Right here’s a powerful stat—Golf Care ambassador Bernard Gallacher has attended each Ryder Cup match since 1969.
Be it as a participant, captain, vice-captain to Tony Jacklin, radio commentator or particular visitor, Gallacher has worn many Ryder Cup hats, because it have been.
In his personal phrases, listed below are a handful of Ryder Cup venues which have stood out to him over time…
Royal Birkdale
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1965, 1969
I’ve particular recollections right here for apparent causes.
The 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale was the primary I ever performed in. I used to be simply 20, which on the time, made me the match’s youngest-ever participant.
The course at Birkdale is lengthy and troublesome, with an excellent final gap par 5, which finishes in entrance of the iconic clubhouse.
That match in 1969 can be extensively remembered for Jack Nicklaus conceding an 18-inch putt to Tony Jacklin within the final match to make sure the competitors resulted in a tie. That is nonetheless thought of one in every of sport’s best gestures even right this moment.
Muirfield (AKA: The Honourable Firm of Edinburgh Golfers)
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1973
One other of my favorite Ryder Cup venues, Muirfield, is an
iconic course on the south banks of the Firth of Forth, about 20 miles from Edinburgh.
The course is all the time in glorious situation, with slender fairways, extraordinarily penal tough, deep bunkers, and faultless greens. Jack Nicklaus received his first Open at Muirfield largely utilizing a 1-iron off the tee.
I performed within the Ryder Cup in 1973 right here, and though we began properly, we have been overwhelmed by the higher facet ultimately. Personally, my week was spoiled by meals poisoning after the opening day, which compelled me to sit down out on the second day—disappointing for my companion, Brian Barnes, and me, particularly contemplating our robust begin on day one.
Laurel Valley, Pennsylvania
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1975
Arnold Palmer was co-owner right here and captained the US facet to
a snug victory on residence turf in 1975. I assume you possibly can class it as one
of essentially the most iconic Ryder Cup venues for that purpose alone!
It’s a parkland course with gentle fairways, thick tough and intensely quick greens, which the European facet discovered troublesome, contributing to our defeat.
Regardless of Arnold captaining the American facet, I keep in mind the match being fairly poorly attended—primarily due to the course’s remoteness and exclusivity. Nonetheless, I nonetheless discovered it an awesome expertise personally, and it was good to see the place Arnold grew up.
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1961, 1977
Royal Lytham & St Annes is one other stunning seaside course
and one of many nice Ryder Cup venues of yesteryear.
The strategically-placed bunkers off the tee make it a troublesome
driving course. The entrance 9 heads away from the clubhouse, and the again 9 heads
again, so relying on the wind, one half will all the time be check. Unusually,
the opening gap is a troublesome lengthy par 3.
Apparently, the 1977 Ryder Cup right here was the final time a Britain and Eire-only workforce competed for the title. It switched to Staff Europe from 1979 onwards, on Jack Nicklaus’ advice.
PGA Nationwide Golf Membership, Palm Seashore Florida
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1983
The 1983 match in Florida was my final taking part in Ryder Cup
after that includes in eight consecutive tournaments—I had innings, as they are saying!
Tony Jacklin captained the European facet, and Jack Nicklaus captained the US that yr.
This well-known course has hosted a number of massive tournaments.
Apart from the Ryder Cup, it has hosted 19 consecutive PGA Seniors, in addition to the
PGA Championships in 1987.
You may say it’s a ‘typical’ Floridian golf course; pretty huge gentle fairways, troublesome Bermuda grass tough, loads of water hazards and speedy greens. There’s all the time a robust wind, too, which makes taking part in situations difficult. We misplaced narrowly by a degree that yr, however the match proved to be a turning level sooner or later fortunes of the European workforce.
The Belfry
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1985, 1989, 1993, 2002
Lastly, we’ve got the Belfry—simply my favorite Ryder Cup course and venue. It ticks all of the packing containers to host a profitable, thrilling occasion. The stadium design is right for spectators.
The course itself teases the gamers on the entrance 9, with just a few troublesome water holes—nevertheless it grows harder because the spherical progresses, beginning with the signature 10th hole, after all, the place Seve memorably hit the island inexperienced together with his tee shot in 1985.
It climaxes with probably the most demanding ending holes in golf—a troublesome tee shot over water and a protracted second shot to a tiered inexperienced. Who may presumably overlook Christy O’Connor’s 2-iron over water on the final to beat Fred {Couples} and safe a drawn match in 1989!?
A profitable Ryder Cup wants a robust infrastructure, and
The Belfry is second to none in that respect. Dave Thomas designed the course particularly
to host the Ryder Cup.
As everyone knows, Tony Jacklin’s impressed captaincy in 1985 produced the primary European Ryder Cup win since Lindrick in 1957—almost 30 years—with Sam Torrance holing the profitable putt in opposition to Andy North, triggering wild celebrations in Warwickshire.
Obtained Ryder Cup fever? You would possibly need to take into account defending your self and your gear with specialist golf insurance earlier than heading out for a spherical.
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