best / most famous golfer to play your home course

[theeaglehunter]

Having seen some of the names of the players who have been round the course I had an interview at today (think it went well ) I was wondering which players have graced your clubs fairways. The club im hoping to join may have a bit of an advantage due to hosting the lagonda trophy (top amateur event) but the likes of Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, kenneth ferrie, Zane Scotland, Russel Claydon (this is his home club) and Oliver Fisher to name a few of the better known current tour players, have won at the course. Who do you know of playing your track?

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Erm, Name any pro.
Although the one guy we can lay claim to that no other course in the UK can is Hogan.
We're very proud of that.

Edit. Sorry, Panmure can lay claim to that as well.

 

[bunkered]

Atticus, can you tell me if carnoustie and st andrews are members golf clubs, ie do you have any say what happins on the golf course any changes to the golf course or what your money is spent on as to regards the course

 

[bunkered]

What i really meant to say is do the members own the course.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

The Carnoustie links are owned by the people of the town. As is St Andrews I believe. It is run by The Carnoustie Golf Links Committee. We pay our green fees to them and they maintain the courses. We pay our club fees to whatever club we choose to join (or whatever one will have us).
If I'm perfectly honest, I'm not quite sure who is actually on the links committee or who votes them on.
I would imagine the local clubs have a say on who sits on the committee, but no-one has asked my opinion on the matter and I must say that that doesn't bother me one bit as they seem to doing quite ok without it.
The links are open to anyone to come up and have a wander about them, as long as they don't bother the golfers. We have a lot of dog walkers wandering about the courses on a fine day.
It's what golf is all about. Not your elitist, members only nonsense.

 

[golfcitydweller]

same as `af` ..here in st.andrews..u name them -theyv`e been here ..for me ,nobody beats `seve` ..close 2nd trevino..

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our course was opened by Barry Lane. He shot a 65 which was and still is the course record. The Duke of York has also played.

 

[rgs]

Our course designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr-so he is the most famous golfer to play the course.

The course held a 3 day Europro tournament in May 2007 so maybe a star of the future played.

 

[Junior]

Hi Atticus,

Not sure if he ever swung a club their but Hogan may have played Ganton (Scarborough) when he was captain of the 1949 Ryder Cup.

He still has his name on a locker there ! One of my favourite courses - can highly recommend it.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Nice one Junior, Will have to do a bit of research into that one. Get back to you.

 

[Junior]

Yeah, interesting that Hogan never played much in the UK !

Most famous player to have played our course is Sandy Lyle, it was quite a few years back as part of a promotion for Ballatines whisky.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Found this Junior
http://www.rydercup.com/2004/us/history/1949.html
which includes

The U.S. Team was without three of America's top players. Non-playing Captain Ben Hogan was still crippled from his February 1949 automobile accident, while Byron Nelson had retired from serious competition and U.S. Open winner Cary Middlecoff was not a PGA member, and couldn't compete.

So I doubt he'd even have a swing.
Our pride is in tact.

 

[Junior]

Excellent investigation Atticus Also - what a great website.

 

[shanker]

Congratulations theeaglehunter on a really interesting question. In 2006 I had the pleasure (?) of watching Miguel Angel Jimenez demolish the course I now play on. After years of playing, it made me see what an ordinary golfer I really am.

 

[theeaglehunter]

thanks shanker, I appreciate the comment. I was just shocked that these people I see on television all the time have been round a course that I have played and hope to join, and was interested to see how many of the forumers courses the tour pros have played. I also understand what your saying about jimenez, I was looking at some of the scores posted and just had to smile at the standard of play these guys uphold.

 

[brendy]

Garth Magimpsey is arguably Northern Irelands most successful amateur golfer never to turn pro.
Rory Macilroy practices at our club with our teaching pro though I dont think he is a member.

 

[The_Squire]

Whoever has played in The Wales Open, the list is too long to post.

 

[clubchamp07]

I had the pleasure of playing against Gareth last year in the morton cup needless to say he won. I was as nervous as hell. After setteling down I played pretty well but it was 2 little to late

 

[The23rdman]

Our place was designed by Dr. Alistair Mackenzie. A cahallenge match between Henry Cotton and Gene Sarazen was played there in '33 and we narrowly missed out on the 1st UK Ryder cup.

 

[Dodger]

My old man played in our club pro am in 83 with Howard Clark,I played a 16 year old Ken Ferrie and beat him 2 and 1 in a league match at our place and have went on to be friendly with him ever since,I also played county Junior golf with him and could tell then he was going to be good.I also had the pleasure of playing with George Mcgregor of Walker Cup fame a couple of times and David Drysdale the tour journeyman plays alot at our place too.