As might be expected from the country's premier club, Portmarnock take considerable care when arranging friendly, inter-club fixtures. But in the context of next week's happening, they clearly surpassed themselves in 1994 when, through the good offices of Joe Carr, they embarked on home and away matches with Valderrama.
The upshot is that no fewer than 34 Portmarnock members will be officiating at the Ryder Cup as marshals of the first and second holes. They will be "captained" by John O'Brien and will be guests at a special dinner at Valderrama next Wednesday.
Along with Pine Valley, Muirfield and Royal St George's, Portmarnock complete the four clubs with which Valderrama play regular, friendly matches. And the Spanish establishment is currently in the ascendancy, as we are reminded in the latest newsletter from its owner, Jaime Patino.
He wrote: "Valderrama has avenged last year's defeat at the hands of that grand old club, Portmarnock. So sweet was this levelling of scores with the resourceful Irishmen, led by the past captain Jim Harnett, that I am going to break with tradition and name each member of our winning team."
Patino then went on to name the 12-man home team which had played six fourball matches over 36 holes. It included one of his twin sons, Felipe Ortiz-Patino, but the owner himself was in the defeated line-up at Portmarnock last year.
Meanwhile, there will be a total of 604 marshals on duty at the Ryder Cup. A number of Spanish clubs are involved but the only overseas clubs, apart from Portmarnock, are Oak Hill (where the 1995 Ryder Cup was played), Brookline (venue for the 1999 matches), Pine Valley, Brocket Hall and The Berkshire.
Incidentally, Portmarnock made it clear that each of their members was expected to look after his own travel and accommodation. In fact the only concession they got was free entry into the Ryder Cup each day for marshalling duties. Which most golf fans would consider to be nice work, if you can get it.
"IF I had won the singles match against Christy O'Connor Jnr on the final day, it would have been like winning 12 tournaments." Fred Couples, recalling his dramatic, 18th hole defeat by the Irishman in the 1989 Ryder Cup at The Belfry.
Ireland's greatest contribution to a Ryder Cup clash, occurred at Wentworth in 1953, when Fred Daly and Harry Bradshaw were true saviours of the home cause. By combining in a foursomes victory and then going on to win their singles matches, the Irish pair contributed three points to their team's total in a 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 defeat.
The performances, especially a 9 and 7 singles win over Ted Knoll, greatly embellished the fast-growing Daly legend. Among the stories from that time, was a charming one which stemmed from Fred's meeting with a Scottish player of decidedly modest talents.
"With a grip like that, I don't suppose you hit it very far?" suggested Daly. "As a matter of fact, I'm considered almost puritanically straight," replied the Scot, coldly. But Fred wasn't about to be dismissed that easily.
"With a grip like that, I don't imagine you hit it very far?" he said. "Actually my pals think I'm very long . . ." "I suppose you play a great deal?" "As a matter of fact I play very little." With a sparkle in his eye, Fred exclaimed triumphantly: "Well, you can be certain that the more you play, the worse you'll bloody get."
ON March 31st, 1939, the PGA of America announced details of the seventh Ryder Cup to be played at Ponte Vedra GC, Florida, on November 18th and 19th of that year. On April 4th, a selection committee including J. H. Taylor, appointed Henry Cotton as playing captain of the 1939 British Ryder Cup team.
In May, the US team was named: Vic Ghezzi, Ralph Guldahl, Jimmy Hines, Harold McSpaden, Dick Metz, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Paul Runyan, Horton Smith and Sam Snead. Walter Hagen was non-playing captain. On August 21st eight British players were nominated: Jimmy Adams, Dick Burton, Cotton, Sam King, Alf Padgham, Dai Rees, Charles and Reg Whitcombe. Two further picks were to be added a month later.
The Times correspondent wrote: "I have never been to Florida but I imagine that in the middle of November, the weather there will be what we should think thoroughly pleasant for golf." Then, in a swipe at the opposition, he went on: "The modern American professional has no crowd appeal. He just goes on playing what a famous cricketer called the business shot."
