Graham, Norman Carnevali, Bruce Thompson and Michael Pearson. Few of the Americans had played on a true links before, but the unusual terrain wasn’t going to faze Bob in any way. He eased through qualifying with few difficulties. However, one American stood out against all others in those first few rounds – Bill McHale. Posting one of the lowest qualifying scores alongside the young Irishman Joe Carr, Bill was quickly promoted to joint 3-1 favourite for the Championship. Bob received a bye for his first round but in the second was up against an English professor, R.J.O. Meyer from Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in Somerset. Their tee time was set for 9am, but come the appointed hour, Hoylake’s weather gods were determined to pay their part - in the form of fierce gales, lightening and torrential rain. Within a few minutes the course was awash and play suspended.


By midday Bob’s match still hadn’t


resumed and he was getting frustrated. When he enquired of the R&A organisers when play might start, their reply was simple and most British, ‘We’ll let you know. That’s the trouble with you Americans, you’re so impatient.’ Bob had no choice. He simply had to bide his time.


It was a full 9 hours later - 9pm,


before Bob finally clinched his match, but the wait was worth it. He came away a comfortable 6 and 5 winner. He was through to the third round and his challenger would be fellow American Bill McHale. Bob was behind for most of the match


but not by much. He gambled on the 16th by taking on the out of bounds and made the green in two. His birdie was enough to win the hole and draw level and they both parred 17 and 18 to take the match down the 19th. Oh, how the wind blew. Bob was


tiring. His poor drive left him short and right with no option but to play safe left of the green leaving him another 30 yards


in. His opponent, however, lying dead centre in the middle of the fairway, could now deliver the killer blow but needed to strike it clean. He went for the flag but lost it on the wind. His ball drifted out of bounds. A pitch and two putts from Bob were enough for them to shake hands. Incredibly he had beaten the favourite and was instantly surrounded by the press. Even today he regrets he never had a proper chance to thank Bill McHale. Sadly, Bob’s story ended there. He


was beaten in the 4th round but had progressed further than he ever could have hoped. In the end it was Irishman Joe Carr who went on to win the first of his three Amateur titles. Not so long ago, Bob’s son Pete filmed


his father telling his tale. He sent the footage through to me, to Jo Clarke and to Hoylake member and former Secretary, Chris Moore. Chris had helped Bob relive his exploits by supplying him with further details of the events of 1953. ‘I just nailed it that day’, Bob said. As he signed off to camera you could


clearly see him wipe a tear from his eye as he remembered the tournament like yesterday. Somehow golf can do that to you. More importantly, Pete had been


able to connect with his father in a way that was truly special. When Jo had watched Pete’s movie at


home and made the Hoylake connection, little did she know how deep it would turn out to be. When she, Chris and I next meet at Hoylake Community Cinema we will raise our glasses to you both, Bob and Pete. This wonderful game has the power to touch us like no other. n


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2019–2020 MAGAZINE 63


I just nailed it that day


Above: Joe Carr in action at Hoylake


Below: Joe Carr’s Championship medal


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