THE SUMMER OF 1976 was a scorcher. The pavements were melting. The fairways at Royal Birkdale were burnt brown. In the Open Championship that year watching the superb performances of Johnny Miller and a young Seve Ballesteros was one Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness who had attempted to qualify for the tournament despite having never played a round of golf in his life.
Flitcroft had been inspired after seeing golf on television and was convinced he could do it. He simply completed an entry form, declared himself a professional and was given a tee time in the qualifying round at Formby Golf Club. He showed up full of enthusiasm in plastic shoes and a fishing hat with a half bag of mail order Wilson Avenger clubs. Getting down on all fours at the first he carefully balanced his ball, then sent his opening drive a mere 40 yards down the fairway.
His card would include an eight, a nine, an 11 and a 12 with a question mark as he slogged through an horrific round and carded a 49-over 121, a record which unsurprisingly, still stands. His mother was thrilled when informed that he had scored the highest-ever score in British Open history. His irritated playing partners had their entry fees refunded and Flitcroft politely withdrew.
The R & A, Infuriated at having their prestigious game “made a mockery of” banned him for life from tournaments and all golf clubs, but he afterwards entered other competitions disguised in wigs and moustaches, under pseudonyms such as Gene Paycheki and Gerald Hoppy,
He must have been a perishing nuisance on the course, but he became quite a celebrity and was offered an all-expenses paid trip to the US as guest of honour at a golf tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Flitcoft died in 2007, and a film will shortly be released based on his biography “The Phantom of the Open.”
In the first two rounds of the Open Seve Ballesteros had scored a brilliant 69, thrilling the crowds. He prepared for the third round by visiting a Southport discotheque the night before and was spotted with his brother checking the local talent. On the 3rd day the weather turned wet and the 19 yr. old Spaniard’s play was more erratic but he escaped some near disasters with a 73 and at five under remained two clear of Miller.
In Saturday’s final round he came unstuck at the 1th when he hooked his drive, shanked his second, hit a spectator, ended in an unplayable lie near the green and carded a triple-bogey seven. Miller, quietly making pars look easy with his beloved one iron took the lead and kept it, collecting the Claret Jug and £7,500.
After a brilliant chip at the 18th Seve managed 2nd place, tied with Jack Nicklaus. In the background in one or two photos is Maurice Flitcroft in disguise, who had come to Birkdale with his expenses paid by the Sunday People. The Hackers Hero had made it to the Open.
“SHIP STICKS” is An American golf cub transporting company which has won the “Best Golf Club Shipper” award six years in a row. The door-to-door service picks up the golf clubs and luggage directly from home, office, club or resort and delivers them to their destination anywhere in the world through networks like Fedex and DHL. It is an American success story, but even so, a UK company would probably have hesitated before calling itself a tongue-twister like “Ship Sticks!”
ARCHAEOLOGISTS WERE EXCITED when a bronze age burial was discovered at the Tetney Golf Club near Grimsby. A coffin made from a whole oak tree trunk was dug out of a pond, and was found to have once contained a 4000 year old person who appears to be a tribal leader, together with what looked like a long-handled axe.
Nonsense, it’s obvious who he had been; the local golf club Captain complete with his putter. He was probably trampled by a woolly mammoth strolling across the course.
Until next time: Happy Golfing.
Contact Mick for regripping and repairs. 638 859 475.
