Killarney '75

There are in Holland two games of golf. Uh one is of course the golf we play over here but they also have a game which is uh called golf. You write it with a K and um people it's a complete different game nowadays but they say that it is the game of which golf originated. >> I was always led to believe that the home of golf was at St. Andrews at famous link in the east coast of Scotland. >> In Denmark we at the moment have about 40 courses and about 15,000 players and golf has been at the increase for the last 3 or 4 years. We have doubled the number of courses and players. >> Golf is not yet very popular in France. We only have 110 clubs and very little public ones. But I think it's making big progress and improving a little. >> In Iceland, we have 14 courses and uh about 1,200 members and we can only play golf about 4 years, 4 months a year. In Italy, there are not very many golf courses. They are altogether 60 golf courses and not more than 8,000 players altogether. >> Swedish golf is very similar to to Irish I should say. We have about 140 causes around 60,000 players. We play can't play golf all the year round. In the northern parts we can't play for more than four or five months. in the southern parts for about 8 months. >> We have in Luxembourg only one golf course, 18 whole course but uh we have about uh some 650 members. Out of those only 200 250 are actually playing members. So we have a little problems to get a good team together. [music] Problems. Problems. Of course, they've got problems, [music] but these newcomers to golf are playing it just as well as we do with our hundreds of years to perfect our game. Damn it, they're so methodical [music] about it. All kind of people are playing golf nowadays and especially young people [music] is playing very much. [bell] [music] Golf is still quite expensive in France, but if you [music] see a club like this, one of most of the members are from the upper class. And just who are these guys? Upper class from France maybe. But others [music] too, from all over Europe. From Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden. Well, they're golfers. All right. But where are they off to? >> To Ireland, to pit their newfound talents against the might of the traditional giants of the amateur game, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales. Dare they? Dare they wave their shimmering nibs in anger at us in our European Amateur Championship in Keani? They can't do this to us, but they're doing it. Kelani, watch out. Here they come. Heat. Heat. [bell] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Ah, Kellani, you are truly [music] beautiful without a blemish. Will you forgive us then for our mundane preparations? [music] Labors, we assure you, meant not to conceal any imperfection in the natural order of things. Such indeed will be impossible. [music] But labors necessary nonetheless to cater for a section of us mere mortals. A brash, broody, and boisterous breed called dolphins. [applause] [applause] >> [music] [music] [music] >> 80°. degrees of heat and unrelenting sunshine certainly helped to launch new ideas in men's [music] golf fashions, but it also complemented the ideal natural setting for the staging of the 9inth European Amateur Team Championship. On the final practice day, there was not a mad dog to be seen. But many English men toiled on understandably confident of recording their fourth successive victory in the event. >> Do you feel fit about retaining the title here this year? >> Oh, I think we get that. All right. Like that all the time. and the Irish. >> Can I get that title? >> Well, in 80° of heat, it was understandable that they were cautious. >> Course is in terrific order. Greens are >> greens are perfect. >> Very smooth. >> This year, even in front of so much beauty, we know that all of you will try your utmost to excel yourself for your respective countries in the best sporting spirit. Our 1975 championship will see 18 countries competing. Of our association only two countries are not participating. For us it is a wonderful meeting which brings us all together once again and we hope that you shall enjoy it as much as we look forward to do so. Play well gentlemen and good luck to you all. >> [applause] >> You do live fishing? >> Yes, I was out fishing Friday in Espiria. >> But hold hard, sir. There's more to Keani than golf. Sure. Isn't the club itself called the Kani Golf and Fishing Club? Of course it is. And the Danish team wanted to sample all its delights. [music] >> [music] >> Thursday, the qualifying day. The leading eight teams after this round will later fight for the title. And there's a hectic scramble to get into this top eight. This is the last hole of the crucial match. And that's the T-shot of Godilo of France. He needs to get down on two putts for France to qualify. playing with him. Yensce Thomasson of Denmark and Ireland's Hugh Smith. And this is for a birdie and a round of 77. So he settles for 78 and Ireland are in the last eight. Gotily low again. And this little one to put France through. The pot drops and with it England's hopes of retaining their title. Yes. Remarkably, they failed to make the final list of eight. Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Wales, and France. Friday, Ireland versus Sweden in one of the quarterfinals. Patmul Karee punts on the 13th. It was one of the few things to go right for the Irishman. He lost three and two. Same green, same result for another Irishman, Brian Malone. But he too lost his match and Sweden were heading for a shock wind. There was much head shaking in the Irish camp. On the edge of the 17th, Hugh Smith stands all square with Orel of Sweden attempting to get it close to the pitch and run. And this is the Swede with a 10-footer for a par4. >> [applause] >> So that left Smith needing to hold his putt to remain all square. >> Orel hitting at the famous finishing hole in Kani, the 202 yd par three. He's pushed it to the right into heavy rough. A chance for Smith. He too is in rough on the right of the green. >> [applause] >> Now this is Smith with his second to the 18th. But alas, too late. Orel wins one up. Fortune didn't exactly smile on Francis George Leven that day either. That putt went in and out and his t-shot in the next hole hit an electricity pole. >> Hello. I'm down here by the 16th team. >> Official referee is wearing a green armband. >> Well, this has been discussed. >> An official ruling is given by Dr. Jerry Owens of the tournament organizing committee and Michelle Leven departs the scene obviously none too pleased about our power system. >> France lost that day to Scotland. But the remaining quarterfinals ended in surprise victories for Switzerland over Germany and for Italy over Wales. Indeed, it could be said that the only predictable result occurred on the next day, Saturday, sweeps derby day at the