Golf Central

Most golfers born since the 1940s probably wouldn't even know of the stymie, which made golf a heck of a lot more evil and - possibly - a bit more fun.

In singles match play, until 1951, that is, players didn't mark their balls on the green and weren't lifted unless they were laying six inches apart or closer. So, a clever player who was behind on a hole could use a clever putt, and roll his ball in between the hole and his opponent's ball, thereby forcing said opponent to have to putt around or over the ball in the path.

Sound a bit like snooker? ...

Imagine if you had to go to job interview with your potential boss for four days straight, and pass every question perfectly -- and then had to do it again -- for another four days straight, perfectly.

And then, when you pass that stage, at the final stage when you might actually get the job, you have another series of six more interviews, and better-qualified candidates suddenly get involved ... that's Qualifying School, folks, and it's something that anyone who has ever been through it before shudders thinking about.

Thousands try every year. It is golf's ultimate survival-fest, pressure golf at its highest, because a job is on the line - and only a few dozen succeed each year.

It’s only a matter of time before Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman is a star in pro golf. But to pick up his first professional victory cheque last weekend, the 22-year-old from East Lothian had to go back in time – almost literally.  
    And he did it in style, sporting plus-fours and playing with a set of six pre-1935 hickory-shafted clubs to win the World Hickory Open at his home links of Craigielaw, and the champ's payout of £1700.
    Said Saltman: “It would be fair to say the hickory championship was not what I planned, but it was great fun and using only six clubs really opened up the imagination.”
    Swinging the old-school sticks, Saltman got around the 18 holes in 1-over 72, beating former Scottish PGA champ Fraser Mann by a shot. Needless to say, dithering over club selection is not an issue at this event and tournament supremo Lionel Freedman reports that the entire field finished their rounds in just over three hours despite typically Scottish conditions.
    The World Hickory Open is in its third year, and even former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher OBE has had a crack at the old sticks, shooting a 76 in last year’s event. A Saltman won that one as well – Lloyd’s younger brother Zack, third this year with a 75.
    On the previous day, at the World Hickory Pro-Am, David Laing of Craigielaw, who was making his pro debut, aced the 157-yard 10th hole. His prizes included the hickory club he used, a magnum of champagne and a bottle of Famous Grouse suitably inscribed. Presumably, the champions dinner was bangers and mashie ...

Photograph courtesy of Robert Brown

So, did we give those Yanks what for or did they kick our tea-sipping asses?
The latter, it was a close run thing though. It was level after the first day at 6-6 but the Americans won a hard fought contest 12½-11½ in the end.

That was close, how did it go down?
After a very even day of play on the Saturday, the U.S won all four of the morning foursomes on Sunday. It was an uphill struggle for GB and Ireland to get back in it and their 5½ to 2½  singles win wasn't quite enough, as an eagle by Jonathan Moore clinched victory for the U.S.

An 'uphill struggle', surely that's too much of a cliché even for you?
Umm OK, how about: they faced a task of Dawn French-esque proportions.

Terrible. Go back to the tried and tested clichés I think.
OK, Rory McIlroy, Rhys Davies and Lloyd Saltman all put in a sterling effort and chalked up three singles points early doors before Danny Willett sunk a blinding 20-foot putt on the 18th to grab a last-gasp draw with Colt Knost. The U.S snatched a famous victory however as Jamie Lovemark and Johnathan Moore secured the two points needed.

Too many clichés now...
How about this one then? After GB & Ireland's comeback fell just short, Peter McEvoy, the ex-captain said:  “I've never seen such naked courage on a golf course.”

Naked courage? What's that?
Dunno. But it's a shame they didn't have more of it as the U.S.A's win took them to a 33-7 lead in The Walker Cup series.

33-7? Now that's an uphill struggle...

...two...three...four...I declare a thumb war...

Nope, it's nothing to do with Des Walker, Roy Walker, Walker's Crisps, Luke Skywalker or any of that. So what is the Walker Cup? Well a cup obviously, but...oh just read this then you'll know.

1. The Walker Cup is contested in odd numbered years between the leading U.S and G.B and Ireland amateurs and is co-organised by the R&A and the USGA. Much like the Ryder Cup, it is played in matches.

2. Originally, the Cup was played annually but this changed in 1924, as the expense of the tournament was deemed too high to merit being played each year. Since then, the bi-annual format has been adopted, except  in 1938, when the series was interrupted by famous sporting event ruiner - WWII. 

3. Founded in 1920, the Walker Cup was named after George Herbert Walker, President of the USGA. Interestingly, he was the grandfather of former President of The USA, George H. W. Bush and the great-grandfather of George 'Now watch this drive' Dubya Bush.

4. In the inaugural match, in 1922, Bernard Darwin, the golf writer for The Times, accompanied the British team to America. When the British captain, Robert Harris, fell ill, Darwin stepped in and defeated the American Captain, William Fownes, 3 and 1.

5. The oldest ever competitor was Michael Scott OBE,  who competed, somewhat fittingly, at the Old Course at St. Andrews in 1934. He was 55 years and 8 months old at the time. The previous year he set the record as the oldest ever winner of the Amateur Championship. He remains competitive to this day at 129 years old.

6. Joseph B. Carr competed for GB and Ireland a record 11 times between 1947 and 1967. Carr will be posthumously inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame this November, but don't worry, they won't be dragging his dead body down there, it'll probably just be a plaque or something.

7. IGWT favourite, Oliver Fisher, was the youngest ever competitor at 16 years and 11 months when he played at the Chicago G.C in 2005. His feat was made all the more impressive by the fact that he still got back in time to do his homework and tidy his room.

8. This year's Walker Cup will be held at the Royal County Down Golf Club. Old Tom Morris is credited with routing the course which is widely regarded as the first to have nine holes 'out' and nine holes 'back'. Before then, golfers who had played the full 18 would either face a long walk to the clubhouse or hitch a ride on a tram or a penny farthing or something.

9. The USA have won the cup 32 times compared to a much less showy and more restrained 7 for GB and Ireland. As always, with any sport, it's the taking part that counts. Unless we win this year of course, in which case it's “Woo! In your face Uncle Sam!”

10. Tiger Woods took part in 2005 but was beaten in his singles match by short-hitting Gary' Kenneth' Wolstenholme who surely dines out on that story every night.