The First Public Call for an International Golf Competition

[John Challenger]

Who was the individual who was behind the pseudonym, St. George? "

Stephen Proctor in the Long Golden Afternoon writes:

"As early as August 1882...'St George' was writing to The Field...that the time had come for an international match between the best golfers from England and Scotland..."

"Horace Hutchinson remembers travelling to Hoylake in the 1870s and the merry, well lubricated evenings...at the Bar Parlour."

'Bar Parlour sounds a little ominous,' Hutchinson mused...'but I never saw a man who could not talk straight or walk straight out of it.'

"It was, perhaps, in the afterglow of just such an evening that gentleman golfers like St George first set their sights on taking the fight to the Scots."

Could Horace Hutchinson be St George?

Or was it someone from the golfing community at Sandwich (Royal St. George)? If so, who might it be?

It's too early for Bernard Darwin born in 1876. Maybe Darwin's mentor?

[Niall C]

John


St George is the patron saint of England and therefore it's probably a safe assumption that St George is English. Given the date (1882) I'd hazard a guess that it might be someone from Westward Ho as it was one of the few real golfing centres in England at that time. In particular I suspect it might have been Captain Molesworth or maybe one of his sons. Molesworth wasn't shy in issuing challenges from what I remember.


Niall

[John Challenger]

Thank you Niall. It certainly couldn't have been someone from Sandwich (Royal St. George). I was talking with Dan Moore yesterday who noted that Sandwich was formed in 1887. The initial letter to The Field for a match between England and Scotland was in August 1882. I just asked Gemini (AI) to find me a copy of the letter, which it was able to do after searching the British Newspaper Archive! Here is the content of that letter:


To the Editor of The Field

Sir, - It has often occurred to me that it would be a most interesting match if the best amateur players of England were pitted against the best amateur players of Scotland. I am sure that such a match would create a vast amount of interest, and would do much to promote the best interests of the game. I should be glad to hear what some of your numerous readers think of the suggestion.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

ST GEORGE.


There were four responses in Sept and October 1882.


International Golf Matches

Sir,-I have read with much interest the letter of "St George" in your last issue on the subject of international golf matches. I think the idea is an excellent one, and if carried out, would do much to promote the popularity of the game. I would suggest that the match should consist of twenty players a side--ten from England and ten from Scotland. The match might be played on a neutral green, say, at Hoylake. The players should be chosen by a committee appointed for the purpose. The match should be played by holes, and the side winning the majority of holes should be declared the victors. I think would be a fair and satisfactory way of deciding the match.

I am, Sir

Your obedient servant,

R.A.


Could this be someone from the Royal and Ancient in Scotland?

Horace Hutchinson weighs in too.


The Championship Belt

Sir,-Touching the suggestion of "St George" as to an international match at golf between England and Scotland, I would throw out the further idea that a handsome belt should be given to the winning side, to be held by them until defeated in a subsequent encounter. This would add greatly to the interest of the contest.

I am, Sir,

Yours obediently,

H.G. HUTCHINSON


In October 7, 1882, there was this letter:


England v. Scotland at Golf

Sir,-I am very glad to see that the suggestion of "St George" as to an international match between England and Scotland has been so favorably received. I think it is a most excellent idea, and one that is sure to be productive of much good to the game. I would suggest that the match should played on a neutral green, say, at Hoylake or St. Andrews. The players should be chosen by a committee appointed for the purpose. I think would be a good plan to have a trial match in each country, in order to select the players. The match should be played by holes, and the side winning the majority of holes should be declared the victors. I think it would be a fair and satisfactory way of deciding the match. I hope that the suggest will be taken up and carried out.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

A.H. DOLMAN


The first international match did occur two summers later in 1884 at Hoylake. Scotland was the winner.

One more letter of interest. There was another letter in the September 16, 1882 issue of The Field from from St George. An except says:


To the Editor of The Field

...I may add that I am not an amateur myself. I am a professional golfer and I have played in many professional tournaments. But I am quite content with my own position...

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

ST. GEORGE.

Westward Ho!

Sept. 11


St George is a professional from Westward Ho (Royal Devon). Could St George be J.H. Taylor? It appears not. Taylor started playing at Royal Devon as a young boy. He and Horace Hutchinson were quite close, but J.H. Taylor was only 11 years old in 1882.


Perhaps, Hutchinson was involved in helping the golf professional at Westward Ho write these early letters? Could Hutchinson have been the author of both sides of the early conversation? Who was the golf professional at Westward Ho in 1882?


One more addition to this post: I just tried to go back in to the British Newspaper Archive through Gemini (AI) hoping to learn more about Captain Molesworth and A.H. Dolman. It wouldn't search the newspaper archive. I hope these letters are not an "AI hallucination." Hoping someone might be able to confirm that they were actually in the The Field in August, September and October of 1882.