OT - Goldfinger At Stoke Park

[David_Tepper]

One of the better golf scenes in the movies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-D2k4P_mGM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65nNcNiwJHM

In retrospect Goldfinger's comment about golf not being the national game of Korea was a bit prophetic. It may not quite be the national game of Korea now, but golf in Korea has come a very long way since this movie was filmed.

[JMEvensky]

Yes but no other Korean has mastered the golf hat throw as well as Odd Job.

[Michael Whitaker]

That Goldfinger putting stroke looks familiar!

[Thomas Dai]

Height of cut and stimpmeter reading?
Atb

[Tony_Muldoon]

I read recently that Connery had not previously played golf. He went for lessons in an old squash court in Knightsbridge in order to look the part.


Thereafter he was hooked.

[David_Tepper]

I read recently that Connery had not previously played golf. He went for lessons in an old squash court in Knightsbridge in order to look the part.


Tony -

Sean Connnery was taught by Leslie King, possibly the first golf pro in Britain to teach indoors:

https://golfweek.com/2012/05/17/tait-kings-impact-still-felt-british-golf-school/

DT

[archie_struthers]

 


It was my last year working at Pine Valley and the clubhouse was really quiet. Members and guests were almost all at dinner when I heard voice, yep Bond, James Bond talking in a deep Scottish brogue. It was my eighth year between caddying and being an assistant and had never seen Mr Connery.


I kind of nosed around the corner and there he was sitting by his locker, his number was 007, of course. He looked up at me and said how are you? Normally not starstruck I stammered something about not having seen him after all the years working there. He said quite simply, so happy to be back!

[Peter Pallotta]

Talk about books that got us interested in golf/golf course architecture!
I read "Goldfinger" long before I picked up a World Atlas of Golf.
I still think of every golf professional there as talking & acting like Arthur Blacking, and every caddie like Hawker.
And I probably got my secret love of tough courses from that book too:
"The tenth at the Royal St Marks is the most dangerous hole on the course. The second shot, to the skiddy plateau green with cavernous bunkers to right and left and a steep hill beyond, has broken many hearts”

[David_Tepper]

Peter -

I believe "Royal St. Marks" is roughly based on Royal St. George's, where Ian Fleming was a member.

DT

 

[Thomas Dai]

Peter -
I believe "Royal St. Marks" is roughly based on Royal St. George's, where Ian Fleming was a member.
DT

The Pro at Royal St George’s was Whiting, hence Blacking at Royal St Marks.
Atb

[Peter Pallotta]

David, Thomas
yes, that's what I meant about the book having been influential re golf & gca
Years later, when I learned that St George's was the model, I went back a re-read the book yet again: and to this day my thoughts about the course and gca have been shaped by Fleming's wonderful description (and obvious affection) for that tough test.
I seem to remember his description of the 1st hole as being 450 yards long with a centre bunker and further on another group of bunkers ready to punish a wayward 2nd shot...and I thought (and still partly think, despite my learning about 'strategy') "ah, now *that's* golf!

[Mark Hissey]

Peter -

I believe "Royal St. Marks" is roughly based on Royal St. George's, where Ian Fleming was a member.

DT

I was just there a few weeks back. A very cool place. The course needs a thoughtful restoration, but the facilities are first class with a lot more potential.

[Tom_Doak]

A friend of mine knows Sean Connery via Lyford Cay, and gave him a copy of The Confidential Guide when it was still a limited edition thing.


I went down to visit him 3-4 years ago and he said Mr Connery might come out to say hello - of course we didn't see him and I was starting to wonder how much of the above was true.  And then Sean Connery comes up in a cart and says he has been looking all over the course for us, because my friend didn't mention we had started playing on #10. What a gentleman.

[Jeff Schley]

A friend of mine knows Sean Connery via Lyford Cay, and gave him a copy of The Confidential Guide when it was still a limited edition thing.


I went down to visit him 3-4 years ago and he said Mr Connery might come out to say hello - of course we didn't see him and I was starting to wonder how much of the above was true.  And then Sean Connery comes up in a cart and says he has been looking all over the course for us, because my friend didn't mention we had started playing on #10. What a gentleman.

Wow usually you don't want 007 to come looking for you as you won't survive.  I'm a big Sean Connery fan apart from his Bond roles, seen a biography about him and he used to be a bodybuilder in his younger days believe it or not.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Many years ago my parents went to the Cinema in Marbella to see an English language film with Spanish subtitles. The audience chattered throughout the opening credits. After a couple of more minutes when much of the dialogue was inaudible a voice rang from the dark.


"Shhhhhhuttt upppp!"


The rest of the film was enjoyed in silence. My mother saw him depart and described him to me in terms that were faintly embarrassing to a son.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Years ago I got paired with SC twice in the inaugural Las Vegas Pro Am.  Yes, a very British gentleman.  I'm sure they told the celebs to be nice to the ams, and he was. Even bought the post round drinks, which is more than I can say about the other celeb I played with, who not only had us pay for drinks, but tip his caddy as well.

[Kalen Braley]

A friend of mine knows Sean Connery via Lyford Cay, and gave him a copy of The Confidential Guide when it was still a limited edition thing.

I went down to visit him 3-4 years ago and he said Mr Connery might come out to say hello - of course we didn't see him and I was starting to wonder how much of the above was true.  And then Sean Connery comes up in a cart and says he has been looking all over the course for us, because my friend didn't mention we had started playing on #10. What a gentleman.

Did he like the book then? 

[Marty Bonnar]

Nancy used to dance for visiting golfers at Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews. No, nothing like that. Scottish Country Dancing. All white frocks and kilts.
Big Tam was there one night and, very kindly bought all the dancers a wee drinkie.
He’s had some, ehm, ‘interesting’ things to say about women!
F.

[Greg Hohman]

In May 1959, my mother, RIP, saw SC in The Bacchae by Euripides at the Oxford Playhouse Company. I have the playbill.

[Bill Gayne]

Another golf Bond movie tie in is that the mortuary and diamond smuggler in Diamonds are Forever was Morton Slumber and the current head of the R&A is Martin Slumbers.

[Pete_Pittock]

Channelsurfing yesterday and Goldfinger came up with the match on the 16th green, just before the gold bar was dropped.


In a prescient(?) manner Goldfinger mentioned to James that Odd Job was still learning to be a caddie because golf was not a Korean's sport.

[Philip Gordillo]

One of my favorite movie scenes indeed.  But can you imagine a guest at your club throwing a 25lb gold brick on one of your greens.  License to kill!!!!

[Wayne_Kozun]

I played there a few years back in a tournament.  Pretty nice Braid course but it could use a restoration.  It got a 5 5 6 5 in the Confidential Guide. The pro shop really milks the Goldfinger connection as they sell a bunch of Gold themed merchandise.

[Peter Flory]

Goldfinger probably should have called Bond out on picking up his ball on 18. 

[Mark Pearce]

Pretty nice Braid course but it could use a restoration.

Colt, surely?