BRUCE TAYLOR REFLECTS ON HIS YEAR IN OFFICE


Captain’s Log


The annual St Andrews dinner is one of the best nights of the Club year.


It’s the


evening when the new Captain at Hoylake is


officially revealed. The incumbent


descends the great stairway into the main hall to search out his successor from the mass of eagerly anticipating members waiting below. To the swirling sound of of bagpipes he


moves around the throng before finally indicating the lucky man by a tap on his shoulder. In my case and to initial concern, the 2016 Captain David Smith had already walked past without offering me a glance. Had he and others seen the error of their ways? Suddenly he turned on his heel and with much dramatic effect


Right: Captain Bruce Taylor


Below: At home to Royal Troon (left), and away to Royal Birkdale (right)


placed the wand of office on my shoulder, thereby giving me the great honour of being invited to become the next Captain of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. You are of course asked to become


Captain privately a few weeks prior to the dinner and when David came to see me at home to offer me the nomination I was initially lost for words, such was my genuine surprise. I


indicated that I would need 24


hours to think it over and consider the implications for work and family life in taking on the role, but in truth I phoned to accept the very kind offer before ten minutes had passed and that was only to allow him enough time to get home. Each Captain starts his year with a


trip to a gentlemen’s outfitter to get a shiny new red coat. Next, the official photograph is


taken so it can hang


proudly over the door of the clubroom during his year of office. The fitting for the jacket was relatively straightforward: “An easy fit, sir,” was the tailor’s encouraging but possibly well-rehearsed observation..


Excellent Photoshopping techniques


made for a portrait that bore a passing resemblance to myself and not too likely to frighten young children or put guests off their dinners during the year ahead. And what a year it has been, full of memorable matches, social events and fabulous away trips including two wonderful visits to the USA.


CAPTAINS MATCHES During the year we had great home matches against Royal Troon, Little Aston, Royal Lytham, and a personal family grudge match against a team from Royal Wimbledon that included my brother. Road trips included visits to Formby, Royal Birkdale and Tantallon GC – where we played a wonderful match on the fabulous North Berwick links. Tantallon famously introduced the


concept of matches between Clubs in the late 19th century and such matches were the forerunner of the original home international matches between Scotland and England. Although we didn’t take a Harold


50


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB MAGAZINE 2018–2019


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