[Jon Byron]

Impressive news for Sandy Lyle - http://www.reuters.com/video/2016/10/13/dapper-golfer-sandy-lyle-wins-unique-hic?videoId=370130734 - Panmure looks terrific.  Haven't played there yet but I was fortunate to play a round in the US with Sandy Lyle!

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks, Jon

What a unique fellow Mr Lyle is, in the best sense of the word.

For a professional/tour golfer of any sort, but especially for a major championship winner (who it seems has never gotten the acclaim he deserves for being a top flight player for decades), he seems more humble and sane and content and well-balanced than anyone else I can think of.

It is charming indeed that he not only plays in the hickory championship but admits to such a level of nervousness.
I assume your round of golf with him was a great pleasure.

Peter

[Ryan Coles]

Peter McEvoy spoke very well about Lyle at a dinner I was at and summed him up quite well.


He said he was an unbelievable talent and particularly when he was a young amateur. McEvoy said it was easy to forget how young he was as he was such a good golfer. He described giving him a lift to the Lytham Trophy and said he was chatting away but Lyle was unresponsive, so he turned round to find Sandy playing with a toy aeroplane!


His other anecdote which got a laugh is an international match, foursomes where he played with Sandy. Incredibly tense, 18 hole, deciding match, all square, couldn't decide on whether it was a six or seven iron. Lyle who he said never really got involved walked over with what he thought might be some decisive worlds of encouragement. "what's the score?" asked Sandy.

[Thomas Dai]

Seve, when in his prime, was once asked the question along the lines of "if all the best players in the world were playing at the same time and all were playing at their best how many shots would you (meaning Seve himself) win by?". His answer was akin to "I no win, Sandy Lyle he win by four shots, I finish second, no one else close.".


And a yellow ball with hickories! SL may not be wearing glasses again these day but tut, tut, I say old chap!


atb

[Colin Macqueen]

Ach Jon,


Wonderful that Sandy Lyle won this Championship and as has been mentioned how refreshing that he was a bundle of nerves while he achieved this!  Iw as amused that he admitted to it being the first time that he had worn plus -fours and I can attest to the fact that one does need to be rugged up when you're out on Panmure and a chill wind is blowing in off the North Sea!


Memories, memories!  The clubhouse is a treasure.  I would have caddied at Panmure a hundred times at least. My "man" was a chap called Tom Long a co-owner of a steel manufacturing plant in Dundee. He happened to be the least proficient golfer in the club which was a cross I had to bear! Funnily enough my most memorable moment with aforesaid gentleman was when he asked this callow lad of a caddie to bring his (Tom Long that is!) Rolls Royce around to the front parking lot. He tossed the keys to me which I caught but declined the offer of almost certainly denting his car! Another enduring memory is the whiff of brandy and whisky on their breath when they turned up to play, after a pleasant lunch in the warm dining room heated by a cheerful log fire, whilst I shivered in the hut! I tell you that caddie shack was no place for the faint-hearted!


I am pleased that Sandy Lyle has such a romantic streak in him.  Good on him.


Cheers Col

[Niall C]

It should also be noted that our very own Scott Macpherson was the first to play with Sandy playing hickories, and that was at Musselburgh Old Course. Scott also played in the championship I believe and would be interested to see where he was placed. Played with him recently at NB and he was using the hickories and was out hitting me most of time. Very annoying !

Niall

[Jon Byron]

Great to hear Scott Macpherson would be in the event as well. I did play hickory sticks this week in the US. Played well and came in second!

[Scott Macpherson]

Niall,


Let the recorder know that I was never in the running for the title. I played with Sandy in the first round and it was a remarkable round to observe. Sandy Lyle was at his best. The ball striking was of the upmost class. He had 4 birdies and just one bogey, and shot a hickory course record of 67. The next best score was 7 shots behind!


I caddied for Sandy in the second round and must have put him off as his score was only 71. His victory was by a margin of 10 shots. He is quite a special player, and indeed and special man. Many of the people at Panmure wanted to chat with Sandy or have a photo, and he gave a lot of time to people very gladly.


For those who are interested in hickory golf, I would encourage you to participate in the World Hickory Open. It's very well run and apart from all the players really creating a convivial environment, what makes it accessable is that hickory clubs are provided for free for those to enter and don't have their own clubs.


Scott




PS- Sandy was using a yellow ball, and it was a modern Bridgestone. He would have used a white Pro V or equivalent, but it was just what he had used two years ago and thought he'd stay with it.

[Thomas Dai]

Scott,


Interesting post. A couple of questions if I may as a sometime hickory (originals) player myself and one who has tentative plans to enter the event next year.


Did you happen to notice if Sandy and the other leading scorers were playing original era hickories or modern reproductions?


What yardage/par was the Panmure event played over?


Atb

[David_Tepper]

"Did you happen to notice if Sandy and the other leading scorers were playing original era hickories or modern reproductions?"

Thomas D. -

Here is an article on Sandy Lyle's win at the 2014 World Hickory Open. He used Tad Moore hickory reproductions then.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2014/10/9/sandy-lyle-wins-the-world-hickory-open.html

Here is a recent article saying he used the Tad Moore clubs this year:

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/sandy-lyle-regains-world-hickory-open-title-by-10-shots-1-4256567

"The 58-year-old secured his impressive win in Carnoustie Country with the Tad Moore hickory clubs he used in a practice round at Augusta ahead of last year's Masters."
 
DT

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