Celebrating a centenary

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Alwoodley celebrates its centenary as a club in 2007.  It is also, of course, the centenary of Mackenzie's first course.  What would be a fitting way to celebrate the latter centenary?

[Jerry Kluger]

I would think that each member should play a round using a set of hickories to understand how the game was played when the course was built.  Perhaps an exhibition match including the pro and the club champ using hickories.  Perhaps Ran will loan you his.

[Sean_A]

Mark

During Buda Cup 2007 perhaps a few matches could be organized with members of Dr. Mac designed courses.  Alwoodley and Moortown would be prime candidates.  Of course organizing an endeavour such as this would take somebody who has incredible knowledge of golf history and a way with words.  

Ciao

Sean

[TEPaul]

"What would be a fitting way to celebrate the latter centenary?"

Mark:

I have no idea of all the various fitting ways of celebrating Alwoodley's centennary but if a good old fashioned "knee-walking" liquor laced party is not part of it they would not be doing Alister any kind of justice at all.

Also, if the participants at the liquor-laced "knee-walking" (actually they can even take the "knee-walkin' part to the next level which is known as "butt-hole" drunk) centennary party would also agree to go home that night with each others' wives then they would undoubtedly really make old Alister proud of the centennary celebration of his first golf course.

And if they want to do even better than all that then they could all show up the next morning and play Alwoodley in their pajamas. (You know what Alister said about playing golf at any time at Pasatiempo in his pajamas).

Do you have any doubt at all why I consider Alister Mackenzie to be the best all around golf course architect who ever lived?

[RSLivingston_III]

Contact the British Golf Collectors Society. Half of there events are devoted to Centenary matches.
Here's the current events page: http://www.britgolfcollectors.wyenet.co.uk/Active.htm
If they want to just rent clubs and play, try Chris Homer:
Past Masters Old Links Golf Events;
www.OldLinksGolf.com  
chris@oldlinksgolf.com

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Ralph,  You know Nick Leefe and obviously he is across all that sort of thing.  I like the idea of the course being played with the kit of the day - if you play from the ladies' tees you are playing the course at about MacK's length (apart from the 10th which was extended in the late 1920s/early 1930s).  Playing it that way would very much illustrate how the course was designed around the Haskell ball, with the greens angled from the line of play but with open fronts for running the ball on.

I'm thinking really of events which would somehow point out to the rest of the golfing world (and especially the architecture-innocents of the UK who don't know a thing about it) just how important Alwoodley is as a course, the first MacK course, and the only original one surviving almost intact in North Leeds.

It's not in my gift to set anything up - I'm not a member there.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Oh but Mark you do have a gift for great ideas. Maybe there is a lurker on here that is a Member and will pick up the ball and run with it.

[Sean_A]

You can bet your bottom dollar that The British Golf Collector's Society has either arranged a Centenary Match already or are in the process.  They challenge most any club of note to a match on their centenary.  

Ciao

Sean

[Andy Levett]

Alwoodley celebrates its centenary as a club in 2007.  It is also, of course, the centenary of Mackenzie's first course.  What would be a fitting way to celebrate the latter centenary?

For every MacKenzie course, whether they are in Leeds, Monterey or County Durham,  to allow courtesy of their course to members of any other MacKenzie course in 2007 for shared enjoyment and insights into his architectural legacy.
(Do I need to add a smiley here, and if so which one?)

Back in the real world, somebody should write a good centenary book  

[Bill_McBride]

Mark, Nick tells me he is planning to join us at the Buda Cup at Hoylake, I'm sure we can explore lots of options then!

I'm planning to take a group from Hoylake on to Leeds to play both MacKenzies if I can work it out.  Alwoodley was a highlight of last year's trip and I'm looking forward to another visit.  It's all pretty much right there in front of you!