Came Down Golf Club, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NR.


Samuel Ryder

The Ryder Cup and Came Down Golf Club

Came Down Golf Club played an important part in the founding of the Ryder Cup. Samuel Ryder, the donor of the Ryder Cup, was a St Albans seed merchant who made his fortune partly thanks to having the foresight to sell seeds to the public in the form of the 'Penny Seed Packet'. A member of the Verulam Golf Club, he was determined to improve the lowly status of the golf professional. Accordingly he arranged for one of his companies to sponsor the 'Heath and Heather' tournament at his beloved Verulam club in 1923.

Samuel Ryder

For his holidays Ryder liked to go to the seaside resort of Weymouth on Dorset's coast (a few miles from Came Down GC). Taking a party with him comprised of various relations and golfing friends, he always stayed right on the esplanade at the Royal Hotel, usually for a fortnight. Ryder played Golf at Came Down and eventually became a member and took the greatest of interests in the club's affairs. In particular he noticed the brilliant play of the Whitcombe brothers. He asked Ernest if they ever played in important tournaments, Ernest replied that they rarely did. They could ill afford the unpaid time and travel costs so much. Ernest told Ryder, "the Americans come over here smartly dressed and backed by wealthy supporters. The Britisher has a poor chance compared to that".

Now Sam Ryder was a man full of pity and sympathy for 'the other chap'. It was just this kind of sympathy for the underdog that Ernest Whitcombe's comments brought out. Samuel Ryder's eldest daughter Mrs Marjorie Claisen takes up the story in her 1979 booklet entitled 'The Ryder Family':

Father considered that something vital was required to rouse golf clubs to take a real interest and responsibilty in encouraging any young 'pros' who showed promise, such as the Whitcombes at Came Down. He consulted his friends Abe Mitchell and George Duncan who had both made names for themselves in the golfing world. Together they discussed the question of the poor support given to British 'pros', and the idea emerged for some important contest to be set up, to be played solely between Britain and America.

Father provided the Golf Cup; beautifully designed and bearing on top the figure of a golfer based on a photograph of Abe Mitchell.

So was born The Ryder Cup. It has definitely achieved the aim which father had in mind - British 'pros' are now respected and supported by clubs eager that their man shall be included in The Ryder Cup team, on equal standing with the wealthy Americans. The golfing world now has opportunities for them which were impossible in the old days before ' The RyderCup '.

There followed a series of a number of exhibitions or challenge matches including two unofficial matches between Great Britain and America, the first at Gleneagles in May 1921 and the second at Wentworth in June 1926. Just six weeks before the 1926 match, it was announced that Samuel Ryder was to put up a cup for this competition between the two dominant golfing countries of the world. The solid gold cup, which was made by Mappin and Webb for £250, was donated absolutely to the British PGA. However it was later agreed that this 1926 match should not count in the Ryder Cup series but in future biennial contests between these nations, with Great Britain supplemented by Ireland.

The first official Ryder Cup match was played at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts USA on the 3rd of June 1927.

The 1927 Great Britain Team.

Among the Great Britain and Ireland team was Charles Whitcombe and despite America's win by 9 and half to 2 and a half, remained unbeaten having won his foursomes match and halving his singles match with the great Gen Sarazen. Great Britain and Ireland won the next match, 7 points to 5, in 1929 played at Moortown near Leeds. Charles Whitcombe again played for the Great Britain and Ireland team and was joined by his brother Ernest. All three Whitcombe brothers were picked for the 1935 Ryder Cup team, the Cup that year contested in the United States at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey. A remarkable achievement indeed.

The 1935 Great Britain Team.

The rest, as they say, is history.

 

For more information see Peter Fry's book: 'Samuel Ryder - The man behind the Ryder Cup'

   
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