A record 76 players played the 22nd British Open at Whitcombe Farm's re-designed and expanded course. Or should I say courses, since there are now two, entirely separate, 18-double-chain basket courses at Whitcombe.

I don't know if it was the news about the courses or the shocking size of the pot (USD2,000), but whatever it was, over 20 players from eight countries came to join the fifty-odd from the UK. Rich Hart drew applause and a cute prize from the Swiss for coming the furthest - all the way from the US of A!!

For those familiar with Whitcombe, the New Course, now re-named Modern, was left almost untouched by the changes, losing Goolagong Dip (to the other course) and Bunny Valley Hop (now nearly unplayable due to tree growth). From Round the Knoll the course now enters Bunny Valley playing a hole in the huge bowl to the left and then a viscious little number from the hillside to the basket position for the old Bunny Valley Hop. Not a place to fade right. (Steps are being made to re-introduce Bunny Valley Hop.) The Old Course, now re-named Ancient, takes the first seven holes from the Old, and then turns back on itself, crossing Bowling's Hill and then down through a field called Saunders, through Boar Wood (and over the stream) to the field beyond the Blasted Oak and back. For those with really long memories, this is over the route of the original course, but in reverse! So a total of 11 brand-new holes, including one of 200 metres and another of just 37metres.

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