Walter Hagen’s first Open in 1920 has change into the stuff of legend.
Turning up at Royal Cinque Ports in a chauffeur-driven luxurious automobile, replete together with his personal footman, the two-time US Open champion fell out with membership brass virtually instantly.
Advised he should change within the professional store, reasonably than the clubhouse, Hagen responded by parking his automobile on the flagpole exterior the constructing each day and transport on his footwear and sweater there.
Given how a lot fuss altering your footwear within the automobile park can nonetheless trigger at this time at some golf equipment, think about the way it can have gone down then!
However Hagen’s notoriety stretched additional. He launched into an journey of a observe spherical – hopping over fences from Prince’s, to Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports, as he tried to get used to hyperlinks circumstances.
Hagen would end 53rd, however he’d win The Open 4 occasions between 1922 and 1929 and alter the face of golf for skilled gamers.
And his influence on the Kent coast has not been forgotten. His course-jumping spherical is an occasion the members of the trio of golf equipment commemorate every year in The Hagen Hoof, a 54-hole one-day marathon that takes in all three programs.
What’s the Hagen 54?
“It’s a celebration of Walter Hagen within the Twenties when he was taking part in at Cinque Ports. He performed all three programs. The Hagen Hoof is for members of all three programs – Prince’s, Cinque Ports and St. George’s,” Royal St. George’s secretary Colin Sinclair informed the NCG Prime 100s podcast.
“We play a match, 12-aside and we play 18 holes at Prince’s first at 6 am, then go to Cinque Ports for 18 holes and have a lunch, after which come to St. George’s and play 18 holes, all in someday and have a dinner within the night.
“The Hagen 54 is taking part in it the way in which Hagen performed it. So Hagen didn’t do it that method. He performed the primary 11 at Cinque Ports and thought, ‘What’s over there?’ He jumped the fence and walked out. Within the event, we are going to bus you to the sixth gap to the thirteenth at St. George’s, undergo the fence and play all 18 at Prince’s.
“You come again by means of the fence, play 14 by means of to the fifth. Get again on the bus and play the twelfth in (at Cinque Ports).”
This July, every of the three golf equipment have come collectively to supply the Hagen 54, which now permits guests to retrace the steps of one of many best golfers to dwell.
The spotlight is a fourball, Stableford, finest two out of 4 to rely, competitors, with the 54-holes performed consecutively. It’s the centrepiece of a two-night, three-day keep that may see opponents holed up in The Lodge at Prince’s and dotted round southeast Kent.
The three programs have all performed host to the world’s oldest main championship. Royal Cinque Ports had the Claret Jug in 1909 and 1920 (received by JH Taylor and George Duncan), Prince’s in 1932 (received by Gene Sarazen), and Royal St George’s on 15 events between 1894 and 2021. Collin Morikawa was the final participant to win on the Kent shoreline.
With all inexperienced charges included, and visitors having fun with a two-course dinner every night at The Lodge’s Brasserie on the Bay, the occasion will likely be staged between July 23 and 25.
For extra data, and to register or go to the occasion web site or electronic mail data@thehagen.com. There’ll little doubt be extra alternatives to get entangled in 2026 as properly.
Now have your say on the Hagen Hoof
Have you ever tried to emulate Walter Hagen’s feat? Will you’ve a go on the Hagen 54? Have you ever performed at Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports, or Royal St George’s? Let me know your experiences of the Kent coast by leaving a touch upon X.
NOW READ: Try our checklist of Nice Britain & Eire’s Prime 100 programs
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