What The Ryder Cup Means to Me

What does the Ryder Cup mean to me?

We are a week away from the start of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. I am uncontrollably excited as I am going! 

I applied for a ticket via the ballot 18 months ago and was lucky enough to be able to attend one of the practice days. We built a sight-seeing trip to New York around this single ticket.

Imagine my surprise and delight when my son told me last week that he had obtained two tickets for myself and my wife to attend on Saturday and Sunday to be part of the greatest golfing show on earth. He emigrated to California this year to work in the golf industry, based in Carlsbad, and is intending to meet up with us during the event for a few days.

As I plan my trip, I have reviewed the contents of the Where I Play Golf site that is now part of the new and improved Golfshake App.

I was amazed at how many of the European based venues I have been lucky enough to play, each one holding memories that last a lifetime.

How Many of These Ryder Cup Venues Have You Played?

My Ryder Cup journey started at The Belfry around 30 years ago when I attended a major conference and awards night as a nominee through work. Rooms were overbooked and some of the group, including me, were bussed to a sister city centre hotel for a night. To compensate for the inconvenience, I was given a luxury upgrade that resulted in me being allocated the room that gives access to the roof and balcony from which the winning team of 1985 that included Ian Woosnam and captain Tony Jacklin spraying champagne over the delirious fans. I can now admit that I too went out onto that rooftop, trying to imagine the ecstatic feelings of that winning team. 

I have returned many times and been able to play the Ryder Cup course each time trying to emulate Seve Ballesteros when he drove the 10th green. As a four time host of the Ryder Cup, this venue is linked in so many ways with the development of the event into what it is today.

Another Belfry related golfing highlight was spending time with the late Dr Phil Weaver OBE who was an administrative and playing golfing giant. He was awarded the OBE for his services to golf in 2012 having served in a series high-profile roles including that of PGA Chairman. He oversaw the administration of the Ryder Cup, culminating in his final speech at Gleneagles being performed in front of millions of TV viewers. As he said, not bad from an Assistant Pro at Beau Desert in Staffordshire.

In 2017 I wrote a series of articles relating to Golf and War as a tribute to my late father. Phil enjoyed them and as a result invited me to spend a day with him at PGA HQ at The Belfry where he was now Curator of the PGA Heritage Museum.

I spent a sublime day in his company examining at first hand some remarkable and extraordinary Ryder Cup related material that was under his care. I recall enjoying a great meal in the committee room that was used for all PGA and Ryder Cup related meetings surrounded by a collection of Welsh gold replica trophies that several players had donated for safe keeping. He was an extraordinary man who is still missed by all who had the fortune to know him.  

Gleneagles was another exceptional golfing experience, not only because of the quality of the golf course but the fact that this was the UK wide final of the Hole in One Club and my performance against dozens of others could earn me a spot to play at TPC Sawgrass.

My nerves got the better of me during the early holes and I struggled with yardages as the course was a blended one between three different tee lengths. I recall on one par 3 selecting a 6-iron when a 9 was needed and watching as the sweetly struck shot air mailed the green until it collided with a Portaloo placed thirty yards from the green.

The toilet occupant was as surprised as me at the shot, but it made me laugh at myself. I relaxed and then proceeded to return four consecutive pars to gain a sixth spot and a ticket to Florida.  

Celtic Manor was another venue I enjoyed trying to emulate the incredible shot played by Luke Donald into the final green. 

Wentworth is another stunning venue that had I had the unique pleasure of accessing from inside the ropes during the BMW PGA event as a volunteer. Scoring for Robert Rock, Pablo Larrazabal and Michael Hoey was a delight.

Walton Heath was one of my first ever reviewed venues for Golfshake and this Braid masterpiece has led me to a decade of extraordinary golfing experiences.

I have played both Moortown and Lindrick that are also exceptional golfing venues with links to the golfing genius of Dr Alister MacKenzie. Moortown has an extraordinary history and clubhouse. Shots played from the lounge through windows comes to mind.

I played Royal Lytham as a guest of the Society of Golf Historians to engage in a hickory event. This course is sublime, and I have returned several times since as it is such a joyous golfing challenge. This venue was the site for the 1977 debut of the first left-handed Ryder Cup player, Peter Dawson. A magnificent golfer and PGA Master Professional who I later had the delight of filming some tuition material with after reviewing his book designed for the senior golfer, called "Now for the Back Nine". 

My experience at the The K Club was also exceptional with a memory of trying to emulate Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy on the last hole culminating in a massive score and many wet golf balls. The hospitality at this venue was simply exceptional.

I have also been blessed to play Adare Manor, the venue of the 2027 Centenary Ryder Cup. ‘Beyond Everything’ was its mantra and it is without doubt one of the most perfectly presented golf courses I have ever seen or played. 54 greenkeeping staff for an 18-hole course supported with a hotel and hospitality of the very finest quality. It also has a practice facility of outstanding quality and style.  https://www.golfshake.com/course/news/13885/Adare_Manor_Feature_Review.html

I have played Le Golf National in Paris a few times. Once on a trip hosted by Thomas Bjorn who was returning to the European Team room at the Versailles Palace for the first time since his victorious captaincy. Bjorn is an exceptional golfer and captain, and I was blessed with the opportunity to talk to him at length about his book "Mind Games". This was an extraordinary experience that opened my eyes to the importance of psychology in top tier golf. Another trip to Paris was with some close friends and we played the course in 30 mph winds that whipped the lakes and water hazards into heaving cauldrons of golfing soup. A fabulous trip with fabulous people that will live long in the memory.

How About These Ryder Cup Experiences

My Ryder Cup bucket list has at its head Valderrama closely followed by Muirfield and Marco Simone. 

I have also had the consummate pleasure to accompany and partner two Ryder Cup legends Phil Price and Jarmo Sandelin in a Staysure Tour PGA Seniors Open Pro-am at the London Club. 

A simply wonderful event with my son caddying for me. Phil won the event and went on to secure the Order of Merit that year. His golf was simply sublime. Playing with the man who beat Phil Mickelson in the Ryder Cup was exhilarating and frightening in equal measure.

I also recall a memorable event at Mannings Heath supported by Paul Way who provided an excellent Q&A session after play over dinner before surprising all the guests by allowing those present the chance for a photograph with his replica Ryder Cup.

The Ryder Cup means a great deal to me, but the greatest chapter could be yet to come as I experience the atmosphere of Bethpage Black.

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