HALLOWED GROUND
17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club
The First Open Championship Is Played at Prestwick
Prestwick is the “Home of The Open” and its original prize, the Challenge Belt, was first won there in 1860 by Willie Park Sr. Old Tom Morris, originally of St. Andrews, was the first “Keeper of the Green, Ball and Club Maker,” a title he held from 1851 to 1864 before returning to St. Andrews. Old Tom also designed and built the original 12-hole course. His son, Young Tom, won the belt four times consecutively and was therefore allowed to keep the prize, which is now displayed behind glass in the Prestwick clubhouse. Prestwick hosted the first ten Open Championships, and the course remained in the Open rota until 1925.
THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES — Back when the Traveling Duffer only dreamed of golf in its homeland, his reverence for the game led him to expect that a well-deserved, well-earned “snootiness” might exist at the old Scottish clubs. In his view, those halls and cases enshrining the origins of the game, and those halls where the living trustees and protectors of what he considered life’s greatest pursuit resided (except family and friends, of course—he’s currently gone limp on God and country), had earned that right. However, when TD finally gained the courage, the means and, frankly, the gall to set foot on a golf course in Scotland in 2010, he immediately found that these very people would be the artists who painted a canvas of fáilte and acceptance—even for someone who played off a “high-er” handicap, the one aspect of the game TD truly owns. David Fleming, the head golf professional at Prestwick, is a master of fáilte and welcome. He, along with assistant professional Jack, removed any thoughts of trepidation TD may have felt at this stop on his golf pilgrimage. The welcome at Prestwick is likely the warmest he has received at any club of this stature, and because of that, they should be very proud. And, on the subject of “fitting in,” it felt good to know that a member of the preceding group had played his tee shot off the train that runs along the cutter’s side of the first fairway—i.e., pants on, one leg at a time.
A THREE-BALL CHALLENGE. TD’s buddy Hardeep entrusted him with a sleeve of Taylor Mades to “plant” somewhere in Scotland, a task TD was able to complete fully during his round at Prestwick. Surprisingly, all three balls lasted fifteen holes. Then, on the 16th tee box, TD’s internal demon had to mention, “Gee, you haven’t lost a ball all day.” Naturally, TD managed to misplace (lose, plant) his first ball of the day with his drive at 16. Next, a nearly perfect drive on 18 spun into a small strip of rough between the 16th and 18th holes, and the second ball vanished. His drop fell 120 yards from the centre of the green—easy peasy. But the gods of Prestwick had not finished speaking, and wind-induced watering of the eyes caused him to blade this replacement ball under a tent that had been erected to celebrate the club’s 175th anniversary (yes, really). Mission accomplished. Three Taylor Mades duly planted at Prestwick: one having lasted nearly 16 holes, one lasting 17.5 holes, and one surviving only a single stroke.
IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. When TD stepped up to the first tee, Bobby, the starter, introduced him to Gareth and Thomas (whom, for whatever reason, TD continued to call Matthew for most of the day), father and son from London. The game was on, as was the challenge of finding a suitable route around Prestwick. TD almost never takes a caddie, although he thinks it is a truly honourable endeavour, and he has friends who have filled—and continue to fill—this role. But, as he’s in Scotland for likely as many as 20 rounds, he just can’t keep calling home for Mrs. TD to send him money. Gareth and Thomas were great partners as the threesome soldiered around that which is Prestwick. They discussed much about golf until TD finally ran out of things to say on hole 18.5.
EARLY GOLF RULES cited that the next tee box should be located only a few steps from the preceding green. Prestwick adheres, and this makes for some interesting interactions with other golfers. It was a fine day at Prestwick!
