The
long road from
AS HOYLAKE WELCOMES ONCE AGAIN THE WORLD’S GREATEST GOLFERS, ANTHONY SHONE LOOKS BACK AT THE ORIGINS OF THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE SELECTION OF VENUES OVER THE YEARS.
Above: Prestwick Golf Club
Below: The iconic Royal Birkdale Clubhouse
It was the Club at Prestwick that took the initiative
IF THE ORIGINS OF GOLF are a little uncertain it is clear that the game was nurtured and grew in popularity in Scotland. Not surprisingly the time came when the Scots decided that holding a regular competition to discover the best player of the game would be a good idea. It was the Club at Prestwick that took the initiative and the first Open Championship took place over three rounds of their twelve hole course in 1860. It was a success, and apart from the war years and one other year, has been played ever since. The trophy was a belt which was to become the property of the winner if won 3 times in succession. This happened in 1870 and the Championship wasn’t played in 1871. It resumed the following year and the present claret jug became the prize. Prestwick hosted the first 12
Championships. In 1873, with St Andrews and Musselburgh joining
the originator, a rota of 3 venues was established. However, the move of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to Muirfield brought an end to Musselburgh hosting the event. The first Muirfield Open in 1892 was also the first played over 4 rounds. With the spread of the game in
England the addition of an English venue became logical, and in 1894 the St Georges Club at Sandwich was added to the list. Hoylake was added in 1897 and the 5 course rota continued for 2 decades. The addition of Hoylake acknowledged the Royal Liverpool’s role in the amateur game and the Club’s 2 Open Champions, John Ball and Harold Hilton. There had also been spectacular growth in courses on the North West coast of England and support from the golfing public for a big event was assured.
Thoughts about introducing new
venues must have grown in prominence in the minds of the decision makers and, probably to satisfy a desire to acknowledge the importance of London and the South East, Deal was added in 1909. The event was held there for a second time in 1920 but not since. Consideration of more venues
gathered pace after the First World War of 1914-1918 and 4 were added in the inter-war years. However, in addition to Deal, Prestwick was dropped. Given its role in launching the Championship this was sad. The course was possibly not long enough and it is likely that the final holes, splendid for club golfers, were not thought appropriate for the final holes in an Open Championship. The added courses in the 1920s were
Troon and Lytham, recognising the fine links courses on Scotland’s west coast
52 ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB MAGAZINE 2 014
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