100 years ago, one of the strongest sides ever assembled travelled across on the RMS Berengaria from New York to Southampton to play in the 4th Walker Cup. The trip would allow the likes of Jones, Ouimet, and Sweetser to play in the Open Championship and The Amateur; however, as a bit of a warm-up, they arranged to play against The Moles Golfing Society in London.
The event nearly didn’t go ahead at all. Widespread strikes in May 1926 meant the country was in a state of almost lockdown, facing severe disruption ahead of what would become a pivotal summer in the history of the game. Luckily, The Savoy Hotel was very much open for business, and the Moles laid on some heavy hospitality. It was here that Jones became intimately familiar with the ‘Bosom Caresser’, a popular cocktail made of Cognac, Madeira wine, Orange Curaçao, Grenadine, and a fresh egg yolk. It was a concoction the American side really took to, which perhaps explains their somewhat lacklustre morning performance the next day!
Last month marked the 100 year anniversary of that match between The American Walker Cup side, and The Moles at Woking Golf Club, and it goes down as one of the greatest upsets in history.
A few weeks ago, The Moles recreated this fixture. An American side led by USGA President Kevin Hammer took on a full strength Moles side that doesn’t boast quite the same level of Amateur golfing greatness today. Naturally, we found ourselves there and decided to make a commemorative piece about it all. The film from Woking can be viewed below.
THE 1926 USA TEAM
Bobby Jones
Francis Ouimet
Jess Sweetser
George Von Elm
Jesse Guilford
Watts Gunn
Roland Mackenzie
Robert Gardner (Capt.)
THE MOLES 1926 TEAM
Sir Ernest Holderness
Robert Harris
Roger Wethered
Cyril Tolley
Major Charles Hezlet
William A. Murray
John Caven
Colin Aylmer