Struth! Enemy action no deterrent to British golfers

Is this the world’s biggest divot?

IN his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says that publisher of Australian Cruise Magazine and one-time golf hacker, Michael Osborne was sent the following by a golfing mate, something that shows the mettle of golfers in Britain’s war-torn 1940s.

Players at the Richmond Golf Club in Surrey – just 15km from Central London – often had their game interrupted by German bombers that missed their mark on the city, and dropped them on surrounding areas including the golf club. When one such enemy bomb demolished an outhouse at the Richmond Club in 1940, directors issued the following Temporary Rules for Members for the remainder of the war:

• Players are asked to collect bomb and shrapnel splinters to save these causing damage to the Mowing Machines.
• In Competitions, during gunfire or while bombs are falling players may take cover without penalty for ceasing play.
• The positions of known delayed-action bombs are marked by red flags at a reasonably, but not guaranteed, safe distance therefrom.
• Shrapnel and/or bomb splinters on the Fairway, or in Bunkers within a club’s length of a ball, may be removed without penalty, and no penalty shall be incurred if a ball is thereby caused to move accidentally.
• A ball moved by enemy action may be replaced, or if lost or destroyed, a ball may be dropped not nearer the hole without penalty.
• A ball lying in a crater may be lifted and dropped not nearer the hole, preserving the line to the hole without penalty.
• A player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous explosion of a bomb may play another ball from the same place. Penalty one stroke.

Michael asks if with this kind of bulldog spirit, was there any wonder Hitler lost The Battle of Britain?

(Photo: North Shore Golf Course Blackpool – another course struck by enemy bombs)