American style "attacking" golf comes to Britain

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

I found this ad in a 1977 AA Guide to Golf in Great Britain.



What was the general attitude among golfers to the opening of the Belfry? Did the average British golfer have any idea what American style attacking golf was in 1977? Coverage of golf from the US would have been very limited indeed in two (or was it three BBC1, BBC2, ITV) channel Britain. I don't believe that the BBC broadcast any US golf in those days?

What US courses did the architects of the Belfry copy in order to provide American style attacking golf?

More importantly, have attitudes changes in the last 35 years? Does the average golfer still prefer the Belfry to Birkdale, the K-Club to Kingsbarns?

[Dan Herrmann]

Lord, I hope not

[Ally Mcintosh]

And what delayed the Belfry from hosting the Ryder Cup (1981 tournament was eventually held at Walton Heath with Belfry first getting cup in 1985)?...

[Adam Lawrence]

Course condition, as I recall. There were lots of complaints from players about the state of the fairways during the first tournaments played there in 1979, and they switched to Walton.