Ernest Whitcombe and Alf Padgham
East Brighton Golf Membership, Sussex
August twenty fifth, 1937
In a sport that noticed the 100th greatest participant on the PGA Tour earn over $1.6m million this yr, it’s simple to assume that golf, as knowledgeable sport, has all the time been awash with money.
It’s actually been the case because the arrival of Tiger Woods in 1997, which, virtually in a single day, elevated golf into a worldwide sport whose prime gamers might begin to earn the form of sums that even skilled footballers would take discover of.
But it surely has gone to a complete new degree once more following the injection of Saudi cash into the sport during the last three years, which has served to bump up prize funds throughout the board to ranges verging on the obscene.
SMALL PRIZE MONEY
Whereas the likes of Palmer, Nicklaus and Participant did very properly out of the sport throughout the Nineteen Sixties and 70s, their bulging financial institution balances owe extra to their off-course enterprise acumen than any nice accumulation of prize cash.
However rewind 100 years or so and also you’ll discover a world the place membership execs participating within the Open Championship used to squeeze in two rounds on the ultimate day simply in order that they might rush again to attend the wants of their members over the weekend.
On the flip of the 20th century, the winner of The Open obtained simply £90, and it took a near-strike by the gamers the next yr for the highest prize to be raised to the princely sum of £115.
The paucity of prize cash on supply via the primary match channels led the sport’s prime gamers participating in various particular occasions backed by personal sponsorship, which introduced collectively a choose group of prime gamers in a contemporary model of Professional-Celeb Golf, the place native businessmen stumped up massive sums to see the sport’s greats play on native programs.
EXHIBITION MATCH
Such was the case with East Brighton Golf Membership in East Sussex, which hosted various high-profile tournaments throughout the inter-war interval. In 1933, the nice Walter Hagen teamed up with fellow American Densmore Shute to beat Alf Padgham and Charlie Parsons 6&5 in an exhibition match which noticed big crowds prove to observe their heroes in motion in such unfamiliar environment.
The membership additionally staged the Information Chronicle Event between the nice and wars for a number of years after, with the £1,000 prize pot – equal to over £45,000 in in the present day’s cash, and twice what was being provided to that yr’s winner of the Claret Jug – not surprisingly attracting among the recreation’s main stars, together with Padhgam, and different Open champions.
These included Henry Cotton and the brothers Reg and Ernest Whitcombe. Padgham was serving as head skilled at Sundridge Park Golf Membership in Kent on the time, and was the reigning Open champion when this image was taken, having received at Hoylake in 1936.
Like many prime gamers of the period, Padgham misplaced what may need been a few of his greatest aggressive years as a result of World Warfare II, so needed to play in occasions like these in an effort to complement his earnings. He finally succeeded in profitable the Information Chronicle Event in 1939.
FAMOUS FACES
Along with well-known gamers, East Brighton, which was based in 1893, boasts a formidable solid listing of high-profile connections, with the Downs-based membership having fun with many superstar and royal members throughout its 130-year historical past.
Certainly one of its first vice-presidents was Billy Butlin, founding father of the eponymous vacation chain, whereas the Duke of Norfolk was president for greater than 30 years.
Amongst well-known former members embody Prime Minister Lloyd George, who joined in 1911, together with overseas secretary Arthur Balfour, and Area Marshall Earl Haig, who lived in Brighton throughout the Nineteen Twenties.
Whereas East Brighton’s heyday may nicely be behind it so far as well-known members are involved, its picturesque 6,402-yard downland structure stays one of many best checks within the county and, the membership continues to take pleasure in a wholesome patronage from native golfers who little doubt acquire as a lot enjoyment from the historic venue as their illustrious predecessors as soon as did.
