The combination of the biennial Walker Cup Match and Seminole Golf Club has been called a perfect pairing. Indeed, it marries one of the most special events in the game with a historic venue that is all about the ideals of competition and camaraderie.
It’s also only the second time that Seminole, the Donald Ross-designed masterpiece that underwent a multi-year restoration at the hands of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, will be shown on television. Fans can enjoy 12 hours of live coverage on Golf Channel and Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, over the two days of competition: foursomes (alternate-shot) matches each morning, and singles matches in the afternoons.
“In a sense, this unveiling is decades in the making and the perfect moment for opening up Seminole to the world,” said club president Jimmy Dunne. “Our history as a club since its inception in 1929 has been to nurture the amateur game.”
It’s also the first time ever that the Walker Cup will be played in the spring in the U.S., owing to Seminole’s typical summer closure and the fall hurricane season. Here are three things to know about Day 1 of the Walker Cup Match.
Home on the Road
Typically, the away team at a Walker Cup is at a slight disadvantage in terms of getting acclimated to the weather, course conditions and overall atmosphere of playing on a different continent. This year is not typical. Not only do six players on the Great Britain & Ireland Team attend college in the U.S., some of them got in reps at Seminole this winter. Rory McIlroy’s father, Gerry, is a Seminole member and hosted a couple of the players, and Alex Fitpatrick – brother of 2013 U.S. Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick and the only GB&I player with Walker Cup experience – has played here quite a bit.
“We have some family friends who are members here,” said Fitzpatrick. “We've been incredibly lucky to have that opportunity to be able to come here beforehand, so I've played here maybe 10 to 15 times. Every time I come here I love it just as much.”
Even the GB&I players who are seeing Seminole for the first time may find some comfort. While not a links, the course fronts the Atlantic Ocean and boasts firm, sand-based turf and ever-present breezes. It’s a layout that rewards players who can adjust the trajectory of their approach shots to fit the conditions and hold the extremely difficult, contoured greens. GB&I will be looking to make themselves comfortable in order to win their first Walker Cup on U.S. soil since 2001, at Ocean Forest in Sea Island, Ga.
Alternates at the Ready
Unfortunately, several players on both teams have been affected by a stomach bug this week. Because of that unusual circumstance, the two alternates for each team are on-site – they normally are not – and may very well be pressed into action this weekend. For the USA, two Texans fill the roles: 22-year-old McClure Meissner of San Antonio and 23-year-old Cooper Dossey of Austin are first and second alternates, respectively. GB&I has 22-year-old Jake Bolton and 19-year-old Joe Pagdin.
What are the rules for alternates? They can substitute for a teammate who is ill or otherwise unable to play. However, once that team member recovers, the alternates return to the sidelines, even if they win a match or are otherwise in a groove.
Presidential Presence
For the third time in a row when the Walker Cup has been played in the U.S., President George W. Bush paid a visit to interact with the teams and represent his family. Bush’s great grandfather, George Herbert Walker, was the USGA’s president in 1920 and first came up with the idea of an international team competition that would deepen the ties between the USGA and The R&A. Walker donated the trophy that would bear his name.
On Friday at Seminole, to the delight of hundreds of onlookers, President Bush walked three holes with the USA Team. He took countless photos, including a group shot with the team caddies, and happily bantered with the players as they displayed their talent over holes 1, 8 and 9.
“This is my third Walker Cup, and each time I come away inspired by the caliber and character of the players,” he said. When asked what he learned about them, Bush said, “I learned they’re competitive guys who are also of the highest character. I learned they have aspirations and dreams, just like any young people.” He added, “I also learned they’re going to win.”
That prediction by the 43rd president certainly polls well here at Seminole. We’ll know for sure once the final results come in on Sunday evening.
Greg Midland is the USGA's editorial director. Email him at gmidland@usga.org.
