Captain’s PROFESSOR SIR IAN


GILMORE REFLECTS ON HIS YEAR LEADING ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB


A YEAR IN THE LIFE of Hoylake passes quickly - a mere 0.67% of its history but for me the most memorable of its 150. If I put together all my relevant Facebook, Instagram and twitter feeds for the twelve months they would amount to zero, as I have favoured face to face contact over social media every time. It is the social side of the captain’s role


that makes it so enjoyable – not least because he is so privileged to have a Chairman of Council, Nick Wainwright, and Secretary, Simon Newland, receiving any googlies while the captain is served only the long hops – the easy ones. This has allowed me to meet so many members and guests over the year. The role allows one to approach anyone in


It will just be another trick or treater


Above: Sir Ian Gilmore


Below: Blackwell Golf Club


the bar or locker room and ask who they are and if they are enjoying their visit – though this backfires sometimes if they turn out to be an ex-captain or other long- serving member of the Club. But more often than not they are international guests who have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome they have had. For me, this is the memory I shall take


away from my year – the pleasure the Club has given so many people, visitors and members alike. Our staff are key in this, both those ‘upfront’ and the ones our visitors don’t see in the office and out maintaining the course. We are so lucky to have them and need to keep reminding ourselves of that. While the real


high points of the


year have been our own events – such as the Atlantic Trophy, the Captain’s Prize finals, the Spring and St Andrew’s Dinners – it has also been a privilege and great fun to represent the Club on ‘away duties’ on so many occasions. My only international trip was to the centenary of


Log


Mount Bruno Country Club in Quebec, a splendid occasion and an opportunity to play at the Royal Montreal, too. I had wondered why there were few Clubs celebrating their centenary in my captaincy year until I realised that the final throes of World War One discouraged many from developing the game that inspired the formation of so many Clubs during the years before it. Within the UK a visit to The Open


Championship as a guest of The R&A was outstanding, as was our first formal match


against the Royal Aberdeen


Golf Club (away) that followed almost immediately afterwards. Blackwell Golf Club, with whom Royal Liverpool has strong links, enjoyed celebrating


their


125th anniversary in the summer and gave me and several


excellent hospitality for the occasion. I was proud to represent our Club, the


senior one in the North-West, at so many annual dinners, and had the privilege (but not always the pleasure!) of speaking


fellow members


34


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB MAGAZINE 2019–2020


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