Steve
It’s not the UK Open or the British Open it is just plain and simple THE OPEN
In this country, we do not feel the need to confirm our ethnic origin (i.e. Irish American) or that of our game of golf. Therefore, we know our Championship that stared in 1861 as
The Open.
I trust that answers your question
Melvyn
Ben
You have had your say so let me respond – you say ‘Rules of golf state nothing about walking, re: rule 1-1. So using the money spent on your education and then some more by your armed forces, how would you as hopefully a well educated young man, play golf from say the 1740’s to the Korean War in the 1950’s ? Noting of course that this was the time of the Gentlemen Golfers.
Would you expect these Gentlemen Golfers to ride a horse or horse driven carriage over the course?
Would you expect these Gentlemen Golfers to run – noting that some course had 22-24 holes Also would you expect all following to do likewise including the Ladies?
Would you expect these Gentlemen Golfers to be carried in Sedan Chairs?
Would you expect these Gentlemen Golfers to act as the Gentlemen they claim to be and walk the course?
In fact how did most Golfers from the 1740’s to the 1950’s get around a golf course?
Ben you are just trying to justify carts or the usage of carts and the precedent is already set Golf has been played for centuries by walking. It’s not in the rules, I wonder why, is it not time for some basic common sense to come into play. There was no serious alternative way to navigate the course apart from walking. As for the Rules attached is a copy from 1744.
These are the earliest surviving written Rules of Golf, compiled by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith, later the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, drafted on 7th March 1744, for a tournament played on 2nd April.
Articles & Laws in Playing at Golf.
1. You must Tee your Ball within a Club's length of the Hole.
2. Your Tee must be upon the Ground.
3. You are not to change the Ball which you Strike off the Tee.
4. You are not to remove Stones, Bones or any Break Club, for the sake of playing your Ball, Except upon the fair Green within a Club's length of your Ball.
5. If your Ball comes among watter, or any wattery filth, you are at liberty to take out your Ball & bringing it behind the hazard and Teeing it, you may play it with any Club and allow your Adversary a Stroke for so getting out your Ball.
6. If your Balls be found any where touching one another, You are to lift the first Ball, till you play the last.
7. At Holling, you are to play your Ball honestly for the Hole, and not to play upon your Adversary’s Ball, not lying in your way to the Hole.
8. If you should lose your Ball, by it's being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the Spot, where you struck last, & drop another Ball, And allow your adversary a Stroke for the misfortune.
9. No man at Holling his Ball, is to be allowed, to mark his way to the Hole with his Club, or anything else.
10. If a Ball be stopp’d by any Person, Horse, Dog or anything else, The Ball so stop’d must be play’d where it lyes.
11. If you draw your Club in Order to Strike, & proceed so far in the Stroke as to be bringing down your Club; If then, your Club shall break, in any way, it is to be Accounted a Stroke.
12. He whose Ball lyes farthest from the Hole is obliged to play first.
13. Neither Trench, Ditch or Dyke, made for the preservation of the Links, nor the Scholar's Holes, or the Soldier's Lines, Shall be accounted a Hazard; But the Ball is to be taken out and play’d with any Iron Club.
John Rattray, CaptAs for technology, I am not against it, if controlled and used to maintain the quality of the game and equipment. I do not agree if it allows the ball to travel further.
You ride a cart you are playing a different game of Golf. As I said in my earlier post, would you object into making American Football or Base Ball more mobile by introducing mechanical wheels to the sports? Would it remain the same game you knew and grew up with and would you enjoy it. Ben, only you can answer that and I have commented on carts in Golf. Having tried a cart many years ago, I found it changed my game; I did not enjoy it and quite frankly felt short changed at the end. I actually remember very little about the course, due to being distracted by driving the cart – but then that’s my experience. Cart Golf is very similar to golf but it’s not the same no matter how many excuses you come up with. However, for a method of getting those who cannot walk to play I have no objections.
One other thing, I have never used a Caddy, nor do I like the idea of beer on a course, that should be left for after the game. Perhaps on a cold day, a hipflask with a drop of Brandy or single malt to help fight the cold would I feel qualify as mandatory for the older golfer.
I see no reason to fall out, it is just a plain disagreement and may well stem from the fact the history and tradition is close to our hearts than yours.
I trust you will continue to enjoy your game whatever you call it on the day.
Melvyn