2024 - USA Tour
Tourists
Mark Wyatt - Captain
Ben Wigley - Recorder
Oliver Pugh
Andy Ingram
Richard Johns
Jamie Devonald
Austin Roberts
Richard Hooper
Itinerary
The Country Club (Brookline)
Newport Country Club
Kittansett Golf Club
Marion Golf Club
Fishers Island Golf Club
Wee Burn Country Club
Baltusrol Golf Club
The Country Club (Brookline)
The Country Club Brookline was the first stop on our US Tour. Shaking off jet lag, and a late night visit to Dooley’s Irish bar in Boston with Newk, we arrived early to find the course covered in a blanket of ethereal mist. With the recognisable yellow neo classical Clubhouse, and the 1900 era feel, the aura and history was palpable. Founded in 1882 The Country Club is one of the oldest in the United States and one of the five charter members that founded the United States Golf Association in 1894. In the Clubhouse there were pictures of Francis Ouimet from the infamous 1913 US Open, the 1999 Ryder Cup, and of course Matt Fitzpatrick’s winning shot from the 18th fairway bunker in 2022.
After a good Club breakfast we stepped out onto the hallowed turf, for one of several ‘pinch me’ moments on tour. With a clear blue sky, the sun had burnt off the morning mist, revealing a beautiful and rugged terrain, complete with a series of rocky outcroppings. The main course is comprised of two nines - the Clyde and the Squirrel. The course was in immaculate condition, and a great match was had, with the home team winning 3-1. At lunch there were speeches from Newk - where we learnt that Syd (Mark Wyatt) was celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary that day, and that started a series of toasts. Our Captain thanked Newk and The Country Club for their amazing hospitality and presented the Club an Erratic decanter.
After lunch (and a few Fernandos - the famous local cocktail) Newk took the Erratics out to play the 3rd 9 holes - The Primrose (designed by William. S. Flynn). We assumed we would play in three 3 balls, but instead we a played a 9 ball….no doubt a first in the Erratic history! Newk entertained us for drinks in the Library Bar, followed by a wonderful dinner at the Club. We thanked Newk again for organising the 1st leg of the Tour and for his incredible hospitality. The Tour had got off to a fantastic start, surpassing all expectations….we retired to our hotel with big smiles on our faces, ready for bed…..or for some….another visit to Dooley’s.
Newport Country Club
The next day we picked up 2 brand new Wagoneer Jeeps from Boston airport and drove through heavy rain to Newport Rhode Island. Our main drivers on tour were the Captain, and Austin, with back-up drivers Olly & Ben (not used). We had to make a medium detour back to Brookline because Austin (who previously talked about the Marines golden rule of ‘never be separated from your kit’) had left an umbrella back at Brookline. There was a suggestion to call off the golf due to the weather, but the Captain decided to stick to the plan. As we turned the corner onto the road leading to the club, the impressive French chateaux style clubhouse loomed large on the horizon, and dominated the landscape from every corner of the golf course.
Despite the rain, our guests were waiting on the steps of the clubhouse to greet us, and take us swiftly to the bar for some seriously strong drinks for the time of day. There is no kitchen at Newport CC, so caterers are brought in to provide lunches. We started off with clam chowder, which went onto be a staple diet at the golf clubs in front of us. Margaux was the table wine, and we had cookies for desert. We had a very interesting speech given by the Newport President, about the history of the club. Newport was founded in 1893, and was (with The Country Club, Brookline) a founder member of the USGA. The club hosted the very first US Open in 1895. Our Captain responded, thanking our guests and presenting the club with the Erratic decanter.
The golfing gods were shining on us, and after lunch the rain stopped, miraculously the clouds parted, and we had sun on our backs once again. Despite the heavy downpours, there was only standing water in a few places, and the course was very playable. Due to numbers, we played a friendly ‘mix & match’ sides, so could not count this as an official match. The golf finished in the dark, and the club was closing, so we were taken to the Reading Club in Newport for drinks. The Reading Club is the oldest ‘mens club’ (on the same site) in America, a place where men came to read, play backgammon, cards, snooker and bocce and of course drink. Wives are allowed on Saturdays. The Reading club closed at 8pm, as this is the time gentlemen should go home to their families. Out families were thousands of miles away, so we went for dinner, and sang Penblwydd Hapus to birthday girl ‘Babs’ on the next table….she loved it.
Kittansett Golf Club
We left our Boston base for the final time, and headed to the south east of Massachusetts to Kittansett Golf Club in a town called Marion. We were now officially ‘on the road’. Our drivers were doing a fine job, and the tunes kept coming, even the road trips were great fun, telling stories and enjoying the scenery. We arrived at the golf club late afternoon, checked into their Dormy, and lightened our wallets in exchange for ‘merch’ in the Pro shop. After the big city, Kittansett felt like a ‘home from home’, residing at the end of Butler Point, and resting on the shores of Buzzards Bay, it had a remote and relaxed tranquil atmosphere.
