When I was a young lad my Dad had a week every year schmoozing clients at The Open. He and his colleagues would hire a house and I would tag along and sleep on a mattress on the floor for the week. I’d be dropped off at the gates at 7am every morning and meet my Dad again as the last players were coming off the 18th green, late into the evening. It was heaven.
The 1989 Open at Troon is one of those Opens that particularly sticks in my mind. The weather was great all week, and Sunday afternoon brought us a classic finish. I walked all 18 holes with Norman as he roared through the field, before racing back to watch those who had started the day in the lead come in. Grady and Calcavecchia matched Norman and we were treated to the first four hole playoff in major history. While Norman found sand and OB, Calcavecchia held his nerve at 18 and won by 3 shots. The sight of him on the 18th green in his red top is one of my abiding memories of those early Opens.
I’ve been up in the loft to dig out the photos I took with my trusty disk camera that week - no instagram-type vintage filters needed here. I got a good spot at the 18th!
Mark went on to multiple wins on the PGA Tour, before finding success on the Champion’s Tour. He still comes back to play in The Open Championship and is definitely a much loved American visitor to these shores. Thanks a lot for the picks Mark.
1. SAND HILLS
Loved every hole. Cheap to build. Just perfect.
top100golf.com, YouTube Flyover, Planet Golf
1a. ROYAL TROON
Loved it at first sight, I knew I was gonna play well there.
Planet Golf, UK Golf Guy Review
2. SHINNECOCK HILLS
Except when the US Open is there.
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Monthly History
3. MERION
Short but insanely hard. Strategy is at a maximum.
UK Golf Guy Review, NY Times, Philly.com
4. SEMINOLE GOLF CLUB
It’s home. Always loved it.
top100golf.com, Golf Club Atlas
5. RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB
Best bunkering in the US. Every hole is great.
Riviera Country Club, The Fried Egg
6. BALLYBUNION
Thought it was just great. Amazing holes and beautiful.
UK Golf Guy Review, Graylyn Loomis
7. PEBBLE BEACH
Pebble is Pebble. Never played a course that changes as much as that one.
UK Golf Guy Review, Monterey Herald History, Youtube - Tiger Wood 2000
8. DISMAL RIVER
Love the countryside.
Dismal River Website, Links Magazine, Golf Course Gurus
9. NORTH BERWICK
Just amazing.
UK Golf Guy review, Scottish Golf History, Planet Golf
10. TPC SCOTTSDALE
3 Phoenix Open wins!!!
TPC Scottsdale, Golf Digest
A huge thanks to Mark for his choices. You can see others in the ‘Favourite Courses’ series here.
