As the 147th Open Championship gets underway, this week promises to add another entry to the rich history at Carnoustie. From Ben Hogan’s triumph in 1953 in his only trip across the pond, to Tom Watson’s first major victory in 1975, to an ill-fated misadventure in the Barry Burn, Carnoustie has provided more than its fair share of memorable moments at The Open.
For the thousands of golfers who’ve teed it up at Carnoustie while on an H&B Expedition, however, the memories from this infamous links are a little different. They’ve walked in the footsteps of this history first-hand. They’ve stared down Hogan’s Alley and the Spectacle Bunkers, savored the sage wisdom of Carnoustie’s extraordinary caddies, and breathed a sigh of relief upon finding dry land on the final holes.
In advance of The Open, we polled the H&B Expeditionary Forces and asked them to share some of their favorite memories from Carnoustie. We’re showcasing these #CarnoustieMemories all week across the H&B social media channels, but for easy viewing we’ve compiled most of them right here.
Group Captain Dave Lloyd and friends from Woodland Hills Country Club.
The sweet swing of Brant DeLongy on the 18th, en route to a smooth 72 under near-perfect conditions.
Carnoustie was our first round in Scotland and it was unbelievable. It’s not too often that you can play a major championship venue the year it hosts a major. It was definitely intimidating hitting the first tee shot with The Open sign right and grandstand right there.
We’re playing #14 and my son Rick’s caddie tells me that I didn’t raise my son to listen to authority figures. The caddie goes on to say… “I told him to hit 7-iron and stay short of the Spectacle Bunkers, but he says no I’ll hit 3-iron over. Now look at him… He’s buried in the face of the bunker and hitting backwards”
The Glenmoor expedition had once every decade weather for our trip last October 20. Per our caddies, this was the most spectacular day ever. Those are not photoshopped skies! The golf gods paid back favorably for two previous not so kind trips.
I had a hole in one on #8. The marker was on the hole and I think he was excited as I was when we saw it go in. We had a late tee time and I told the marker I’d buy him a pint when we got in.
After my round I went in the bar and told the bartender open up a tab. He said.. “Are you the guy who had the hole in one on #8?” I proudly answered, then he said.. “Oh there is already a tab open.” With that the little old marker help up a pint for me to see. He had been in there drinking for two hours.
Phillip Fleming II, Tyler Moore, and James V. Eaton from Atlanta National Golf Club and the Golf Club of West Virginia with the Claret Jug.
It is always special to have the privilege of accompanying the members of Shady Oaks Country Club to Carnoustie Golf Links. Each time we visit Carnoustie, we have a wonderful experience, and it seems to take on an extra meaning for us because of Mr. Hogan’s association with Shady Oaks and his presence at the club. Because I knew him at Shady Oaks, I was super excited to see where Mr. Hogan made history! I had always heard about that 1953 Open, but the magnitude of Mr Hogan’s accomplishment really did not sink in for me until I finally had the opportunity to personally play and experience Carnoustie. Even after 65 years, both the legend of Mr. Hogan and his victory at Carnoustie continue to be “front and center”. Carnoustie Golf Links is very special and I look forward to watching more history being made during the 2018 Open Championship!
The H&B Driver-Hosts are a multi-talented bunch, as proven by the Photoshop skills of Stewart Croll for the Expedition led by Jennifer Raiford.
We started our round in golf shirts, got hit by a fast moving hail storm in Hogan’s Ally and took off our gortex to finish in golf shirts. While the climate extremes were of interest, the Royal Marines practicing their landing next door in preparation for the first Gulf War really got our attention.
On hole #5, which was called Brae, I hit my 5-iron on my second shot, and it literally took a gull out of the air. The sea gull landed almost exactly next to my ball, and my caddie did not know what to do. She called into the pro shop to find out what to do with the severely injured bird, and to inform me as to the proper rule of golf. Before the answer was communicated I had already “rehit” my second shot very close to the pin.
Within seconds I was informed that the proper action was to play my third shot from where the ball landed, and my young caddie was to remove the bird from the course. She did remove the bird, BUT I insisted on a momentary “local rule” which enabled me to make a putt from 5 feet away for a birdie on Hole #5, after the unfortunate death of another birdie on Hole #5.
I have great memories of Carnoustie. The conditions could not have been worse. 50 degrees with rain and oh the wind. When one of our group asked “Are we actually going to play in this weather?”, our tour driver John said “You might as well, you’ve already paid for it.” So off we went. The photos are of Chuck Gruber, retired Police Chief, and myself standing in one of the Spectacle Bunkers and in the 18th fairway April 2012. Had a great caddie who coached me very well.
Enjoy The Open at Carnoustie. If you have your own Carnoustie memory to share, please feel free to tag us with it @HavershamBaker across social media.
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