2002 Ryder Cup And the Glorious Golf In Central England

Several times in my business career Kelly Tighe, VP of Sales for West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, has asked me if I thought a sales incentive trip to play golf in some fabulous location was a good idea. So it was in 2001 with the idea of going to the Ryder Cup along with playing golf in central England. 

The details of the trip would be set up by a 'local', West Bend travel planner and golf professional John Gibson, a native of York, England. The 2001 Ryder Cup was to be played September 28-30 at the Brabazon Course at the Belfry in Warwickshire, England, a town just north of Birmingham.  We would fly to London, go north and play several courses, then attend the Ryder Cup. It was all set. The contest winners were determined, excitement for the trip building. Then it happened, 9/11/2001, postponing the trip for a year. 

The decision had a permanent effect. All future Ryder Cup Matches were moved to even-numbered years. It also caused the President's Cup and the Solheim Cup to change all future events to odd-numbered years. 

Nevertheless, 12 months later our group gathered at Heathrow Airport and headed into England to play golf and see the Ryder Cup, September 27-29. Never having been to central England, I was struck by the beauty of the wooded, rolling hills and the quaint small towns. 

Americans plan a golf trip to Great Britain and Ireland targeting the high profile, well-known courses. The joy of the 2002 trip was seeing a host of great courses I was unaware of. Scotland, Ireland, and England all have "hidden gems" which are as good and less expensive than the famous courses. As golf travel becomes more common, I look for more groups to add lesser known courses which will cause interaction with locals to increase.

Since we were across the pond to see the Ryder Cup, John Gibson's tour featured former Ryder Cup sites. Our trip started at Ganton Golf Club located in the North Sea town of Scarborough in central England. An inland course, Ganton has a rich history having hosted the 1949 Ryder Cup, the 2000 Curtis Cup, the 2003 Walker Cup and a host of other important amateur championships. Ben Hogan, recovering from his auto accident captained the 1949 Ryder Cup Team to victory with Sam Snead leading the way.

Built-in 1896 by Tom Chisholm, Ganton has several high profile names in its past. Harry Vardon, an Open winner, was it's first professional. The course was later altered by Alister MacKenzie and the great H. S. Colt. In addition, James Baird and Ted Ray, more big names in the history of golf, altered the course. How could a small town golf course attract such greats in the game as this? From its inception, Scarborough must have had members with a desire to have the best course in the land. 

With over 100 strategically placed bunkers Ganton is a gem, rated in the Top 10 courses in England. 

We moved to Lindrick Golf Club, site of the 1957 Ryder Cup where Great Britain won the Cup for the first time in 25 years. With Captain Dia Rees leading the way, it was a shocking loss for USA Captain Jack Burke. At 6650 yards from the tips, Lindrick is a wonderful parkland course. Still rated one of the "Top 100" courses in England, it would be a nice addition to a golf tour of central England. 

The highlight of the trip was seeing the town of Woodhall Spa and playing the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club. It is rated #54 in the world for good reason. It's a 36 hole complex comprised of the Hotchkin Course and the Bracken Course.                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club is one of the greatest golf courses I have ever played. Designed by Harry Vardon in 1891, it has a flavor of Pine Valley with some of the holes and topography. Gentle slopes move through the heavily tree-lined course.  Well placed bunkers are traditional of sod wall construction. It's a course with generous fairways, but severe penalty if missed. 

The course took me by surprise. It's the home of English Golf Union, an organization that runs golf in England, I had no idea I would be as great as it is. Full of gorse and trees, it demands good golf shots be made. 

I loved every minute at Woodhall Spa. If I was in charge of a golf trip to Great Britain, Woodhall Spa would be at the top of my list. If you are lucky enough to get to Woodhall Spa don't miss wandering around a classically scenic town in the middle of a rolling wooded area. 

Architect Tom Doak was hired in 2016 to refurbish the Hotchkin Course. I look forward to an opportunity to see his work.

Full of stories of Woodhall Spa we moved on to the Ryder Cup at The Belfry. Home to the British PGA, The Belfry has three courses and is a major destination golf resort. 2002 was the fourth time The Ryder Cup had been held at The Belfry. It is located at Whishaw, Warwickshire in the North West of England, just north of the industrial city of Birmingham.

As with all Ryder Cup Matches, getting around the course and viewing golf was difficult. Huge crowds packed the course. The Belfry looks more like a traditional American parkland course than one of the well-known links courses in Great Britain. Tree-lined fairways, water hazards and thick rough were the dominant features.

Because of 9/11, the atmosphere was reserved and polite. There was no cheering misplayed shots, no shouting at the American players. There was normal enthusiasm for the home team and polite applause for good play by the Americans. "It was the ultimate in etiquette, respect, and sportsmanship," said USA Captain Curtis Strange.

Tied at 8-8 going to the final day of singles matches, Captain Curtis Strange elected to put his strongest players out last. The number one player in the world, Tiger Woods, and the number two player, Phil Michelson, were counted on to deliver victory.

I staked out a spot on the driveable par four, tenth hole. It's a 311 yard downhill hole with water in front and a narrow creek along the left and rear of the green. It was the ultimate risk-reward hole. A Ryder Cup Match is about the experience of being there, not the expectation of watching much golf. It's all the people from around the world you meet sitting waiting for the play to come by. I had an enjoyable two and a half hours waiting and watching.

Only the shortest of drivers did not try to hit the green. Hal Sutton playing Bernhard Langer hooked his tee shot near where I was seated. The stocky Sutton arrived, pulled a club and hit a wonderful chip on the way to a 4 & 3 loss. 

As the final group passed, I wandered out on the course to see Phil Michelson blast a drive into the water. It was a par four hole where every other player laid up short of a narrow neck leading to the green. Not Phil. Taking a risk I thought ridiculous, he lost the hole and his match to Philip Price.

The USA did not win one match of the final five that Sunday and fell to the European Team 15 1/2 to 12 1/2. I stood in a huge throng of spectators who erupted in cheers as Paul McGinley made a 10' putt to tie Jim Furyk and assure victory for the Euros. Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson, Davis Love and Jim Furyk, the top four players on the US team failed to win a singles match. 

We played the Belfry the next day. Playing a tournament course the day after always proves one thing, how good the professionals are. Long, difficult rough with fast greens and impossible hole locations sent our scores soaring.

The experience of a Ryder Cup is always a thrill. However, the greatest memories of this trip are playing the great courses in Central England in A Life in Golf.