Happy 160th, The Open!

[Steve Salmen]

My first memory about the Open was on a family vacation, driving through Yosemite, hearing on the radio that Sandy Lyle had just won the 1985 event.  I had fairly recently taken up the game, with no idea what was in store.


Since then, the game has given me passion and excitement with anticipation of my next shot,[size=78%] [/size][/size]though I'm only able to repay with mediocrity.  My first memory of being at an Open was quite strange.  I had read some stories in golf publications and thought nothing of it.  It was Monday practice round at Royal Birkdale 1998.  Nick Faldo and Brenna Cepelak pulled their black Jag in front of the club and got out to cameras going wild.  I soon got the fuss because she was very attractive.I have only attended practice rounds at Opens, attended in 1998 (alone), 1999 (alone), 2000 (with my dad), 2002 (alone), and 2009 (with my wife).  As a sports fan, I think I will not live to see anything greater than if Tom Watson had won that Open.  The bummer of the whole thing is that he hit such a great shot into the 18th green.I think the Open has become the most important sporting event to me.  I've seen it on TV for over 30 years, played some of the venues, hang Open flags in my office, etc.  Each year, it gives us the chance to witness the greatest competitors go back to the roots of the game and battle it on the ground, exposed to the natural elements.[size=78%]

[Thomas Dai]

By my calculation that's 6 par 5's and that is for the very good players. While I'm better with a fairway wood/hybrid than a mid to long iron I can't say I'd relish playing that many shots or long holes. It just sounds like a slog. Thank god for technology.
Niall

A slog .. similar to what most present day courses are like for the majority of ladies and quite a few seniors. Same for young juniors as well except they’ll grow bigger and thus hit the ball further.
Atb


PS - bit of a different in the Alps bunker between the video link posted and the present day.

[Peter Flory]

I also noticed that in very old pics, the entire alps bunker was fortified all around by sleepers/ vertical wood face.  The front is now rivetted- maybe for safety? 

As far as the slog dynamic- it was probably more exciting from a match play perspective.  Each hole gave you a greater chance to separate yourself from your opponent and each mistake wasn't necessarily as costly since you'd have a chance to catch up.  And how draining could a round be that only takes 2 hours to play? 

One other thing that I keep coming across with Prestwick reading is that the conditions of the fairways and greens were about the best on Earth.  I would think that it wasn't much different in that Marr/ Jacklin video than in the 1800s. 

Next time I go to Prestwick, I'll try playing it with a gutty and pre 1900 clubs from the forward tees and will report back.