The Open – My World in Pictures

My x4 day annual tv binge watch

there are not many true links courses = less than one % & the vast majority are found in the British Isles. Links courses follow the natural relatively flat valleys which meander between towering dunes … the craggy coastal terrain which links the sea to the farmland and are shaped by nature. The word ‘links’ come via the Scottish language from the old English word hlinc : rising ground / ridge.

Playing links golf is testing due to the natural surroundings 7 difficult weather conditions between big wind, heavy rain which can quickly come in & out.7 sun baked fairways. A well struck shot can result in unfairly bouncing off hard uneven fairways and humps & hollows are unpredictable. A wayward drive off the tee can end up being hard to play out of the sometimes brutal rough. fairway bunkers are deep & intimidating and greenside gathering areas await. Big fast putting greens have run off areas. each hole will be challenging in different ways … requiring knowledge & strategy … it’s crucial to observe the lie of the land.Also need to be creative like inventing bump and run shots further away from the green and putting from well off the green. All in all it is golf played in its purest form

coastal flora & fauna = Plants = pink sea thrift, purple sea lavendars / grasses / shrubs / birds /butterflies / animals

Coastal flora & fauna

Plants such as pink sea thrift, purple sea lavender, blue harebells, stonecrop, sea campion & sea aster. Grasses like ammophila beach grass, marram grass, sea couch grass & dune fescue . shrubs = gorse & broom. Butterflies, swallows, swifts & hares

History & Heritage

The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world. It was founded in 1860 & originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotlandand was played by well off gentlemen because hand crafted clubs & balls were expensive. The clubs are rotated but are always links courses.It is called The Open because in theory it is open to pro & amateur players although by qualification. It is the last of the 4 majors in the year and is played for the Claret Jug.

My Live Open Experiences

1st time was at Royal Birkdale . Saturday = moving day .working teachingfull time member of Hoylake municipal not been playing golf long but my handicap was coming down steadily. I hadn’t begun watching golf on tv either so going to an Open Championship was quite something. I din’t appreciate the history & heritage . My golf friend Jean packed lunch camera & umbrella & binoculars Southport park & ride. We got a course plan and sat in the tented village decided which holes to walk & which best to sit in the stands. we started on the first as the Starter announced each player & their country. we then walked a few holes & I remember the marshalls holding up their ‘quiet please’ signs, the hush & silence of the respectful crowd as the players prepared for their shot or putt, the cheers for a good one & the groans for a near miss. Such colour everywhere = countries flags/ marshalls jacckets/ caddies in white/crowds umbrellas/scoreboards Greg Norman his tall imposing presence dressed all in black reminded me of a wild west gunslinger. The crowds following Nick Faldo 2 or 3 deep with people standing on boxes or mini stepladders in order to catch a glimpse of the action.

My second time was much more painful. It was 2006 @ Royal Liverpool and Wirral & the world were in Tiger fever, I was struggling with mood swings crashing up & down High & low but Bipolar was as yet undiagnosed.and i was still trying to work full time.& stressed .initially Excited =was a playing member at Bromborough for the second time and really looking forward to being a marshall. I was excited to attend the clubhouse meeting meeting held by the R&A and collected my red marshalls jacket with pride.to be doing my part for the golfing world superstars.this triggered a manic episode and I had to withdraw & return my jacket which hurt a lot cos I couldn’t properly explain why. Martin & Claire rallied round & came over for Wednesday the Practice day which is still a blur. I had sky tv though & thoroughly enjoyed watching it for four days especially on the holes where I remember getting a birdie & the pro players didn’t ! Tiger won which was a big emotional achievement for him because it was the first major he had played since his Dad died … he cried during his winning speech and I started sinking into a depressive episode.

Royal Liverpool & Hoylake Municipal

I have played Royal Liverpool many times back in my day … in all sorts of weather ! Social games two ball 3 & 4 ball . Ladies invitation days. Mixed invitation days . Represented Hoylake muni in Daily Mail. John Heggarty graphite irons £. Hoylake muni annual prizegiving = my curtains. Open practice ground

These Days