current right now. And they have about a full and a half to go. Grundy coming on the outside. But as they hit the last four and a quarter, it's out in front and coming on and cutting away. And as the race car is by the final fur, there he goes. And the king is chasing. When the king is in front, the king of the day is Brundy. In second place is King Salidor. Incredible is never so gay. But what a win. And this is the horse that really is up after seven. He is seven up after eight and Malone is three up after eight. That was Brian Malone coming out of a bunker and on [applause] to victory in his singles. And this is Jackie Harrington in the match that eventually decided the outcome of Ireland versus Wales with the Welshman Germine finally winning on the 20th to give Wales victory by four matches to three. But this was just one of the many tussles for minor places. The championship proper was going to be resolved the next day between Italy and [music] Scotland. both of whom were understandably absent from the Julie and Hanigan's house that night. [music] >> Take my muscles and made him tonight and make yourself at home [music] on your own. [music] They see me beginning to know the taste of [music] water just for half the time. if you want [music] to wash it down. So if you're Irish, you should all welcome. But there's a hyster [music] [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> It was [music] probably appropriate that the Italians traditional lovers of beauty and the Scots who remain adamant in their insistence [music] that they invented the game of golf should meet in the final on such a picturesque [music] and testing course as Kani. It certainly fired the enthusiasm of the continentals who saw Italy's emergence as proof [music] positive that the dominance of the amateurs seen by the British and Irish was finally at an end. It was an [music] intriguing match. According to the respective team captains, Italy's Pierro Kora and Scotland's Sandy Sadler. >> Well, I think the the course itself is marvelous, though we haven't had any rain, and it's fast running, which I think will suit the Continentals. And uh the Scotch Boys have played really very well this week. They led to qualifiers by nine shots. And I think we're going to have a very interesting golf match this afternoon. here. We were very happy of what we have accomplished, we would never have thought that uh we could do it. But uh now that we are frankly approaching the final goal um I hope that also that we can beat Scotton if if we do not beat Scotton to us a second place would be a great thing. Green plays Scotland's second shot for the 19th in the morning forsomes and the Scots have already won the other foresomes match by 5 and three. Next silver for Italy plays to the green. [applause] Green's partner Hutchin putts and leaves it short and left. So the Italian Leonello has this for a birdie and a match. Now Charlie Green again with this to keep the match alive. So going to the final series of five singles, the championship was delicately poised and [music] the barroom book makers who had given such generous odds against the Continentals looked decidedly pale. Italy's Tadini hits at the short sixth hole, standing two up on Scotland Stewart. The Italian chips just a fraction too strongly [applause] and leaves himself with a 7ft putt. Stuart putts for a win. But he leaves it short. Tadini now for his power. He conceded Stuart's spot. Now there's only one between them. >> Match number two. Hutchen and Leonelo all square. And that's a par three for the start. Now it's the Italians turn from about 3 ft. All won by Scotland. Scotland one up. Match number three. Steven for Scotland. One up playing into the eighth green. [applause] >> Steven's ball has found water through the green. No point in playing it out of that lot. He concedes the hole all square. Tadini again at 13, [applause] but Stuart follows him in. [applause] One up. >> And that lead was increased to two as we see Tadini play his second to the 16th. He's on the green, but Stuart misses from closer range. Italy wins the hole in four, Scotland one up. >> Match number four and Scotland's strength and depth is finally asserting itself. The Italian Betty is three down and in sand at the 15th. But what a great shot. [applause] His opponent Green with an outside chance to win the match, but he leaves it a good bit short. [applause] >> Meanwhile, Tadini on the 17th shows us how to get extra length by measuring a drop with the cover still on his driver. While back on the 16th, we watch Betty's all action swing and Charlie Green fairly whacks into it too. Tadini again and in more trouble at the 17th. One down and just two to play. The strain of playing two rounds a day for three days is beginning to tell. His compatriate Betty too is finding the going difficult against Green who is playing all the percentage shots in order to safeguard his two-holes lead. Tadini again and again finding more trouble for himself on the 17th. His opponent Stewart has quite a putt, but even three from there would do. So he lays it up carefully. And here he is again. Senor never say die. Tadini needing to hold this one. But come back. The ball is still in the bunker. The match is conceded. Green the winner by two and one. And the Canny Scots permit themselves a further smile as news arrives that they have also won the fifth match out in the country. A most comprehensive six and five win by McGregor over Silva. >> Thank you for playing so nicely. >> But victory was not yet secured. Later the scoreboard would show Sitta got one back for Italy by beating Steven one up and that Leonelo halved with Hutchen. That meant the deciding match was the one between Green and Betty. >> And this was Betty's chance. A long chance for a birdie on the 16th, but he leaves it very short. Now Green with the pressure off for his birdie. If he gets it, Italy live on. If he misses, Scotland are sure of the championship. >> Bowl won by Green. Scotland win the match by GM. >> [music] >> So for the record, Scotland first ahead of the new challengers [music] from the continent. Italy second, Sweden third, and Switzerland fourth, followed by Wales fifth, Germany [music] sixth, Ireland seventh, and France eighth. [music] And for the new champions, it was [music] full compensation for having finished so tantalizingly close in the recent past. Runners up in the previous two championships in 1971 and [music] 1973. I brave and bony lads they are. [music] And the final role [music] of honor, team captain Sandy Sadler and his players Charlie Green, Ian Hutchen, [music] George McGregor, Sandy Stevens, and Hugh Stewart. >> [music] >> And what of the Irish? Well, it's not too difficult to find [music] some crumbs of comfort. Sure, wasn't the weather lovely? And sure, didn't Khani do us proud? [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music]