Ann Taylor Cotton

Ann Taylor Cotton

The Ryder Cup Golf-is the story

The Ryder Cup, one of the latest sporting events founded on prestige rather than prize money, the period over of 34 contests 77 years. The origin of the idea to stage international matches between the best professionals in America and Britain.

Ryder was an Englishman St Albans in Hertfordshire, who made his fortune selling penny seed packets. Before the matches at Wentworth, Ryder had engaged the British star Abe Mitchell as his personal golf tutor. Mitchell beat the reigning British Open champion Jim Barnes, 8 and 7 in the singles and then partnered with George Duncan in the quartets beat Hagen and Barnes, 9 and 8.

After the matches, Ryder had tea with British Team Members George Duncan and Mitchell. Also joining them were Hagen and American teammate Emmett French. Duncan suggested Ryder provide a trophy and encourage the creation of parties on a regular basis. Ryder agreed at once and commissioned the design of the gold cup that bears his name and picture of Mitchell on top.

Few amateurs who took up golf 50 years have been met have left as many positive impressions about the game as Samuel Ryder. Born in 1858, the son of a Manchester corn merchant and educated at the University of Manchester. His father doubted the wisdom of his son plans to sell penny seed packets to English garden lovers. The young Ryder decided it would go into business on their own, moved south of St Albans in Hertfordshire and formed the Health and Heather Seed Company. His business quickly prospered and in 1906 improved their social status to the point where he was elected mayor of St Albans. He became ill due to overwork, and fresh air exercise and the light is prescribed as part of the cure. He encouraged to play golf. Raised on music and cricket, Ryder at first rejected the idea, but relented later.

Ryder first enlisted a professional named Mount a local nine-hole course to guide you through the fundamentals of golf. Later, Ryder employed Mitchell as his exclusive instructor at an annual rate of 1,000 pounds sterling. Ryder practiced rain or shine, six days a week (never on Sunday), for a year. He was given instruction at Marlborough House, his home, driving shots and iron, hit shots and chip in a hedge in the paddock. Continued with the setting.

After his rigorous practice regimen, Ryder decided that could apply for membership at Verulam Golf Club. At the age of 51, who had a handicap of six and joined the Verulam Golf Club in St. Albans in 1910. Within a year was elected captain of the club, and later held the title in 1926 and '27. He sponsored a Heath and Heather tournament in 1923, which is limited to professionals. Among the field was Mitchell, a former gardener himself, and considered one of the best players in Britain who won an open championship.

Ryder enjoyed 1926, official international match between the Americans and British at Wentworth, watching Mitchell and Duncan defeat Hagen and Barnes.

"Why can not all of them to know each other? "Said Ryder.

"I will give $ 5 to each of the winning players, and give a party afterwards, with champagne and chicken sandwiches. "

Later that evening in a pub, Duncan turned to Ryder and said: "This is wonderful. It's a pity do not have a game like that, it's official. "

"Why not?" Asked Ryder. Soon, the deed of gift was written Ryder accept the donation with a solid gold cup, worth £ 250. The cup was designed by Mappin and Webb Company. Ryder insisted that a golfing figure adorn cover and which resemble Mitchell. The first official Ryder Cup matches were held from 3 to 4 June. 1927 in the Club of Worcester (Mass.) Country.

The resource 3.000 pounds to finance the first British Ryder Cup Team was met with apathy and dropped 500 pounds below the goal, but Ryder made up the deficit. After Ryder, the largest contribution was £ 210, the Stock Exchange Golf Society. No Order of Merit earned money list available, the famous triumvirate British Harry Vardon, James Braid and James Taylor was the team selection committee.

Samuel Ryder, who would serve two terms as mayor of St Albans, lived to see two Ryder Cup matches in his homeland. While celebrating the holidays with his family in London, died of a massive haemorrhage on January 2, 1936. He was 77. Her eldest daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Claisen, sent her father's favorite Mashie (5 iron) placed in his coffin. Another daughter, Mrs. Thomas Scarfe, took over the family business. However, he never shared his father's passion for golf.

Ryder's youngest daughter, Joan, was a teammate his father's constant in all golf events. She witnessed all Ryder Cup matches in Britain, and once in America, in 1983, when the U.S. exceeded Europeans at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

In 1981, Joan met the Duke of Kent at the Matches at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England. He told the royal guests that his father had been surprised by the success of the meetings.

"I had the idea that when Americans went to a party that would give a "friendly small lunch for both teams," said Joan. The Duke looked at the spectators swarming near 18th green and said, "I wonder what his father would think of this little lunch party" Joan Ryder final appearance at The Ryder Cup Matches at The De was Vere Belfry in 1985. She called that edition of the Meetings of "the ever more exciting." That same year, died at his home in Sussex, at age 81.

