The warmth of many a shared golfing experience in various parts of this fair land, was evident as the two veteran professionals met this week at Castlerock. "I meant to give you this years ago," said Ernie Jones (below), handing a sepia-tinted, framed photograph to Bobby Kelly, who has been synonymous with the Co Derry links since 1961.
Dating back to the Ulster Professional Championship of 1959 at Balmoral, the photograph was of Kelly and Brian Patterson, whom he had beaten in the semi-finals. Competitively, it would become one of Kelly's main claims to fame, given that he lost the final by 4 and 3 to Harry Middleton.
And like all good golf stories, the details were rather vague to Kelly and Jones. But Patterson - "he was pro at Sandy Lodge after John Jacobs" - was identified as a brother of Don's, the former Warrenpoint professional. "I've had that a long time, stuck away in a drawer," said Jones.
Perhaps he had intended giving it to Kelly when the championship returned to Balmoral in 1964. By then, Kelly had moved on from being an assistant to Fred Daly, to having his own shop at Castlerock. And, as it happened, he was again runner-up in the Ulster Championship that year, losing on this occasion to Jones, on the 18th.
"Isn't it a lovely photograph," said Kelly wistfully, to no one in particular. "I was no more than 21 or 22 at that time." And Jones's timing couldn't have been better, in the club's centenary year, which they are celebrating with the Smurfit Irish Professional Championship.
Meanwhile, Castlerock's extension to 18 holes in 1908, reminds me of a delightful incident I witnessed during the Murphy's Irish Open at Mount Juliet in 1994. The presence of John Daly created intense rivalry among the horde of autograph-chasing youngsters as to which of them would "capture" the Wild Thing.
Eventually, having been beaten to it, this lad turned his attentions elsewhere. And believing he was about to get the autograph of someone really special, given the size of the printed name on the golf bag, he turned to his rivals and sneered: "Who cares about Daly, I'm gonna get Ben Sayers." And off he went.
Sayers, from North Berwick, had the distinction of playing in every British Open from 1880 to 1923. And we are informed that in November 1908, he devoted three days to planning and surveying the new 18-hole layout at Castlerock. The formal opening of the extended course took place on July 15th, 1909. Standing only 5ft 3in and characterised by a bow tie, the dapper Sayers was reputed to have been a circus acrobat before taking up golf. Which would explain his penchant for performing cartwheels of delight on a green, when he holed an important putt. A sort of early 20th century Robbie Keane, you might say.
"I don't call it the 'Gator Grip', I call it the 'Desperation Device'."
- US journeyman Jay Williamson on switching to the claw putting grip, pioneered by Chris diMarco and Mark Calcavecchia.
Notable addition to Augusta National membership
After the traditional summer recess since last May, Augusta National reopened on Thursday for a new golfing season. And they now have a very notable addition to their membership in the person of Jack Nicklaus, six-time winner of the US Masters.
Following on the invitation to Arnold Palmer two years ago, this is only the second time that the honour of regular membership has been extended to a Masters champion. And Nicklaus was only too delighted to accept. "When you think of the names that make up Augusta National's tradition, gentlemen like Bob Jones and Clifford Roberts, it is truly an honour to be invited to be part of the club's future," said the Bear.
During this year's closure, the course underwent the most extensive changes in its 68-year history. Leading US architect Tom Fazio spearheaded revisions to nine holes which added nearly 300 yards to the overall length, bringing it to 7, 270 yards.
All of the par-fives measure at least 500 yards and four of the par-fours are 460-yards or longer. Indeed the 460-yard 18th is arousing particular interest. "I can't wait to play it," said 1998 Masters champion Mark O'Meara, who is planning a scouting trip with this year's winner, Tiger Woods, over the next few weeks.
"I'll hit a little cutty drive and have a four-wood second shot to the green," added O'Meara, contemplating the challenge of the new 18th off the back tee. Nicklaus, on the other hand, can now play the hole from whichever tee he chooses.
Remembering those charming moments
When Ernie Jones had departed the scene, Bobby Kelly got to reminiscing about some of those charming moments which become part of the lore of every golf club. One such happening at Castlerock, in the professional's early years there, had to do with a one-time captain of the club and a typically quick-witted caddie of tender years.
"This man, Harry MacLaughlin from Derry, could always count on hitting a good drive down the sixth," said Kelly. "But it was equally predictable that he would fluff his short approach shot into the burn fronting the green.
"Anyway on this particular day, Mr MacLaughlin was playing especially good golf in the company of an 11-year-old caddie by the name of Robert. After covering the first five holes in level par, he hit his usual good drive down the sixth. Whereupon wee Robert said to him: 'Mr MacLaughlin, we'll not be worried about the burn today'." Kelly went on to relate how, taking this as a compliment on his splendid form, the player couldn't resist having his ego massaged a little more. "Why son, dee ye think I'm playing well?" "Well it's not that Mr MacLaughlin," replied Robert, with crushing candour. "You see I've got me Wellington boots on today, sir."
Driving up Magnolia Lane
For maximum impact, the drive up Magnolia Lane to the Augusta National clubhouse, should be negotiated in a suitably plush car. So it is entirely appropriate that the courtesy cars for the US Masters each year happen to be Cadillacs, the flagships of the luxury American market.
Certain European marques, however, would be viewed as vastly superior to anything manufactured in the US. And in this context, I have fond memories of the Walker Cup at Cypress Point 20 years ago, when Ronan Rafferty and Philip Walton were members of the British and Irish line-up.
One of the travelling Walker Cup selectors was Peter Davidson, who had lost to Rafferty in the first round of the 1980 British Amateur at Royal Porthcawl. And before leaving his home in Northumberland to travel to the US, a friend in Rolls Royce told him to contact their West Coast agent in San Francisco.
So it was that Davidson drove into Cypress Point in a spanking new, yellow Bentley T2. And in case the owners of the various Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals in the parking lot had any doubts about relative quality, the front bumper caddied a little gold place with the message: "The best car in the world."
This day in golf history
On October 13th, 1958, Australia became surprise winners of the inaugural World Amateur Team Championship, beating the US in a play-off at St Andrews. The event, conceived earlier that year by the USGA and the R and A, carried the additional prestige of the Eisenhower Trophy, which was presented by the Friends of American Golf in honour of the sitting US president. Bruce Devlin, who was a member of the triumphant quartet, went on to complete a notable double when, having turned professional, he partnered David Graham to victory in the World Cup at Jockey Club, Buenos Aires, in 1970.
Teaser: In a match, A holed out in three at the fifth hole. His opponent, B, holed out in four. After driving off the next tee, it was discovered that A had played a wrong ball at the fifth hole. B claimed the fifth hole. What is the ruling?
Answer: Since A failed to inform B as soon as practicable that he had incurred a penalty for playing a wrong ball, he is deemed to have given wrong information even though he was not aware he had incurred a penalty (Rule 9-2). Thus, B's belated claim was valid (Rule 2-5) and the committee should have ruled that B won the fifth hole.
