some drives, angling them across the range towards the far corner of the Old Course Hotel. “I see you’ve still got your speed,” Jim says, adding encouraging- ly, “Anything like that’ll be just fine.” The one thing that cannot be rep- licated on a range is the sound of the cannon, which will coincide with the moment of impact. I see some trash cans with hinged lids on the back of the practice range. Maybe someone can slam one shut just as I start my
dozen or so position themselves in the fairway to try and gather the ball and return it to the Captain-elect, who then rewards that caddie with a solid gold coin known as a “sovereign,” so called because it carries an image of King Charles III. The sovereign is paid for by the Captain, is linked to the price of gold, and was about £400 pounds. The caddie can, of course, sell it if he wishes (most don’t), although one or two Cap- tains have bought back the sovereign.
tee of The Old Course and will meet Jim at the clubhouse before we set off for the range. I have shared the bed- room not only with my spouse but also my driver, as I cannot possibly lose it. I pick up my golf bag as I leave and make for the clubhouse. As I am greet- ed by Club Secretary Martin Slumbers and Jim, I realise I have forgotten my driver, which remains in the sanctity of the bedroom, so we make a detour and arrive a bit late at the range. I use the same warm up as the other day, but as I get to the 6-iron, I find the lies a bit san- dy and start to duff. Then I hit a shank or two. Suddenly, it’s not the warmup I wanted. Jim remains calm, allowing me to complete my process. Before I have even touched the driver, he is say- ing “You’ve 12 minutes left.” I persist. Just a couple of hybrids before I pull out the big stick. I take aim at the same corner of the Old Course Hotel, and the disastrous shots suddenly don’t seem to matter. A few fly away nicely, gently fading, but that’s OK. “Let’s go,” says Jim, keen for me to finish on a high. Very shortly, I am back in the club- house, refusing the traditionally of- fered nip of whisky to calm the nerves. I just prefer to follow Dottie Pepper’s advice. Just before 0800 and sensing an out-of-body experience, I hear applause as I leave the clubhouse, following the outgoing Captain, Neil Donaldson, to the tee. He peels off. Jim follows me and immediately tees the ball. I stand and take in the moment. “Making the shot” has been gestat- ing now for nine months. I have prac- tised it in my mind a thousand times. I walk into the ball, waggle, inexplicably once more than usual, and find myself swinging back as if in slow motion. On the downswing, I suddenly think, “I wonder when the cannon … ” BOOM! It has fired. The ball is on its way. Unbe- lievably, it’s the best I have hit all year. I am so relieved. IAN PATTINSON is the current captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and has served the club and the R&A Group in numerous roles in the last 30 years, including as Chairman of both. This was written in memory of Jim Farmer, who died in November 2024.
A South African Captain once gave a gold Kruger- rand, and more recently a Canadian Captain commissioned a special Canadian coin. As for the ball, it is cast in sil- ver and hung on the Silver Club.
BANG! Pattinson hit a
beauty in time with cannonfire.
My golf swing involves a steep take- away and can be erratic. Sometimes, I drop the club inside on the downswing, striking the ball with an open clubface, occasionally producing an ugly block- slice. Often these tee shots cling in- bounds, but to do so on “the day” would be deeply unsatisfying. I was worried that in a strong wind, disaster might result. In the months beforehand, every time I have driver in hand, I am think- ing about “making the shot.” Some- times I am striping it and feel great but at other times, despair. Didn’t I read something about visu- alisation? Who can tell me about that? I know an Olympic champion who still has the world triple jump record 29 years later and is also a good golfer. I am disconcerted by Jonathan Edwards’ an- swer – he says he used “negative visu- alisation” as a spur to success! Another friend, two-time major winner Dot- tie Pepper, gives me an invaluable tip about pressure, straight from her Sol- heim Cup playbook, but adds, “Don’t forget to go to the bathroom first.” Before I “make the shot,” the ball will be teed by the Honorary Professional of the Royal & Ancient, Jim Farmer, a fine player, who has guided 17 Captains through the drive-in. We meet at the range four days before the big day. Before Jim arrives, I have swung my heavy warmup club, hit wedges, 6-irons, 4-hybrids and drivers. Jim notes my preferred tee height. I hit
downswing? But I think better of ask- ing fellow range rats to help. Jim and I conclude the rehearsal and will meet at 0715 on the day I must “make the shot.” I have seen many new Captains drive- in wearing a sweater over a shirt and tie, as the Captain must host a formal breakfast shortly after. The legendary Irish amateur Joe Carr was the first not to wear a tie. I have never played golf in a tie, so his example is good enough for me. I’m staying 150 yards from the first “Whatever else the Captain might do in the year ahead, the very first thought is always, What about the drive-in ?”
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 27
JULY/AUGUST 2025
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