War-Torn parties
With the outbreak of War II, The Ryder Cup was suspended from 1939-45, and the U.S. retained the trophy of his victory of 1937. However, the United States continued the spirit of the games on the selection of a ten-member team that participated in the "challenge" matches to raise funds for the American Red Cross, various service organizations and other war-related activities. With the Ryder Cup matches canceled 1939, contests challenge organized from 1940 to 43, with two at Oakland Hills Country Club Bloomfield, Michigan, in 1940 and 1942: Detroit Golf Club, in 1941, and in Plum Hollow Country Club in 1943. The team Ryder Cup, which had various members during that period, winning four of the five challenge matches.

Captain Walter Hagen 1939, '40 and '41 Ryder Cup Teams, while Craig Wood captained the team in 1942 and 1943. There was no competition in 1939, although the party is set for Ponte Vedra Country Club in Florida in November of that year. In 1939 U.S. selections were repeated in 1940 in a challenge match at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, against the Challengers Gene Sarazen. Sarazen, who was left out of the Ryder Cup Team, challenged Hagen by assembling a team that included Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret and Craig Wood.

In 1939, the Professional Golfers Association of Great Britain had selected eight players and Captain Henry Cotton before war interrupted further plans. The eight players named were: Jimmy Adams, Dick Burton, Sam King, Alf Padgham, Dai Rees, Charles Whitcombe and Reg Whitcombe. The other two members were never filled.

During the war, the exhibition matches brought together the best players of the era, including amateur Bobby Jones who led his team to a disturbance of 8 1 / 2-6 1 / 2 of the Ryder Cup team, 23 to 24 August 1941, at Detroit Golf Club.

Europeans to join the fight for the Cup
In 1973, the first matches were played time in Scotland at historic Muirfield. The PGA of Great Britain changed its selection procedure by having eight players chosen from a point system for a year length and four by invitation.

During the 1977 Matches at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Jack Nicklaus approached the PGA of Great Britain about the urgency to improve the competitive level of matches. The issue had been discussed that day by the two former PGA President Henry Poe and British PGA President Lord Derby. Nicklaus pitched his ideas, adding: "It is vitally important to expand the selection procedures if The Ryder Cup is to continue enjoying their past reputation."

Changes in team selection procedure were approved by the descendants of the family of Samuel A. Ryder, along with the PGA of America. The main change was expanding the selection procedures to include players from the British PGA European Tournament Division Order of Merit, and "Members Europeans the right to play in the team. "

This means that professional players in the European Player of the Order of Merit tournament could be natives and residents of other countries in the British Isles, as long as continental Europe. The approval and recommendation of success of the new selection process followed another American victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1977.

The first Ryder Cup in the expanded European selection format was played in The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The two first Europeans to make the selection abroad were a pair of Spanish-Severiano Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido. Ballesteros has gone on to become one of the winners of all time in games. He has a record of won 20, lost 12 and halved and has won five 22 1 / 2 points in 37 Ryder Cup matches.

The move to include the continental players was a major step in improving the level of the Ryder Cup competitive. The U.S. had won all but one output from 1959 to 1977, being tied, 16-16, in a memorable duel in 1969 at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.

Enlargement selection procedure to include the European Tour provided the British PGA with a much larger group of talent from which to select their team. European Tour Order Merit also ensured a team comprised of players who were playing their best at the time of selection.

The effect of this continental tour, with different types of golf courses, weather, food, language and customs, was to produce players of unprecedented duration. They possessed the technique and confidence to deal to all situations and of course the Ryder Cup, even more of a quality event matches.

Changes in the Ryder Cup Format

Since the beginning of the series until 1959, the Ryder Cup competition consists of four foursomes (alternate shot) matches in one day and eight singles matches in the other day, each of 36 holes.

The format was changed in 1961 to provide four groups of four games with 18 holes of the morning of the first four quartets, but in the afternoon, eight 18-hole singles the morning of second day and eight more singles that afternoon. One of the issues at stake in every game, so the total number points are doubled to 24. In 1963, four-ball (better ball) matches were added for the first time, boosting the total number of points available to 32.

The format was amended again in 1977, this time with five groups of four on the opening day, five games, four balls on the second day, and 10 singles matches on the last day. This reduced the total points to 20.

In 1979, when Great Britain and Ireland team was expanded to include players from European countries, the format was revised to provide four fourball, quartets four games of the first two days and 12 singles matches on the third day. The total points awarded were 28. This format will continue until 2004 Matches.

The Ryder Cup was interrupted for the second time in history after the attack of September 11, 2001, the United States. About eight days after the tragedy, The 2001 Matches were rescheduled, with all future competitions conducted in even years.

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My family tree goes back to the early kings of England from the 7th century. I am a direct descendant of Sir Christopher Wren, who has given me an interest in the history of English which is great fun to research.

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Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All rights reserved.

About the Author

The Chinese call Britain 'The Island of Hero's' which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.

Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.