The President's Putter by David Normoyle is posted ...

[Ran Morrissett]

... under Best of Golf/Traditions.

What is your favorite golf event? Is it one you that play in or one that you watch? For many it is the Masters with its unique customs and traditions. Plus, April marks the start of golf for many of us in North America. My favorite event is one that I will never play in or likely even witness! It is the President’s Putter contested at Rye Golf Club (and Littlestone GC) each January and immortalized by my idol, Bernard Darwin.
 
David Normoyle has authored this Best of Golf entry. In fact, he is at Rye right now participating in said event and masquerading as an intellectual and good golfer (both of which he is, unfortunately  ). Golf along the English Channel in the winter with folks who cherish the ideals of the game: can it get better? First held in 1920, the historical romance of this event is off the charts with many battles between titans like Wethered, Crawley, Micklem, Gardiner-Hill and our own January 2010 Feature Interviewee, Donald Steel.
 

An unusual sight; The President’s Putter has rarely been sidetracked due to weather.
 
Like the Masters, some of the mystique of the event derives from the site. Rye with its brutal 440 yard two shotters and infamous one shotters can be beastly at the best of times. Throw in winter weather and you get a raw form of golf that I personally find hugely appealing; The Open in July doesn’t quite conjure up the same elemental madness. Regarding the weather, David writes, ‘The weather on the Southeast coast of England in early January is a capricious, ever-present cynosure, as centuries of invaders from both sides of the Channel have learned.’ The words of a Cambridge graduate, to be sure!
 
David and I have been corresponding and he wrote yesterday: ‘Some have been playing since 8am in lashing rain, 25mph and about 40 degrees. Not nice but I'm enjoying my breakfast at Jeakes House on Mermaid Street.’ Don’t you just wish you were there?!
 
Good luck, David, and thanks for the highly readable and absorbing insight into this most special event.

Best,

[Mark Bourgeois]

Good God he is?! Are the women players still made honorary men? With the wx he describes are their balls blue? Golf balls painted blue, I mean.

My one winter trip to Rye was made with high hopes, only to be dashed by depressingly nice if chilly weather. Here's hoping that cruel cynosure of wx holds through the competition.

[Paul Gray]

Rain and wind on the way but relative warmth forecast down here on the coast.

[Bill_McBride]

Rye, one of my favorite courses.  A foursomes match there, with so many opportunities to screw your partner, is one of life's joys.   The fourth might be the hardest par 4 in the world.   

[Colin Macqueen]

David,
A very nice up to date description of 'The Putter"!  I admit to being very partial to and love this sort of romantic, nostalgic, almost archaic approach vis a vis golf.

Herbert Warren Wind's piece is just wonderful and I am not at all surprised that you were mesmerised reading it and subsequently beguiled.
The imagery of David Phiri, "..a black Zambian ….wearing three pairs of socks, underwear, pyjamas, a pair of rain trousers over his regular trousers, a heavy shirt, six sweaters, two scarves, two pairs of gloves, a woollen hat ….and a balaclava." going on to win his match that day is priceless!

How do you keep warm in this modern day though Paul Gray suggests a "warm" front may well be approaching! Lucky you that you get to play in this wonderful competition.

If I, from Australia, ever find myself in the wilds of Rye during the cold and bitter weather of a British winter I will have lost my way but will head out and have a gander.

Just one wee point. I suspect that "…the toeheaded youngster with bright red stockings.."  from Edinburgh is presumably "towheaded" as the wind could well have been whipping along! Just me being anal but it does mean I read your very neat piece. Thank you.

Cheers Colin

[Tommy Williamsen]

What a great article.  When I played Rye I just wandered around the outer room drinking in the atmosphere and perusing the putter on display.   What a great place!

[Simon Holt]

My experience of the President’s Putter is one of reflected glory but also ties into Ran’s question of favourite tournaments quite nicely.

I hope you are sitting comfortably…..could be along one.

My good friend and one time intern of Tom Doak, Ben Wescoe, was the Pres Putter victor in 2013.  Ben is an American who captained the Yale golf team before completing a Masters at Cambridge.  We met while he was working on the new holes at the Renaissance Club; he, Kye Goalby and I would enjoy a pint together back at the Auld Hoose in North Berwick in the evenings. 

