Ironically, for someone renowned for the perfect timing of his golf swing, Harry Vardon was late for his own 150th birthday!
That statement requires some explanation: In 2018, the trustees of the Harry Vardon Trust began to make plans to stage an event in 2020 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Jersey golfer on 9 May 1870. A sub-committee of trustees was duly constituted under the Chairmanship of Stephen Rafferty.
Grange Developments, a local property development company, kindly agreed to be headline sponsors of what became known as The HV150 Golf Day. The date for the event was set for Saturday 16 May 2020 at Royal Jersey and quickly sold out.
In March 2020, all of those plans were swiftly curtailed by an unprecedented worldwide event, the COVID-19 pandemic. In common with the UK, Jersey was locked down and it was to be several months before normal activity, including golf was able to resume. However, large gatherings were forbidden for a while longer, making it impossible to go ahead with HV150 in 2020.
And so, plans were revised to host HV150+1 in 2021. But government controls over social gatherings were still in place and another date elapsed.
Eventually, on Saturday 7 May 2022, 22 teams gathered at the historical Grouville links where Vardon first learned the game to pay homage to Jersey most successful sportsman.
The day was blessed with sunny weather. Competition was intense and a good time was had by all (ok, most).
As a special pre-dinner treat for everyone, it was arranged for Jersey Museum to attend the clubhouse with Harry Vardon’s winner’s medals, including those from his six Open Championships and his 1900 US Open win.
<– Evening Programme –>
6.30 – 7.30 – Drinks and viewing Vardon Medals
7.30 – 9.30 – Dinner
9.15 – 9.25 – Welcome from Vardon Trust Chairman, Andrew Keites
9.25 – 9.30 – A word from the sponsors
9.30 – 9.45 – Talk on Vardon by former Royal Jersey Head Greenkeeper David Crawford
9.45 – 10.00 – Presentation of prizes by Rick Duckett of Grange Developments)
10.00 – 10.20 – Auction
<– Auction prizes (and winning bids): –>
Putter – used by and autographed by Tommy Horton (£250, Michelle Bolton)
Golf Bag – autographed by Ian Woosnam (£750 David Whalley)
Ryder Cup 2018 commemorative flag, autographed by the 12 European Team members and Captain Thomas Bjorn (£1,400 Conrad Coutanche)
The Chairman thanked everyone involved for taking part and those who had sponsored and organised a wonderful event. We are privileged to be able to use the Vardon name to carry on our work to try and ensure that golf in Jersey continues for at least another 150 years.
