26-05-2025
Learn how golfers showed iron will in wartime at new R&A exhibition
A fascinating new exhibition at The R&A World Golf Museum in St Andrews explores golf's surprising ties to warfare – from royal bans to battlefield rehab – revealing how centuries of global conflict are woven into the game's rich history
Jokes are often made about the amount of time some golfers spend on the greens.
For one Scottish king, however, the increasing popularity of the game was no joke as he felt his fighting men were neglecting their military skills.
As a result, the game was banned in 1457 by King James II so that his men would instead hone their prowess on weapons like bows and arrows.
(Image: 'Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict' highlights the links between golf and conflict)
The royal ban on the game is just one of the fascinating facts revealed in a new exhibition in St Andrews, the home of golf.
Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict shows how the links between golf and conflict go far back in history with the first recorded reference to golf being the 1457 ban.
'The reason for that was because Scotland and England were frequently at war during this time, and the King wanted to make sure his subjects were ready for battle,' explained Kieran George, a Curator at The R&A World Golf Museum in St Andrews.
'The ban was later reaffirmed throughout the 15th century, although there are also references to later kings playing the game as well.
'I don't think we will ever definitely know the answer to when golf started in Scotland but from that evidence it would appear golf had already been well established by at least 1457.'
What is true is that golf's military connections continued over the centuries. The Society of St Andrews Golfers, which later became The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, was formed in 1754. Many of the members had a military background and played golf in jackets similar to their army apparel.
Even today the captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club wears a ceremonial red jacket at official functions reminiscent of some of the army uniforms.
One of the themes running through the exhibition is how golf has helped soldiers recover from wounds, both physical and mental.
'We have newsreel footage of golfers wounded in World War One playing the game, as well as golfers wounded in World War Two,' said Kieran. 'That story continues up to the present day with a soldier wounded in Afghanistan, who loaned a pin flag to the exhibition and who credits golf as playing a major part in his mental and physical recovery.'
(Image: Black Watch hero Freddie Tait was one of the finest amateur golfers of his day)
The footage was primarily shot at hospitals and nearby golf courses in the UK where wounded soldiers were recovering, and there are scenes of men who lost limbs continuing to play.
The exhibition is being staged to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War
Two and it covers golfers, both amateur and professional, male and female, who put their careers on hold to serve in the armed forces.
One example is Freddie Tait, who served in the Black Watch and was one of the finest amateur golfers of his day, twice winning The Amateur Championship, in 1896 and 1898.
'He was quite a personality in golf but was unfortunately killed during the Boer War when he was only 30-years-old. He was mourned throughout the golfing world,' said Kieran.
In World War One golfer Ernest Whitcombe was wounded by shrapnel in his eye, yet managed to resume his golfing career, winning the Irish, French and Dutch Opens, while 'The Silver Scot', Tommy Armour, was blinded by mustard gas but regained his sight and managed to win The Open at Carnoustie in 1931 despite metal plates in his head and his left arm as a result of his wartime injuries.
Women, of course, also played a role. Doris Chambers, who captained The Curtis Cup side three times, risked her life by driving ambulances between field hospitals and the front line, and was mentioned in dispatches for bravery.
Pam Barton, who won the Women's Amateur Championship in 1939, served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force but was killed in a plane crash in 1943 when she was still reigning champion. Today, a salver is presented in her memory at The Women's Amateur.
Golf was also played by captured personnel in prisoner of war camps. Prisoners made golf balls from whatever material they could find, including the leather soles of shoes and woven cane.
Golf clubs were also sent to the camps via the Red Cross, after a request from captured RAF Officer Pat Ward-Thomas, later a famous golf journalist.
The exhibition also covers the impact of the war on the domestic game when championships like The Open were cancelled during both world wars. Some leading players played fundraising exhibition matches instead. They included Henry Cotton who raised over £70,000 for the Red Cross during World War Two – a vast amount at the time.
The exhibition features artifacts, artwork, film footage and testimonies that shed light on the relationship between golf and conflict. It will run until March next year.
