Bobby Eggo walks to the tee during his singles match against legendary American amateur Jay Sigel in the 1987 Walker Cup at Sunningdale. (Picture by Phil Sheldon)
THERE is no definitive way to judge sportsmen and women against each other across the generations.
It provokes good argument, though.
You simply have to study the record books, listen to those in the know, draw on your own experiences and trust your judgement.
To compile the list of Guernsey’s top 20 golfers I have been able to draw on the eyes and expert opinion of four men, two of them great champions who sampled golf either side of the Occupation, one who wrote about it – John Le Poidevin – and who saw the best golfers for a 30-year period and a fourth of whom I know not even the name. That anonymous contributor to this selection process filled the role of Guernsey Evening Press golf correspondent as Hitler built his army.
His description of the island’s top players of the day suggests he played alongside many of them and, in the absence of alternative opinion, his assessment of the best golfers of the 20s and 30s seems very valid.
Indeed, they are largely his words I use in painting a picture of arguably the fourth and fifth best island players of 100 years of golf.
No. 5: CECIL W. NOEL.
Twice island champion – in 1929 and again the following summer – but the flying fanatic merely dabbled with the game, it seems possessing a wealth of natural talent.
From the 1937 player review:
‘Having played lately in several fourball matches with Cecil, I was informed by him that he was going to take up golf seriously again after an absence of five years.
‘At present, he is playing himself into form, but take my word for it, he will soon be on top of it. I must say he is a very determined golfer, who sets about getting his figures in a most orthodox manner.
‘He is a very long driver; in fact, the longest in the island when absolutely on form and which is a decided advantage. His iron play, mashie play and putting are good.
‘Without any doubt he is the most difficult golfer to beat and this is how he gets about it, psychologically.
‘He is aware that he can out-drive his opponent, whoever he may be. Having done so, he then watches his opponent play his next shot to gain some advantage, then concentration and determination play a part with one object in view, to finally place his ball between his opponent’s ball and the pin.
‘C. W. Noel is a scratch player and for some time was plus one.’
Both Reuben and Roy Mahy can vouch for the elder Noel brother’s brilliance and, in particular, his length off the tee.
Reuben: ‘Stan [Noel] always said “my brother is a far better player than me”.’
Reuben caddied for Cecil a few times and said his hitting power was nowhere more evident than on the 15th, which is the only hole which remains unchanged from the pre-war course.
‘The 15th was as it is now and after a bad drive he put his iron from short of the tower onto the green.’
Roy has no doubts on the elder Noel’s power: ‘He was the longest hitter I’ve ever seen.
‘A wonderful player but he didn’t play much. He generally played only on a Sunday morning and I’d go and watch him.’
Roy would also get to see him perform in the afternoons, but this time in his biplane.
No. 4: JOHNNY HEAUME.
(Pictured right)
Was to win six island titles and, incredibly, each time he did, he went on to beat the Jersey champion.
He lost 10 prime years of his golfing career to the war, but at his best played off plus two and while he was excellent in all areas of the game, he was particularly noted for his putting. The best ever, reckoned Roy Mahy, who twice beat him in island finals.
Back in 1937, this is what the Press correspondent said of the great L’Ancresse player:
‘He is a fairly long driver and consistently straight. The same applies to his iron play and mashie play.
‘He plays up to the pin with his approach shots and at times this is his downfall.
‘This is where experience plays a great part, when he has finally decided to play a No. 7 shot up to the pin against the wind when a No. 5 or 6 should have been played.
‘I will conclude on a very good note: He is a jolly good putter and this nobody can contradict!’
No. 3: ROY MAHY.
Was the dominant force in island golf until the emergence of David Warr and Bobby Eggo and his match-play game was up with the best.
‘He was never better than when playing against Jersey,’ recalled erstwhile golf correspondent Le Poidevin.
Son of Fred, himself a noted golfer between the wars, Roy was a Hampshire county regular for many years, his success forged on consistent stroke-play performances and his tigerish head-to-head play.
Won the island title six times from which he lifted the CI championship on four occasions.
All told, he played in nine island finals and his championship success spanned 36 years, the first in 1963 and the last in 1979.
His two sons, Andy and Steve, have continued the family golf tradition and both represented the island.
No. 2: DAVID WARR.
Six times island champion and only once did he fail to convert it into a CI championship.
That collection of titles might have been doubled but for the years he lost to Guernsey golf while he trained for and developed a successful accountancy career.
Hampshire picked up on his talent at an early stage and as a schoolboy he represented England. Later he became a stalwart of the Hampshire senior county team.
Like Eggo, he enjoyed a brilliant singles record at inter-insular level until his game waned with age and his swing became flatter.
‘An absolute natural,’ is how Le Poidevin referred to him.
‘He always seemed to be in control of his game.’
Also, one of the finest ambassadors of golf Guernsey has seen.
No. 1: BOBBY EGGO
It should surprise nobody that top of the pile is Bobby Eggo and who better to lead the tributes than our former sports editor who was the only Guernseyman present when Eggo played in the Walker Cup 21 years ago.
He regards the Walker Cup and Eggo’s two English match-play finals as the highlights of his own reporting career, which also took him to several Commonwealth Games around the world.
‘Bobby has been consistently brilliant and I’m convinced he could have become a successful playing professional,’ said this paper’s former golf correspondent.
As well as the countless trophies Eggo has won locally, his career highlights further afield included that appearance, alongside the likes of Colin Montgomerie, for the Great Britain and Ireland team at Sunningdale in 1987.
On the tournament front he was one of the leading British amateurs for a number of years, landing the prestigious Brabazon Trophy in 1988 and reaching the English Amateur final twice.
In the first of those, at Frilford Heath near Oxford in 1987, he went down to Kevin Weeks at the first extra hole.
Two years later he made the final again, this time at Royal St George’s, Sandwich, only to lose 2 and 1 to Steve Richardson, who then turned professional and played in the Ryder Cup.
At his peak Eggo was a formidable opponent and in his first 22 singles matches against Jersey his record was a staggering 18 wins, two halves and just two losses.
For years he held the L’Ancresse course record outright with a 64 (it was later equalled) and when it was beaten by Garry McFarlane’s 63 early in the 2008 season, Eggo’s response was swift – he did it himself.
Consistently a plus-two golfer, he remains the man to beat in Guernsey, although his powers undoubtedly have waned in his mid-40s.
He admitted turning professional had been a consideration.
Speaking when he was voted No. 3 in the Guernsey Press’s Sporting 100 to celebrate 100 years of island sport, he said: ‘I will never know how I would have got on, but it is very difficult to break into the pro ranks as other top amateurs have found out.’
Article posted on 29th November, 2008 - 9.29am
Most Commented: