PerryGolf -- The Advisor Travel Newsletter


SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2003		VOLUME 03 NUMBER 03

CLASSIC COURSES - GANTON GOLF CLUB
SITE OF THE 2003 WALKER CUP MATCHES SEPTEMBER 6 & 7
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Ganton Course When Ganton hosted the Walker Cup this September 6 & 7, it formed an exclusive triumvirate with Royal Birkdale and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Gofers as the only clubs to have had the honor of also staging the Ryder Cup Matches and the Curtis Cup. To date the United States had fared well at Ganton, winning the 1949 Ryder Cup, under Captain Ben Hogan, by the score of 7 to 5, and the 2000 Curtis Cup by a 10 to 8 margin. Unfortunately their luck did not continue this year with the GB & I team, successfully retaining the Walker Cup for an unprecedented third time. It was an exciting match with the final result held in the balance until the last two matches when Stuart Manley won a point and Nigel Edwards halved his match to insure the thrilling come from behind victory by the narrowest of margins 12 1/2 to 11 1/2.

But these are just the beginning of the long list of quality championships held at Ganton, and the list of past champions who have won here is just as impressive. A partial list of winners starts with Joyce Wethered winning the 1923 English Ladies Championship; in 1960 it was GB Wolstenholme hoisting the trophy for the English Open Amateur Championship; Sir Michael Bonallack currently the leading Walker Cup all-time point leader for GB & I and member of 9 teams, won the 1968 English Amateur Championship; The 1975 Dunlop Masters Tournament was won by Bernard Gallacher; Peter McEvoy, the winning 1999 & 2001 Walker Cup GB & I Captain and 5-time Walker Cup player, won the 1977 Amateur Championship; Nick Faldo, won the 1981 Sun Alliance PGA Championship; a young Jose Marie Olazabal won the 1985 British Youths Open Amateur Championship; and Gary Wolstenholme himself a current 5-time Walker Cup member, won twice here at The 1991 Amateur Championship and again at The 1998 British Mid-Amateur, and his local knowledge of the demanding course was no doubt a positive factor in his outstanding play this year. Even Babe Zaharias played at Ganton. In 1951 she led five other woman professionals from the U.S. in an International Mixed Foursomes Match, pairing with British men professionals.

Ganton Clubhouse One reason for the quality of the tournaments held here and their champions is that the list of designers, architects and players that have left their mark on the course are equally as impressive. Tom Chisholm of St. Andrews, designed the original course in 1891, assisted by Robert Bird, the club professional. In 1893 Tom Dunn made some alterations to the course. A major redesign of the course occurred in 1905 with four of the game's best players of the day, or any era (combined they won 17 Open Championships and had 16 runner-ups, and 2 U.S. Open Championships and 4 runner-ups), contributing their advice - Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, James Braid and JH Taylor. Harry Colt was called upon in 1907, 1911 and 1931, Alister McKenzie redesigned the greens in 1920, CK Cotton added advice in 1948 and 1952, and finally Frank Pennick lent his expertise in 1963. Indeed Ganton seems to improve with time and moved up to #62, from #71, in the latest 2003 GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Courses in the World Ratings.

Technically Ganton is an inland course, lying nine miles from the sea. However, the quiet undulating heathland today's course is set upon, started life thousands of years ago as an inlet from the North Sea. It is this history as a previous linksland that gives the course its freedraining sandy subsoil, which is perfect for growing the bent and fescue fairways that provide the firm and springy turf, common on links courses. In addition, prevalent winds are a constant factor in shot strategy. So good is Ganton as a championship venue that Gary Player once said that Ganton is the only inland course worthy of hosting the Open Championship. Most likely because it provides the playing characteristics of the rota courses that lie next to the sea with its fast running fairways and firm, true greens, that, like at Royal St. George's at this year's Open Championship, require the ultimate in shot making and control. Not to mention patience.

Par 4 6th hole Besides the natural hazards of impenetrable gorse that adds beauty and treachery to the layout, there are 111 man made bunkers protecting the course from low scoring. Added over the years, it is these bunkers that give the course its teeth. These are not placed on the course for decoration - these are real penal bunkers. Find one and be prepared to drop at least a shot. As you drive up the lane to the clubhouse, you are greeted by glimpses of them, seeming to welcome you and say "Good Morning, we hope to be introduced." as Patric Dickinson, in his classic book A Round of Gold Courses, described them. They are, however, one feature of Ganton you do not want to become familiar with. If you do find yourself in one of Ganton's bunkers it is best to heed the wisdom of Harry Vardon, Ganton's past Head Professional, "I have long since come to the conclusion that it is unwise to entertain any notion about performing heroics in hazards. The best thing to do is to look for the easiest way out."

Ganton is a course that requires your total concentration throughout the round. Give up a shot due to a mental error and you will have a difficult, if not impossible task, in reclaiming it. One reason is because the layout only has two par 5's, the 9th, although short at 505 yards, has a small green guarded by bunkers and gorse making it a difficult 2-shot target, and the 524-yard, 13th hole a better chance for birdie. In fact, aggressive players will have their best shot at making up ground on holes Nos.11-14.
The close is a stiff test of maintaining par, let alone making birdies. No. 15 and No. 16 are two of the British Isles demanding two-shot holes to subtle greens that will no doubt have challenging pin positions at the Walker Cup. Hole 17, the last of the par 3's is a testing 249 yards, with a punishing up and down for those that fail to find the putting surface on their tee shot. The entire round climaxes on the 434-yard, par 4 18th. It demands an accurate tee shot in order to be in position to hit your second shot into a sloping, well-bunkered green. Both single and team championships have been won and lost on this hole alone.

H.S.Colt's Classic 4th hole But perhaps the most memorable hole, and many say best on the course, is the 406-yard, par 4, 4th, attributed to Harry Vardon. Recognized in the book, The 500 Greatest Golf Holes in the World, by George Peper, the hole is characterized by the second shot, which plays over a deep valley to a plateau green that is heavily bunkered on the right, and protected by thick gorse over the putting surface. This comes after a series of opening holes that brilliantly utilize the contours of the land and require accurate straight driving. The other outstanding hole on the front side is the 435-yard, Par 4, 7th notable for the cluster of bunkers that guard the angle of the dogleg.

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