Tales From The Bunker

We would be remiss if we did say Happy Birthday to Tom’s mother who turned 97 yesterday.  A great mother and grandmother, we all love her very much.

Speaking of old (sorry Mom), I have heard the name Old Tom Morris for years and never really had any idea who he was.  After some investigation I realized he should be featured in a blog as he was a major golf figure in the “old” days.
 
Thomas Mitchell Morris, Sr. (16 June 1821 – 24 May 1908) was born in St. Andrews Scotland. Morris was the son of a weaver, and began golf by age ten knocking wine-bottle corks pierced with nails (to serve as balls) around the streets of the town using a homemade club. He started caddying and playing golf from a young age, and formally was hired as an apprentice at age 14 by Allan Robertson, considered by golf historians to be the first golf professional. (See earlier blog).

From the early 1840s, Robertson often chose Morris as his partner in challenge matches, played by alternate shot format, which was the principal form of competition at that time. It was said the two never lost a team match played on even terms. The team became known as “The Invincibles”. Morris by his early 20s was the second-best player in St. Andrews, close to Robertson in golf skill, and won an informal match from him over the Old Course in 1843, but the two players rarely played seriously head-to-head. As Robertson’s employee, Morris was in somewhat of an awkward position

After splitting with Robertson over a disagreement about the new guttie golf ball, Morris was then hired by Prestwick which was just starting up. At Prestwick, he designed, laid out, and maintained the course, ran his own golf equipment business selling gutties and clubs, gave instruction to players, and ran events. He was influential in beginning The Open Championship (Started upon Robertson’s death – see earlier blog) in1860, and struck the very first shot in that event.

A four time winner of The Open, He still holds the record as the oldest winner of The Open Championship at 46. Morris held the record for the largest margin of victory in a major championship (13 strokes in the 1862 Open Championship), which stood until Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes. Also, he was part of the only father/son couple being winner and runner-up.

Our next blog will focus on his accomplishments off the golf course.

Remember to keep’em in the fairway.

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We are never in a hurry to play golf in the late winter/ early spring. Some people are fanatic about getting out at the first opportunity but all we can think of is the wet conditions and mud everywhere when we are done. For us the trigger to begin to play is The Masters. When it is Master’s time it is golf time.

For most people over 40 the all time greatest Masters has to be the 1986 Masters with Jack Nicklaus’s electrifying back nine. I was on my way to the driving range when I heard on the radio that Jack was creeping into contention. An immediate u turn brought me back home and to the TV set for an unforgettable experience. I still remember my emotions as he hit each shot and drained each putt.

We found a short video of the highlights of the back nine that we would like you to enjoy. Someone added some lame music to the video but just try to ignore it and relive those great memories.

As purely naked promotion we would like to add that we have a one hour version of the 1986 Masters available for sale if you would like to see more this classic. But we would never be so obvious in promoting our product so forget we even brought it us.

Enjoy these classic moments one more time!

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As the golf season approaches we want everyone to try and remember that golf is supposed to be fun.  Sure if can be frustrating but ultimately it is only a number. No matter what you shoot your dog will still love you (and maybe your spouse if you are not to upset).  Most importantly the sun will rise again in the east and you can have another chance to play the greatest game ever invented.

Below is a brief video of people who do not understand it is just a form a recreation and it is supposed to be fun.  Remember the old bumper sticker…A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at the office. Believe it!!

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Apparently I have a fascination with old golfers (hopefully my wife also does). So to continue the series on early golfers we feature Allan Robertson. Probably not a single reader has any idea who he is and until last weekend I did not either. But while doing research on a different old golfer (future blog) I ran upon Allan.

Robertson has the unique distinction of being generally regarded as the world’s first professional golfer. In the mid 19th century golf was played mainly by well-off gentlemen as hand-crafted clubs and balls were expensive. Professionals made a living from playing for bets, caddying, ball and club making, and instruction. Robertson was the first and the most famous of this pros. Legend says Robertson himself was never beaten as an individual when playing for money

Robertson was considered the premier ball and club maker of the time, and exported his merchandise all over the world. It was a lucrative trade with an ever-increasing market. The business was originally set up by his grandfather, who passed it down to his son before Robertson himself finally inherited it. When the less expensive guttie ball was introduced Robertson tried to suppress it adoption to protect his 100 year old business of making the more expensive featherie ball. Realizing it was a battle he could not win, he quickly began making the guttie ball.
He also turned to golf course design and Robertson’s first design work, in which he was assisted by Old Tom Morris, was at Carnoustie in 1842, when the two laid out ten new holes. Carnoustie gradually evolved into one of the world’s best courses. He also significantly improved the Old Course by enlarging its greens, to allow for the increase in golf popularity. The out-and-back flow of play over a narrow strand of fairway at the Old Course eventually led to the establishment of huge double greens, virtually unique in Scotland.

Robertson died at age 44 a few months after an attack of jaundice. The Open Championship came about as a result of Robertson’s death. Since he was recognized as the best player during much of his lifetime, golfers at Prestwick formed a competition in 1860, to decide who would succeed him as the ‘Champion Golfer’. The Open, continuing annually ever since except for war years, is the longest-running golf championship, and the oldest of the four major championships.

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