championship. Here, too, H the traveler has the time, a trip to Walter Hagen won his second British Lossiemouth, on the south coast of the Open in 1924, and Jones took the second Firth of Moray, and to Dornoch, far trick of his Grand Slam in 1930. The north, is worth-while. Both provide course can be reached in less than thirty wonderful golf and picturesque scenery. minutes by train from Liverpool and ranks high in the list of famous courses. In the central highlands of Scotland H the golfing pilgrim contemplates a is a resort hotel of international renown, trip to Northern Ireland, he will be well Gleneagles. Two fine inland courses, set repaid by playing Portmarnock, Royal in the matchless highland scenery, can Portrnsh and Royal County Down, which provide a complete golfing holiday in are quite according to British golfing themselves. tradition. Southward along the west coast of Scotland, past Glasgow and Ayr, is an Natural Courses area in which thousands of United States Many clubs, particularly in Scotland, aircraft landed after ferry trips during do not allow Sunday golf. St. Andrews, World War II. Before the B-17s and Carnoustie and certain other of the Scot- Commodores came, there had been golf tish courses are open to the public, and at its best on the seaside links of Troon, it is well to engage your starting times Prestwick and Turnberry. Many British well in advance. championships have been played at Troon Most of these courses have existed un- and Prestwick. In fact, the British Open changed for more than half a century. was held at Prestwick from 1860 through They have about them a natural, rather 1872, the first twelve years of its playing. than an artificial look. Climatic condi. Anent Turnberry, Henry Longhurst, the tions, the roll of the ground, generous British golf writer, refers to it as his use of rough, sometimes even heather, are favorite seaside course for a golfing the chief hazards, rather than traps or holiday. trees. Few who play them escape the Moving southward again into Lan- impression that here is golf at its best, cashire, one comes to Blackpool, the At- created not by the hand of man but by lantic City of England. Nearby is Royal the hand of God..
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