A new tournament, The Heritage, takes place on the European Tour this week. The event, though probably created to fill an awkward gap in the schedule (i.e. the week after the Ryder Cup), has been established to honour the European Tour’s Executive Director, Ken Schofield. Schofield has been the driving force behind European golf for the last 30 years and is set to retire at the end of the year.
The event was originally set to take place over Woburn’s Marquess course, but due to ”
a severe and prolonged attack of anthracnose disease” that has affected the putting surfaces, the event has been switched to the Duke’s course. This is a testament to Woburn G&CC complex, one of the few clubs in England to boast not one but three championship courses: the Marquess, the Duke’s, and the Duchess (so named as the courses are located in and are owned by the Duke of Bedford’s Estate).
The Duke’s course was for many years the home of the British Masters – an event won by such luminaries as Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Seve Ballesteros and, errr, Bob May – before the event was shipped off to less interesting courses, namely Collingtree Park, the Forest of Arden, and the aforementioned Marquess course. The Duke’s can best be described as cross between Augusta National and Woodhall Spa; the holes weave their way through an ancient pine forest, scattered with gorse and fern, with some spectacular changes in elevation (particularly the 3rd, above, which the pros play as their second hole).
Check back later on in the week for photos and a report from behind the ropes (I should be attending on Sunday).