| ay have wondered if your golfing predecessor | | | | the time period between 1894 and 1914 and even |
| existed. Was there such a person who also | | | | played second a combined total of 12 times. |
| thought up the concept of a golf tournament for | | | | Of the three players of the group Mr. Vardon had |
| an easy day off and a chance to beat the pants | | | | the most significant and long standing impact on |
| off your superior? | | | | the golfing scene and game beyond his great |
| How did golf tournaments come about / what is | | | | competitive spirit. Vardon’s exhibition tours |
| their history? In 1860 eight professionals | | | | – both at home in the Isles and abroad |
| competed in a golf tournament at Prestwick in | | | | introduced golf and the golfing sport to millions of |
| Scotland playing three 12-hole rounds of golf for | | | | people who otherwise would have had no interest |
| the prize of a red leather belt. The idea for the | | | | or introduction to the passion of golf. In a marker |
| prize was derived from medieval knights’ | | | | of merchandising and marketing trends to come |
| tournaments, and any player who could win this | | | | Vardon even introduced his own line of the then |
| golfing tournament three years running would gain | | | | currently used gutty golf balls called the |
| permanent possession of the belt. This event was | | | | “Vardon Flyer. Mr. Vardon can be |
| eventually won by Willie Park and this served as | | | | appropriately credited as the first golf professional |
| the forerunner of the now famous British Open | | | | golfer to endorse commercial products. Shades of |
| Golf Championship. | | | | things to more than come. |
| The early years of the championship was | | | | Eventually Vardon conducted an extended tour in |
| dominated by one ruffian named “Old | | | | the U.S. in 1900 to promote the new ball and used |
| Tom Morris” and his son appropriately | | | | the occasion to enter and play in the U.S. Open |
| named “Young Tom Morris”. Tom | | | | which he handily won at the Wheaton Golf Club |
| Morris Senior was one of the most prominent | | | | located in Illinois. To show the British emphasis of |
| figureheads in the early development of the | | | | the British golfing trio Mr. Vardon cleared two |
| golfing sport. Mr. Morris Senior was well known as | | | | strokes ahead of his colleague in crime John |
| a golfing ball and club maker at the Prestwick and | | | | Henry Taylor. Mr. Vardon and Taylor provided the |
| St. Andrews golfing centers. And as well later | | | | distant early championship’s start. They |
| became influential in golf course architecture. As | | | | provided instant interest and credibility. Much |
| well Mr. Morris Sr. went on as an expert golfer to | | | | interest was created by Vardon being the creator |
| win the British Open championships in | | | | of the famous and established Vardon golf grip. |
| consecutively in 1861, 1862 and 1864. | | | | You may not have realized that this overlapping |
| The younger son Tom Morris was even more a | | | | golf grip may well be a standard that you are |
| more skillful and polished golfer winning the four | | | | employing without knowing or appreciating its |
| British Opens unbelievably winning three tourneys | | | | historic origins. |
| in a row from 1868 to 1870 and thus claiming | | | | In the end it all comes down to the quest of |
| possession of the coveted red belt. Three years | | | | human competitiveness friendly or otherwise as a |
| later the Claret Jug was introduced as the Open | | | | means to improve ones golf game or ego that |
| prize, and it remains so today. | | | | resulted in our current passion for golf |
| Thus the Morris clan dominated the historic golf | | | | tournaments and events. Then again golfing |
| tournament site early on, but the Open | | | | tournaments may of begun as a way to justify |
| Championship and British golf was yet to be | | | | time off of employment duties or to beat the |
| surprised. The trio of the Great Triumvirate of | | | | pants off of one’s superior without too |
| Harry Vardon , John Henry Taylor and James | | | | much apparent risk. |
| Braid unbelievably won 16 golf tournament titles in | | | | |