Excitment builds ahead of Claret Jug visit to Mayo golf club today
By Paul O'Neill
THESE past few weeks have been amongst the most exciting I have experienced in my golfing career.
Over the years my expertise in golf has concentrated on my administrative skills as opposed to my wedge play or putting but the preparation for the arrival of the Claret Jug to Mayo this week matches the excitement I experienced when working with the golf team at Mount Juliet in preparation for the Irish Open and, of course, the rushed event management for the 2002 Irish PGA Championship.
The last few weeks have seen me travel twice to all nine golf clubs here in Mayo, one call to the local radio station and emailing various press releases on every social media platform I could think of.
It is hard to gauge the interest level amongst the sporting public in viewing a trophy and getting an opportunity to get a picture - a selfie or otherwise, but as the day comes nearer and the weather gods having given their approval, today (Tuesday, April 8) at Westport Golf Club just might be the best ticket in town during Lent.
I was happy when asked by those in the long grass about the significance of the trophy in comparison to others. You certainly can’t compare it to Sam or Liam as neither of those has a world standing in sport participation; in rugby terms it is more the Webb Ellis than 6 Nations and from a footballing point of view it’s more Jules Rimet than the Champions League.
Although the setting of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick was initially considered my trump card for the event, a phone call last week has now put this gathering of golfers on a whole different level.
Bob Martin was born in Cupar, Fife, Scotland, in the 1850s. He won the Open Championship twice, and both his wins were on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
In 1875, Martin finished runner-up. He was co-leader after the first and second rounds, but wound up two behind the winner, Willie Park Snr. But the next year, Martin returned to get the win.
It happened in an unusual way; following a rules dispute, his playoff opponent, Davie Strath, refused to show up. Martin won the Open in a literal walk-over.
He earned his second win in 1885, once again receiving a little help from an opponent. David Ayton led by five strokes with two holes to play, but blew up with an 11 on the second-to-last hole.
It’s amazing to hear how his legacy lives on through his great-great-great-grandnephews Josh Marks, Alex Marks and Sebastian Robinson, who are members at Westport Golf Club. It’s nice to know that the golfing heritage runs deep within the family, especially with both of their grannies hailing from St. Andrews, a place so intrinsically linked with the history of golf.
What a beautiful connection between family, history, and the game.
Grannies are Margo Carmichael and Evelyn McDonald, who will be in attendance on the night. Regretfully, I will miss the evening but can assure all those who turn up will receive the warmest of welcomes under the shadow of Ireland’s holy mountain.
* Read Paul O'Neill's Golf World column in our print edition every Tuesday