150 Years On from the "Halcyon Days at Prestwick Links”

[Melvyn Morrow]

Again I have been searching my records and came across this article from The Scotsman Newspaper from Tuesday, 1st March 1910. Under the title of Golfing Topics its looks back to 50 years previously as 1910 was the Jubilee of The Open. I though being another 100 years on, it was poignant as we are about to celebrate the 150th years of The Open.

It may or may not be of interest however I attach the ten pages of the article for your amusement.

Pages 1&2


Pages 3 & 4


Pages 5 & 6


Pages 7 & 8


Pages 9 & 10


I still feel it’s a great pity that The Open could not return to its home from time to time, perhaps some day the Gods will grace favour on old Prestwick Links once again.

Melvyn

[Anthony Gray]

  Is Prestwick long enough for THe Open? I know the infrastructure limits its chances for The Open but are there other reasons for it not qualifing?

  Anthony

[Adrian_Stiff]

  Is Prestwick long enough for THe Open? I know the infrastructure limits its chances for The Open but are there other reasons for it not qualifing?

  Anthony

Anthony, its probably not far off the same effective length as TOC, alledgelly the club does not want THE OPEN back. The Infrastructure of the area is obviously fine, the course is tight in a few places, very quirky in other places. My own thoughts are that if you ommitted 14 and 15 from the championship layout and built two new 475 yard par 4 holes north of 10 then the extra 300 yards, removal of the very tight and quirky 15th and so created better circulation area around 18 you could do it. The current 16th green/ 17th tee area is very tight but there are instances like that a TOC and Carnoustie.

[Anthony Gray]

  Is Prestwick long enough for THe Open? I know the infrastructure limits its chances for The Open but are there other reasons for it not qualifing?

  Anthony

Anthony, its probably not far off the same effective length as TOC, alledgelly the club does not want THE OPEN back. The Infrastructure of the area is obviously fine, the course is tight in a few places, very quirky in other places. My own thoughts are that if you ommitted 14 and 15 from the championship layout and built two new 475 yard par 4 holes north of 10 then the extra 300 yards, removal of the very tight and quirky 15th and so created better circulation area around 18 you could do it. The current 16th green/ 17th tee area is very tight but there are instances like that a TOC and Carnoustie.

  Would 18 be a par 4 or 3?

  Thanks....Anthony

[Mike Cirba]

Melvyn,

Just a terrific article, and I love how it compares the changing conditions of the rota to a "hereditary disease" since inception.   

Probably an early purist who thought it should be at Prestwick every year! 

Thank you for sharing!

[Niall C]

  Is Prestwick long enough for THe Open? I know the infrastructure limits its chances for The Open but are there other reasons for it not qualifing?

  Anthony

Anthony, its probably not far off the same effective length as TOC, alledgelly the club does not want THE OPEN back. The Infrastructure of the area is obviously fine, the course is tight in a few places, very quirky in other places. My own thoughts are that if you ommitted 14 and 15 from the championship layout and built two new 475 yard par 4 holes north of 10 then the extra 300 yards, removal of the very tight and quirky 15th and so created better circulation area around 18 you could do it. The current 16th green/ 17th tee area is very tight but there are instances like that a TOC and Carnoustie.

Adrian

I don't doubt that they could get a championship course doing what you suggest but then it would cease being the course that is largely reveired by those that have played it. I think its fair to say that the club and their members are quite content with their place in history as it is.

Niall

[Adrian_Stiff]

  Is Prestwick long enough for THe Open? I know the infrastructure limits its chances for The Open but are there other reasons for it not qualifing?

  Anthony

Anthony, its probably not far off the same effective length as TOC, alledgelly the club does not want THE OPEN back. The Infrastructure of the area is obviously fine, the course is tight in a few places, very quirky in other places. My own thoughts are that if you ommitted 14 and 15 from the championship layout and built two new 475 yard par 4 holes north of 10 then the extra 300 yards, removal of the very tight and quirky 15th and so created better circulation area around 18 you could do it. The current 16th green/ 17th tee area is very tight but there are instances like that a TOC and Carnoustie.

Adrian

I don't doubt that they could get a championship course doing what you suggest but then it would cease being the course that is largely reveired by those that have played it. I think its fair to say that the club and their members are quite content with their place in history as it is.

Niall

Prestwick has significanty changed since its last Open. So...........the course now is not the 'one' of the past anyhow, most courses develop, alter, change. I think this 'stuck in the past thing is poppycock'. The 15th is a hole that for many would be tripe, some might say its quirky, the 14th aint all that. We have had this same convo before but get rid of 14/15, 2 new BETTER holes. A lot less congestion, more length, fairer and you could end up with a course OPEN WORTHY.... it is not a the moment. I love golf history  but adding two new 'great holes' and getting rid of 'two mingers' to me its a no contest (okay I am being crue with the 'minger' tag but they are not stand outs). You dont even have to remove the 2 holes for normal pay, although as soon as you played an OPEN using the new 2.. 14 and 15 would hold no intrest. Prestwick developed activelyu up to to 1925, lots of changes then suddenly nothing other than tee extensions. Course, OPEN courses need to move with the times, ALL the other OPEN course other than TOC have built new greens since 1920.

[Melvyn Morrow]

The First ever true Open was in 1861 not 1860 as it "Shall be Open to all the world".

Melvyn