Within days, however, news broke that German troops had invaded Poland and the Luftwaffe were bombing Polish cities. On Sunday, September 3rd, Britain declared a state of war with Germany. Within 24 hours, the British PGA had issued a brief statement: "The PGA announces that the Ryder Cup matches for this year has (sic) been cancelled by the state of war prevailing in this country. The PGA of America is being informed."
Incensed at being omitted from the US team, having been in every line-up since 1927, Gene Sarazen declared he would pick 10 men who could beat the "Ryder Cuppers." Hagen accepted the challenge. The match was played on July 16th and 17th, 1940.
An emerging player by the name of Ben Hogan beat Snead by 2 and 1 in the singles after the partnership of Hogan and Jimmy Demaret had defeated Guldahl and Snead by one up in the foursomes. But Hagen's team won by 7-5. And more than $100,000 was raised in gate receipts for war charities.
Strange things have happened over the years, not only in competition for the Ryder Cup, but to the trophy itself. And the official ceremonies at Royal Lytham in 1961, are thought to be the most bizarre in the tournament's history.
When the Americans arrived, skipper Jerry Barber, was gently asked if he could hand over the trophy so that it might be put on display. Red-faced, Barber found himself stuttering: "Gee! We had so much baggage I clean forgot about that little ol' cup."
Whereupon his wife took control of the situation, assuring the British that the trophy wasn't lost. In fact she distinctly remembered her absent-minded husband placing it in the vault of their London hotel for safekeeping. So, the trophy was duly put on a train and arrived in time for the closing ceremony when it was returned to the dubious custody of the US skipper.
This day in golf history . . . On September 20th 1981, the greatest of all Ryder Cup teams gained a totally predictable 18 1/2 to 9 1/2 victory over Europe at Walton Heath. It also marked the only occasion under the current format that an Irishman emerged with two points. On the opening day, Des Smyth and Bernard Gallacher had a 3 and 2 foursomes win over Hale Irwin and Raymond Floyd before Smyth partnered Jose-Maria Canizares to a 6 and 5 fourball win over Bill Rogers and Bruce Lietzke.
Captained by Dave Marr, the American line-up on that occasion, with their major titles, was: Jack Nicklaus (17), Tom Watson (5), Lee Trevino (4), Floyd (2), Johnny Miller (2), Rogers (1), Tom Kite, Larry Nelson (1), Ben Crenshaw, Lietzke, Irwin (2) and Jerry Pate (1).
As can be seen, they had 35 major titles between them at that stage. But the haul was later enhanced to 47 after Nicklaus won the 1986 US Masters; Watson captured two further British Open titles (1982 and 1983) and a US Open (1982); Trevino won the 1984 USPGA Championship; Floyd the 1982 USPGA and the 1986 US Open; Kite the 1992 US Open; Nelson the 1983 US Open, Crenshaw (US Masters 1984 and 1995) and Irwin (1990 US Open). So, Lietzke is now the only member from that side without a major title.
In brief: Paddy O'Looney informs me that SWING will have US astronaut Lt Col Jim Halsell Jnr and his wife as guests at a special dinner in Tralee GC on Monday to celebrate "his recent space shuttle missions and endeavours on behalf of SWING . . . Michael Dolan of Mount Temple GC is staging the grandly-titled Autumn Country and Western Ryder Scratch Cup, in honour of the late Pat Dolan, a week tomorrow.
Teaser: In strokeplay, a competitor returned a wrong score because his score card did not include a penalty he had incurred. The competitor was unaware that he had incurred the penalty. The competitor's marker (a fellow-competitor) was aware of the penalty but nevertheless signed the card. The facts were discovered before the result of the competition was officially announced. The competitor is, of course, disqualified (Rule 6-6d). Is the marker also subject to disqualification?
Answer: Yes. The committee should disqualify the marker under Rule 33-7 (Disqualification penalty; committee discretion).