We were invited to dinner at the private home of Michael Kane, where we met some of our opposition for the next days match. It was a beautiful house with the garden leading down to the shores. The sun was setting, and yachts bobbed gently in the bay - it was like a movie scene, and another ‘pinch me’ moment. It was a fantastic dinner, and fine wines were enjoyed over convivial conversation. We were made to feel very welcome by Michael and his house team led by Kim & Tom.
The weather the next day was again perfect, not a cloud in the sky, mid 70’s and a gentle breeze. Locals told us how lucky we were that it wasn’t the usual strong wind…we knew what they meant. Kittansett is known for the 1953 Walker Cup, when Tony Duncan (an Erratic) was the GB&I Captain, who famously intervened in a ruling (extra club) that prevented the US pairing from being disqualified. The next day papers ran the headline ‘Britannia waives the rules’. It was quite fitting that another Erratic & GB&I Walker Cup Captain was in our side - Andy Ingram.
The golf course (a William Flynn design) has had recent input from Gil Hanse, removing trees, exposing more of the course to sea views and wind, returning the layout to the original design. We all rated the course very highly, and was some tourists favorite. The home side led at lunch 3-1, and to our surprise there were screens up in the bar area with Ryder Cup style scoring of our matches. The scoring was closer in the afternoon, but we couldn’t catch the morning lead. We all decided that ‘golf was the winner’. Once again, our Captain thanked our gracious hosts and presented the Club with the Erratic decanter…he was starting to get the speech word perfect! That night we were again hosted by Michael at his house for dinner and drinks!
Marion Golf Club
The day after our 36 hole match play at Kittansett Golf Club, was supposed to be a ‘day off’. We were scheduled to take a leisurely drive across States into Connecticut to be close for our early morning start the following day. Michael our host, had other plans. He suggested we stop by his house to say farewell, and waiting for us, was a spectacular American breakfast! After a substantial breakfast Michael took us for a cruise on his boat around Buzzards Bay. It was bright and breezy, and the cool morning chill blew away a few cobwebs. The scenery and the houses lapping against the bay were seriously impressive. As we attempted ‘goodbye’s’ Michael had one last surprise in store for us, he wanted to show us a 9 hole public golf course next door called Marion - which he co owned with a neighbour…
(Austin, again, de-toured back to Kittansett GC to collect some forgotten kit…)
Marion Golf Club was established in 1904 and was designed by George Thomas (who designed LA Country Club, Riviera Country Club and more). George Thomas was also a famous botanist who cultivated 1200 variety of roses, which was the genesis of how the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena got it’s name. A rose is the emblem of Marion Golf Club. Michael and his neighbour recently saved the golf course from being turned over into non golfing use, with the story and the course gaining notoriety across America and covered in Golf Digest. Michael was flying to Chicago, but his final act of hospitality and generosity (or so we thought) was to give us courtesy of the course! After a frantic ‘till ringing’ period of ‘merch’ purchasing, we stepped onto the fabled 1st tee.
After ‘serious’ golf so far on tour, Marion was the perfect setting for some fun golf, playing 2 matches of fourball better ball. To our disbelief, as we got to the 2nd hole, Michael’s House Manager Kim, was waiting for us in a buggy, serving cold drinks all the way round - and we weren’t going to drink that day! Marion is a funky, quirky 9 hole course, where several greens are famed and framed by a surrounding of original stone walls - these features did not distract the Captain, who chipped in twice for birdie on consecutive holes! We thoroughly enjoyed the course, and both matches finished in halves on the last. No doubt this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Marion Golf Club, especially with Gill Hanse planning a visit.
Fishers Island Golf Club
Where do we start with Fishers Island……quite simply the most breathtaking golf course we had ever played. ‘Golfing heaven’ according to many visitors. A course where the views are so beautiful, it has you reaching for your camera on every tee and where the golf is a bonus. From the moment we congregated at Wild Bill’s Tackle Shop on the mainland to wait on the wooden quay for ‘Popeye’, the boat to take us to a golf course on an exclusive island, you know you’re in for a very special day. The boat takes you across the sea State border from Connecticut into New York. The arrival quay is adjacent to the 17th hole, where a fleet of golf buggies were positioned for us to drive up to the impressive clubhouse for welcome coffee and to meet the opposition team.
Fishers Island is consistently ranked by Golf Digest in the top 10 courses in America and is considered to be architect Seth Raynor’s masterpiece. The island is 8 miles long and 2 miles wide, and same as Royal Porthcawl you can see the sea from every hole on the course. Several holes hug the coastline, with spectacular views from elevated positions revealing picture postcard crescent bays of white and golden sands. When the course turns inwards, you are presented with freshwater hazards, where several balls can end up in a watery grave. The layout explores a dramatic roller coaster ride of sweeping elevation changes, and great ‘reveals’ around corners and on top of horizons. There are two ‘redan’ greens put to great effect, and the largest punchbowl green you’ve ever seen.
The 18 hole match against the club was narrowly lost but no-one noticed as there were only winners today. To play Fishers Island on a cloudless bluebird day with a light zephyr and great company was nothing short of a golfing privilege. After golf we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with bacon on the lawn overlooking the course with smiles on our faces. The Captain thanked our hosts for a truly unique golfing experience and presented the Erratic decanter. We quickly returned to the quay to make our boat crossing as the sun descended the skies. There was a relaxed and reflective calm on the return journey, a deep satisfaction and an absorbing realisation that we may just have had a glimpse of heaven.