Ben is one of the nicest players I have had the fortune to accompany on the golf course.  When I say nicest players, I trust you all know what I mean?  A poetic swing, good pace of play, unruffled temperament and impeccable manners shown to both his playing partner and the opposition.  It’s no surprise to me that he has his ball on the putter.

Ever the opportunist, I snapped up Ben early in proceedings when he reached out to me in early 2014.  We were both invited to play in RGD’s Renaissance Cup, which is held annually, typically at one of their new offerings or in last year’s case, the re-vamped Renaissance Club.  Ben and I crashed at my parent’s house in North Berwick and enjoyed 6 hole sprints in those spectacular late summer evenings on the West Links.

The tournament itself is a straight match-play draw, no shots.  Typically the invitees will be RGD clients, writers and industry friends, with passion for great course architecture being the common bond between young guys like us and the likes of Mr. Keiser.

The matches are 9 holes better ball against another pair.  If any matches are tied after 9 the match is awarded to the last team to win a hole.  This generates much angst, especially if you are 1 up going down the 9th.  It’s a real kick in the teeth to loose that way. It happened to me at Streamsong partnering Richard Levine and then again at Dismal River with my buddy Dean Burke. Sickening!  At least we lost to great guys each time

For those that reach the second day, the semi-final and final revert to foursomes matches (alternate shot).  It makes it even spicier, especially for our US contingent…… 

To cut to the chase Ben carried me to a win this year.  We played against wonderful opposition all week and got over the line against two very tidy players that are owners of RGD’s project near Bordeaux.

While its great to have your name on a trophy next to some pretty cool former champions, the heart of the week is great discussion, critique and above all, friendship. I spend most of the time listening (rare for me!)   It is without doubt one of my favourite weeks of the year.

Part two.

Literally the day after the Renaissance Cup this year I tee’d it up at my absolute favourite competitive tournament of the year.  The East Lothian County Cup.

Dating back to 1868, the tournament is the oldest double foursomes competition in the world, making the beautiful bowl trophy older than the Claret Jug.  Each club in East Lothian fields a 4 man team, scratch, consisting of two foursome pairings.  They play off in a straight 18-hole match-play draw against the other teams over 3 days.  Tom Morris was consulted on the format; if the front pairing lose 5 down on the 18th green you can still win the overall match if the pair behind win 6 Up…and that does happen.  Another famous competition that shares this format is the Dispatch Trophy.

It is the marquee event in our calendar and everyone wants a spot on that team.  The venue rotates; East to West along the coast, then resets and goes again.  In 2014 it was held at Longniddry which is the furthest course West that is used, so this year it resets and starts again at Dunbar, before moving to The Glen, North Berwick West, Muirfield, Gullane No. 1, Luffness, Kilspindie, then Longniddry again.  I’d be lying if there weren’t more of an incentive to make the team in some years than others!

I play for the Bass Rock Golf Club, which is one of 3 of the clubs that call North Berwick West Links, home.  We have won the competition 21 times since inception,(but only once since 1960!) which is a record only equaled by my other club, Tantallon Golf Club.  HCEG (Muirfield) have won it 5 times, I believe.  In fact, in 2013 I played against HCEG who were represented by the current R&A Captain, George McGregor.  When I met him on the first tee someone mentioned to me he was a former Walker Cup player and captain.  I wasn’t nervous at all……

These 3 tournaments encapsulate what I love about the game- timeless traditions that were probably dreamt up after one or two large glasses of claret.  For a guy that loves team golf and good company, they are absolute heaven.

[Mark Chaplin]

One thing for sure is the dining room at the R&A is quieter than usual during the Putter and the Hewitt.

[Ryan Coles]

So much pomposity in such a small geographical area.

Much prefer the many inter club leagues that operate throughout the country. They are the best of golf, this for me, not so much.

[Craig Disher]

Rye, one of my favorite courses.  A foursomes match there, with so many opportunities to screw your partner, is one of life's joys. 

Bill - I'm glad you remember that opportunity with a joyful heart. 

David - a fine article. Thanks for capturing the spirit of the event and Rye so well.

[Bill_McBride]

So much pomposity in such a small geographical area.

Much prefer the many inter club leagues that operate throughout the country. They are the best of golf, this for me, not so much.

