A lot has changed in 68 years. We’ve seen 14 British Prime Ministers, 13 US Presidents, witnessed one coronation and seen man walk on the moon.
Beatlemania has come and gone, colour TV has entered every household and the internet has transformed our daily lives, yet one thing has remained the same since 1951: Royal Portrush’s place among the finest links golf courses in the world.
Not since then has the seaside town in north Antrim hosted golf’s biggest event but in 2019, The Open will return as the Claret Jug leaves mainland Great Britain for just the second time in its illustrious 147-year history.
Formkurvan ....
Ranking per 19 Februari 2019:
Lars U 4,7
Wigholm 5,0
Pierre 5,3
Fritte 5,7
Dan-Ola 6,1
Reidmar 6,7
Håkan 7,9
Christer U 7,9
Orvar 8,2
SNITT 8,4
Stålis 8,8
Christer H 9,0
Kent 9,6
Magnus 9,6
LarsLars 10,7
Nisse 11,5
Stig 12,8
Marcus 13,4
the Open
For the first time in 68 years, The Open will leave mainland Great Britain and head to Northern Ireland for the biggest party in golf.
Royal Portrush, one of the world’s great golf courses, will host the game’s oldest Major once more. And as the clock ticks, the excitement continues to grow.
The land of 1.8million people has provided three Champion Golfers of the Year in Fred Daly, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.
Add in 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell and it is clear that Northern Ireland has a strong affinity with fairways and greens.
McIlroy in particular is likely to capture the public’s imagination. The 29-year-old has been a part of four successful Ryder Cup teams, won two PGA Championship titles and, most famously of all, lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
Yet the man from Hollywood insists that would all pale into insignificance if he can win golf’s oldest Major on home soil.
"I never thought I would play a major in Northern Ireland. It would be the biggest achievement of my career if I was able to win it,” he said.
"If I could pick one tournament to win this year, it would be Royal Portrush. I would definitely have Augusta on the backburner.
“The 2019 Open is something that’s been on my radar for a long time.
“I never thought I’d be able to play an Open at home. I’m going to be very proud to showcase where I’m from and to play in front of all the people who have supported me throughout my career. It is going to be really cool.
Dress codes etc.
För er som funderar på vilka koder som gäller på de olika klubbarna så är rådet, gå in på respektive hemsida och kolla.
Hotellet i Ballyliffin.
Hotellet i Portush.
Lottningsmöte!
Årets lottningsmöte är planerat till 17 - 19 maj!
Norges Nationaldag:
Samling vid 11.30 för lunch, Barsebäck G & CC, vi spelar Masters course, starttider 12.30-13.20
Transfer till Villa Sandby, ca 20.30 blir det grillmiddag med pilsner och rödtjut.
Efter middagen lottar vi spelordningen för årets resa, både slag- och matchspel! (så innan läggdags kan man göra en kalkylering av hur mycket man kommer spela in....).
18 Maj:
Frukost och 20 minuters resa till klubben.
Spelas NIRvana Cup på Tomelilla GK, 27 hål match mellan Syd och Nord!
Prisutdelning och middag på Villa Sandby, ev en liten whiskey ...
19 Maj:
Frukost och hemresa!
Pris:
2 000: per person inkl. greenfees, 2 nätters boende (del i dubbel eller lägenhet) med frukost och middag.
Medföljande Fru, flickvän eller likande kostar: 1 200:-
Anmälan till Fam. Wigholm alias "Champ2018"
3 mästare ....
Vi hälsar Stefan välkommen in i mästarklubben, dvs de av oss som vunnit någon titel. Vi 3 på bilden tycker givetvis att en titel i matchspelet smäller högre än slagspelstiteln ....
Bilden tagen på en annan skaplig bana/klubb, Hoylake, Royal Liverpool GC.
2020 kommer vi att spela ....
...... en gammal Old Tom Morris-bana, belägen på Isle of Man, vi kommer åka båt dit från Belfast och bo på ett kanonhotel i Douglas.