Wee Burn Country Club
Wee Burn was the only club we hadn’t heard of before we set off, and it turned out to be our biggest surprise. A beautiful golf course in immaculate condition with greens registering 14.5 on the stimp meter. Playing in the ‘Fall’ meant we had the best of the weather according to local members. The colours of the trees changing with the season gave a perfect backdrop to frame the Devereux Emmet design. Established in 1896, the course is regularly in the top 5 in Connecticut, and in August 2024 hosted the Met Open (one of the original Majors on the US Tour). Wee Burn got it’s name from Andrew Carnegie who referred to the stony brook that weaves its way through the course. The island green on one of the holes is rumored to be the first of it’s kind leading to several imitations, no less famous than the 17th at Sawgrass.
To tell the story of our day at Wee Burn, we need to go back to a chance encounter at the R&A Spring meeting earlier in the year between our Captain and a certain Bob Weaver. Initial conversations about the Erratic Centenary US trip led to Bob very kindly organising the 2nd leg of the tour (Fishers Island, Wee Burn & Baltusrol). Fast forward to the trip, we first met Bob at Fishers where he showed nerves of steel holing a slippery downhill 8 footer on the last to gain a crucial half for the home team. That night Bob hosted the Erratics and the Wee Burn team at his home where we were treated to an all American BBQ, and beers - although we ended up on 9% proof lemonade. The ‘pre-party’ was a master stroke, and led to much sledging and banter on the outcome of the match the following day. By the time we met up again in the morning (bleary eyed) the two teams were kindred spirits.
From the personalised messages on our lockers, to the Welsh and USA flags on the lunch table, clearly a lot of thought and attention to detail had gone into the heartfelt welcome we warmly received. After a short warm up, we got into the 36 hole foursomes matchplay - a format the local team had not experienced before. The Erratics took advantage of the unfamiliar pressure on the oppo that comes with not wanting to let your partner down, and led the home team after the morning session. There are many al fresco options for dining at the club, and we had the perfect spot overlooking the 18th green. The food was excellent, and Bob produced a large bottle of kummel, which we enjoyed and made it feel like a home from home. After a proper lunch the two teams went out to battle feeling loose, and embolden by the liquid refreshments.
An inspired team selection from the Captain saw the pairing (for the first time on tour) of Johns & Wigley, a dangerous post lunch duo, who tapped into a deep Radyr connection (and the Halfway House) to post a quick 7&6 ‘W’ for the Erratics, from which Wee Burn could not recover. Both teams were eager to get back to the important part in the bar and continued bonding, which carried on late into the night, to an Irish bar somewhere in Stamford. It’s impossible to compare the different courses and experiences, but we will remember Wee Burn for the friendship and fun, the love and the laughter, and de-greening more putts than we thought possible!
Baltusrol Golf Club
Our last day could have been tinged with sadness, with the end in sight, that is, unless you’re playing a Major Championship golf course! Baltusrol has hosted 7 US Opens, 2 of them won by Jack Nicklaus (1967 & 1980) and 2 US PGA Championships. So it wasn’t difficult to get excited about the prospect, as we drove passed the Manhattan skyline on the way to New Jersey. We refused Austin’s request to double back to Wee Burn to retrieve his gilet, and pressed on. As soon as you arrive on the property it has a stadium course feel, with the largest clubhouse and pro shop we had seen on tour. The course is named after a Dutch farmer (Baltus Roll) who owned the land. It was later turned into America’s first ever contiguous 36 hole design in 1918. The two courses known as the Upper & Lower were designed by A.W. Tillinghast, later amended by Robert Trent Jones, then his son Robert Jones, and more recently Gil Hanse - restoring to larger greens and re-shaping bunkers to the original design.
The tills were ringing once again in the pro shop, with the last chance to purchase ‘merch’ from the trip. Johnsy & Devs did their impression of ‘supermarket dash’ while the rest of the team tucked into a ‘Balty Club breakfast’. We played the Lower course, and had a ‘mix & match’ fourball game with some Erratics paired with members, so we didn’t count this as an official tour match. Hoops shot a near par round, and Pughey rolled back the years to his ‘Welsh Boys’ days. The fairways were generous, and the greens were large - some greens had 4 different green complexes within them, where a 3 putt wasn’t a bad result. As we had found throughout the tour, the company on the golf course was second to none, and once again we were royally looked after.
After golf we enjoyed a thoroughly good lunch overlooking the course. We didn’t have much time before we needed to set off for the flight home, but we did manage a quick tour of the clubhouse. The clubhouse is seriously impressive, covering at least three if not four floors, with multiple separate bars, private dining areas and function rooms - accommodation is also on site somewhere. As you would expect there is a lot of history and memorabilia on the walls, and we could have spent hours trying to take it all in. For the last time our fantastic Captain spoke eloquently once again (he’d had some practice) thanking our generous hosts, and presenting the club with the Erratic decanter. And with that, the trip was over….all good things must come to an end, at least temporarily.