Based on personal experience?

[Joel_Stewart]

Simon nice story.

I remember a story that Sandy Tatum told me a few years ago.  Playing in the Presidents Putter back in the 1930's or 40's he encountered the course in hurricane type conditions.  Certain greens were literally under water.  Play goes on under any conditions and players had to float their balls perfectly over the holes and let them sink down into the hole.

[Colin Macqueen]

My dear Ryan,

I might be wrong but you are, as I am, Australian. No? I am a bit of a mongrel as I have 20 years of Scottish tradition played out before my forty years of Aussie battling. Are you suffering from that dreaded Australian cultural cringe with regards tae your gowf!!

Please don't rain on my parade! This sort of golf, to me, is top notch fun. I don't think it is pompous at all. Look at how low key the presentation ceremony is! The stories and camaraderie would epitomise what good golf can be all about. The drenching of history that this type of competition has is also very attractive to me. Further to this it is oft times (if not always?) amateurs who are doing battle in, generally, very cold and inclement weather.

Elitist? Yes in the sense that you have to be a "blue" to actually play in the competition. But anyone can go to Oxford or Cambridge if you set your mind to it and if, by the grace of God, you can bat a golf ball around to boot then, lo and behold, you too could play in the esteemed "Putter"!

Give it a go! Or as we Aussies say "Fair go!"

Cheers Colin

[Ryan Coles]

So much pomposity in such a small geographical area.

Much prefer the many inter club leagues that operate throughout the country. They are the best of golf, this for me, not so much.

Based on personal experience?

Yes, Bill.  I've been playing inter club league golf since I was 13.

[Ryan Coles]

My dear Ryan,

I might be wrong but you are, as I am, Australian. No? I am a bit of a mongrel as I have 20 years of Scottish tradition played out before my forty years of Aussie battling. Are you suffering from that dreaded Australian cultural cringe with regards tae your gowf!!

Please don't rain on my parade! This sort of golf, to me, is top notch fun. I don't think it is pompous at all. Look at how low key the presentation ceremony is! The stories and camaraderie would epitomise what good golf can be all about. The drenching of history that this type of competition has is also very attractive to me. Further to this it is oft times (if not always?) amateurs who are doing battle in, generally, very cold and inclement weather.

Elitist? Yes in the sense that you have to be a "blue" to actually play in the competition. But anyone can go to Oxford or Cambridge if you set your mind to it and if, by the grace of God, you can bat a golf ball around to boot then, lo and behold, you too could play in the esteemed "Putter"!

Give it a go! Or as we Aussies say "Fair go!"

Cheers Colin

Colin

I'm Bristolian actually but I'll take that as a compliment.

Each to his own but this and the Halford Hewitt etc are just not for me. School is something you do when you're a kid and when you leave it's time to grow up and move on.

For me the anecdote about that old bloke playing the student sums it up, took him to the first fairway to drop in that he had been captain of the R&A. Don't you know who I think I am sort of thing. The events in my opinion are all about being seen, and little to do with golf. My own view is that when you play golf you leave life behind and you're just a golfer, as is the other guy.

[Rich Goodale]

So much pomposity in such a small geographical area.

Much prefer the many inter club leagues that operate throughout the country. They are the best of golf, this for me, not so much.

Based on personal experience?

Yes, Bill.  I've been playing inter club league golf since I was 13.

Well said, Ryan

I've played interclub golf for most of the 25 years I've lived in Scotland, and it is the purest form of competitive golf that I know of.  I suspect that most of the GBI elements of the Euro Ryder Cup teams that have been handing the USA their lunch over the past 20 years grew up playing Inter-club (and then intercounty, international, etc.) golf.  I can't think of many President's Putter (or Halford Hewiitt. etc.) participants that ever made it to the Ryder Cup, except as spectators or officials.

[Mark Pearce]

Rich,

Inter-club golf is an entirely different animal, you're right.  I'm also sure you are right that it produces more good golfers than a couple of Universities ever will.  Whether that justifies Ryan's ignorant attack on the President's Putter I very much doubt, though.  Does your "well said" also apply to his attack on that event?

Mark

[Ben Stephens]

Reading John Hopkins article in the sports section in the Times this morning about the Presidents Putter at Rye.

