Hoylake heart
in my
JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2018, Jo Clarke, a fervent supporter and active volunteer at Hoylake’s much-loved Community Cinema, was sitting quietly at home, glass of wine in hand, watching a movie released that year and starring, amongst others, Sir Ben Kingsley. Backstabbing for Beginners was
described by Variety as an “elegant, thrillerish account of corruption in the 2002-3 UN Oil-for-Food program.” As the credits rolled Jo caught the name ‘Hoylake’ out of the corner of her eye. She was intrigued. She scrolled back. She hadn’t been mistaken. Backstabbing... was a Hoylake Films production and the executive producer, Pete Abrahams, had an address in Beverly Hills, California. Cue another glass of wine. This needed following up. Hoylake seemed an unlikely name for a Los Angeles movie company. On contacting Pete, a story unravelled
that got better and better as the days wore on. He revealed he’d named his company as a homage to his
father
who had excelled at the 1953 Amateur Championship staged at Royal Liverpool. Now 92 years of age, Bob Abrahams
Above and Right: Bob Abrahams
That’s the trouble with you Americans, you’re so impatient
stills plays golf with the same passion he did over 65 years ago. Pete wasn’t even a twinkling in his father’s eye when his
father Bob made the trip across the pond, but he takes great joy in encouraging his old man to reminisce about his golfing successes. Back then, the 27 year-old car salesman
and member of Brookwood Country Club, Illinois, had been a Chicago Junior State Champion in his early days, but the 1953 Amateur would prove to be the highlight of his golfing career.
ROYAL LIVERPOOL HAS LONG HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH AMERICAN GOLF. ALISTAIR NOAKES TELLS A TOUCHING STORY FROM 1953.
Bob was far from the sole US
entrant that year. In total 31 hopefuls made the trip including defending champion Harvie Ward, two-time winner Frank Stranahan, the 1949 and 1951 Walker Cup player Bill McHale, and one of America’s finest singers and actors, Bing Crosby - whose son, Nathaniel, will skipper the USA team when the Walker Cup Match returns to Hoylake in September. On the home nation’s side an incredible
five members of the Royal Liverpool took part including: David Shone, John
ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2019–2020 MAGAZINE 61
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