Show Notes from Podcast w/ Simon Haines on some of the great golf history fails
The genesis for this episode came on the 17th January. We had just released our first film from our series in The Netherlands, a homage to work of H.S Colt and his influence on the golfing landscape of Holland. Only 20 minutes after the film was published, Simon Haines – esteemed British golf course history expert – was in the WhatsApp’s suggesting the image we had used of Colt was indeed Vardon. Despite the immediate panic he assured us that this was a VERY common mistake and that only about 4 or 5 people in the world would be able to spot the difference as the imagery of Colt was so poorly categorised.
This got us thinking about episodes of the great historical inaccuracies in the game and whether it would make for a good episode. Our pod with Simon is a wide ranging conversation on everything from the process of building an archive of black and white imagery, to restoration projects, what makes for great architecture. In there however we asked for a list of his favourite faux pas and as such we’re proud to bring them to you. These are his top 4:
- The image which Betchworth Park commissioned with the firm ‘Fabulous Masterpieces’ of their designer, Harry Colt for their centenary year. The only minor issue is that the image the club supplied and that was painted in good faith was indeed of Stafford Vere Hotchkin, the proprietor and architect of Woodhall Spa!
- Even more impressively, the company who made the painting went on in their website (attached here) to say that this was a mistake as the image supplied by the club was painted in good faith. They then go on to explain that they have however done other genuine Colt commissions and that this one hangs above the mantle at Wentworth, the site of two of Colt’s finest English layouts. The brilliant part about this, is that this image is of the six time Open Champion and victorian design genius, Harry Vardon!
- Musselburgh is synonymous with The Open, and of course home to The Park family who were dominant in those early years with their long running rivalry with the Morris’ of Fife. The old clubhouse across the road from the course has a wonderful nod to the past champions of Musselburgh, with cravings of their heads, names and year of victory. A lovely bit of insight from Simon on the podcast is that the bust of the 1874 winner – Mungo park snr – is in fact that of his nephew who was not even born in 1874 however has been immortalised as the third ever winner of the Claret Jug once the rota began in earnest!
- The below image of Alister MacKenzie with an old man wearing round spectacles and moustache is billed as the meeting of two great minds at Claremont CC; The good Dr and of course Donald Ross, one of the great American architects and responsible for Pinehurst, and many other courses including Aronimink, Seminole and Inverness. Again, truth getting in the way of a good story here, this is not Donald Ross. It’s just an old man wearing round spectacles and a moustache!
Also, a lovely photo here of a third course at Wentworth which is a somewhat unique green which is shaped like the British Isles and surrounded by sand. If anyone has more info on this course, where there is almost no record of, please do get in touch!
Thanks again to Simon for being a wonderful guest! Keep your ears peeled for an Eclectic 18 with Simon on holes that have been lost to history! In case you want to know for future reference who is and isn’t H.S Colt then below Simon has kindly labelled them for you!
