Author: randa360

Willie Park Sr of Musselburgh (1833-1903) was one of the leading professionals of his generation, along with Tom Morris Sr and Allan Robertson. Indeed, he and Morris were rivals for thirty years. Their first golfing encounter came about in October 1854 when Park, in St Andrews during the Autumn Meeting, challenged Robertson and Morris to a match. Neither responded and it was left to Morris’ elder brother George to take up the challenge. George was utterly defeated, leading Robertson to remark, “he frichtens us a’ wi’ his lang driving”.

Perhaps in an attempt to save face, Tom Morris agreed to a two-round match against Park at £50-a-side the following day. By then, though based at Prestwick, Tom was still regarded as a son of St Andrews and his match against Park caused much excitement. The honour of the town was at stake, St Andrews and Musselburgh vying for golfing supremacy.

The first round was halved, but Park won the second by five holes with four to play and consequently the match. The following day, in a one-round match, Tom Morris had the satisfaction of gaining his first win against Willie Park.

In the inaugural Open at Prestwick in 1860, many expected Tom to win, but it was Willie who gained that honour, becoming the first to wear the leather and silver Challenge Belt. Morris was runner up.

In the first four years of the Championship, Park and Morris each won twice and each took runner-up spot twice. Park won The Open four times in total, in 1860, 63, 66 and 75.

His portrait is vast, measuring over eight feet high by six feet wide. It was completed in 1890, when Park was 56 years old.

At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th The Open was dominated by three professional golfers, who became known as the Great Triumvirate. Between them, J.H. Taylor, James Braid and Harry Vardon won 16 Opens in the space of 21 years. Vardon won six times – a record that remains unbeaten. The artist, Clement Flower, who was a scratch golfer himself, was commissioned by Golf Illustrated in 1913 to paint their portraits. The setting is the 2nd tee on the Old Course. When the painting was finished, it was publicised in Golf Illustrated and described as “the first really great golf picture of modern time”.

Tom Morris Sr (1821 – 1908) was born in St Andrews in June 1821. He was apprenticed to Allan Robertson, with whom he worked for 11 years. He established his own business making clubs and balls before becoming custodian of Prestwick Links, a role he fulfilled for 14 years. Returning to St Andrews in 1864, he was employed by the R&A as Keeper of the Links, a position he held for a remarkable 40 years. Morris won The Open four times and, until the emergence of his son ‘Young Tom’, whom he survived by almost 30 years, was the best golfer of his day. He died in 1908.

The portrait was commissioned in the autumn of 1902. On seeing it for the first time, Morris is reported to have said, ‘you’ve got the checks on my bunnet a’ wrang’.

Sir Michael Bonallack (born 1934) is a Past Captain and was Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Great Britain’s most decorated amateur golfer, he won the Amateur Championship five times between 1951 and 1970. He also won the English Amateur Championship five times and the English Amateur Championship Stroke Play title on four occasions. Sir Michael also competed in nine Walker Cup matches, including two as Playing Captain, in 1969 and 1971, and was leading amateur in The Open in 1968 and 1971.

A member of the Club since 1960, Sir Michael has served on a number of committees. He was Secretary from 1983-1999 and Captain of the Club from 1999-2000. He was knighted in The Queen’s birthday honours list in 1998. In 2013, Sir Michael received Honorary Life Membership of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

This portrait was commissioned by the Club in 2012 and was unveiled in the Big Room of the Clubhouse during the Autumn Meeting of 2013.