I have actually played against the winner Claudio Consul who then player for Winchester against my old School Oakham in the Grafton Morrish foursomes at Brancaster.

Me and my partner were 2 up going down 9. Claudio's partner was an inch from going out of bounds beyond the 10th tee if it was out of bounds me and my partner would have been 3 up then but the golfing gods thought otherwise and Claudio holed out for a 2 carrying the ball over the railway sleepered wall fronting the green from a difficult lie. We lost on the 17th.

Claudio had a cool Germanic demeanour as seen by Langer and Kaymer we had respect for each other on the golf course as I smiled and congratulated him on the shot likewise the other way when I holed a few putts. Its great to see the news of the Presidents Putter and Claudio's win in the national spreads. Long it may continue.

I have bumped into John Hopkins at Porthcawl while BUDA was on and twice at the Open. Nice guy and easy to have a chat with he has a lot of knowledge regarding golf and Welsh Rugby
   

[Rich Goodale]

Mark

I replied to and agreed with Ryan's post which made the observation about "pomposity."   Pomposity is something up with which I do not put.

Rich

[Mark Pearce]

Rich,

Have you been to the President's Putter to experience that pomposity or, like Ryan, are you relying on a lazy stereotype?

Mark

[Bill_McBride]

So much pomposity in such a small geographical area.

Much prefer the many inter club leagues that operate throughout the country. They are the best of golf, this for me, not so much.

Based on personal experience?

Yes, Bill.  I've been playing inter club league golf since I was 13.

Actually I meant have you played in the President's Putter and thus personally able to confirm the alleged pomposity.   Everything I've read including Herbert Warren Wind's account has been more hilarious than pompous.   I love the motto, He was lucky to win. 

[Rich Goodale]

Rich,

Have you been to the President's Putter to experience that pomposity or, like Ryan, are you relying on a lazy stereotype?

Mark

Mark

I'm relying on an informed stereotype.  Stereotypes are one of the few things about which I am not normally lazy, because all stereotypes have more than a kernel of truth to them and people who cast aspersions on those of use who find value in stereotyping pompous individuals have very thin skins themselves, in my humble opinion.

I'm most disturbed that the Times is using my subscription money to send John Hopkins down for a knees up in Rye when there are many more interesting and important sporting events to be covered this time of the year.

Respectfully

Rich

[Sean_A]

Rihc & Ryan

Could there possibly be room for both the Pres Putter and clubs matches to happily exist at the same time?  Seems like much hand wringing over not very much...any envy involved?

Ciao

[Rich Goodale]

Rihc & Ryan

Could there possibly be room for both the Pres Putter and clubs matches to happily exist at the same time?  Seems like much hand wringing over not very much...any envy involved?

Ciao

Neas and Oaic

When the Times and the posh part of the GCA "Twitter"sphere get all excited about the results of the scratch winter league matches in Fife I'll stop wringing my hands.  As for envy--I know and have golfed with more of the PP/HH/R&A crowd than I want to remember.  Most of them are fine people individually and golfing wise, but too many of them morph into cariactures of Judge Smails when a critiical mass of common club ties is achieved.  It is not a pretty sight.....

[Ryan Coles]

Rihc & Ryan

Could there possibly be room for both the Pres Putter and clubs matches to happily exist at the same time?  Seems like much hand wringing over not very much...any envy involved?

Ciao

Envy of what Sean?

It doesn't really register on my radar and certainly isn't the best of golf or anything to do with golf.

Some people are so impressed with these gatherings. There have been numerous posts on here where I see posters breathlessly type that some official from the R & A was present at a dinner they were at, or someone they know got in HCEG. Point out the irrelevance of this and its an attack that panders to stereotypes. The same people are on here in threads using terms such as "the blue collar brigade".

You're either impressed with this nonsense or you not. Put me in the latter camp.

As for Bill's hilarity. Ironically, they find themselves hilarious as well. Watch one of these gatherings, it will be a competition of who can guffaw the loudest ad nauseam.

I play golf to play golf. Far too much of the sport is intertwined with this rubbish, and far too many are preoccupied with playing seagulls that the game becomes secondary, to who I am, who I'm playing with, and other rubbish that doesn't matter in other sports.

Best of golf? How about leaving the school tie at home with nanny and getting on with the game?