‘Origins of golf’ beautifully celebrated in Spain

Gonzalo Retana reports:

On 29th and 30th August, the Real Nuevo Club de Golf SS Basozabal has held for the fourth consecutive year a golf prize in the Hickory modality, that is to say, with wooden clubs, clubs prior to 1935 and with the rules corresponding to the beginnings of golf.

This IV San Sebastian Hickory Golf Open has been a charity event for the benefit of the NGO of the College of Engineers of Gipuzkoa, with the proceeds going to the Nyabunyunyi school, located in the Kimomo village on the island of Idjwi in the Congo.

For the occasion, all the participants played dressed in period costumes. A ProAm was held on Monday 29th and the individual championship on Tuesday 30th. Both days were very exciting because of the novelty of playing and watching golf in its purest form. 

The players who did not have vintage clubs could rent them from the professional Freddy Lilly, a bag made up of five irons with wooden shaft and a drive (head and wooden shaft), after which a complete set was raffled among the players who had rented clubs, courtesy of the Basque Golf Federation.

Following tradition, each player carried his bag on his shoulder and was dressed in period costume for the occasion: the men in a tie or bow tie, long-sleeved shirt, bloomers and long woollen socks; the women in a long skirt, a shirt with a closed collar and a hat. 

The championship was attended by the photographer Jose Luís García de Madinabeitia of the Photographic Society of Guipúzcoa, who immortalised moments of the day.

Among the more than 40 players were Basozabal club members Rafael Ortiz de Urbina, Ivan Irazusta, Fernando Berridi, Luis Azqueta, Agustín Sanchez, Antonio Gómez, Paul Tamayo, Diego Navas, Marta Gil De Gomez, Larraitz Gainberri, Arrate Gárate, Rosa Maria Ortega, Adoración Jimenez, Nieves salas; the Retana Bronte family formed by Cecilia Bronte, Pablo Cortés, Gonzalo, Gabriela, Guillermo and Cecilia Retana also players from Jaizkibel Tristán Orbe, from Zarautz Ion Izulain, from Goiburu Jon Garcia Urbieta, Navarra and Cataluña participated.

The organization was carried out by Gonzalo Retana, Egoitz Maya, Freddy Lilly and Jon Urbina, Manager of Basozabal Golf Club, which was impeccable. All the players gave good results despite not being familiar with clubs more than a hundred years old. 

Before the start of the championship a Wellcom Pack was distributed, courtesy of ISDIN, consisting of two top quality sun creams, especially for outdoor sports and a ball, a replica of the original gutta percha with the logo of the Basozabal club.

In the middle of the course there was a tasting of knife-cut ham courtesy of Torres Cortés accompanied by wines from the Rioja Alavesa winery LAUNA, Mahou beers, Ramón Bilbao wines and, at the end of the course, Martin Miller’s Gin Tonic. On the 9th hole and during the meal, the sound system, background and ambient music, was provided by Sustrai installations.

The team that won the scramble prize (Mexican) played on the 29th was formed by: Guillermo and Cecilia Retana, Paul Tamayo and Jon Garcia.

On Tuesday 30th the singles were played: The absolute winner of the tournament was the professional of Basozabal, Rafael Ortiz de Urbina followed by Guillermo Retana, and third Jose Antonio Balcones (pro of Madrid). The amateur scratch for Guillermo Retana. Men’s handicap winner Gonzalo Retana, and women’s handicap winner Cecilia Retana.

The distribution of prizes on both days and the prize draw was very generous, courtesy of the sponsors, Lain Forrester (hickoryclubs), Tad moore (handcrafted clubs),  Arbelaitz, Seguros Santa Lucia, Hotel Arima, Z1 Golf Academy, H0 GolfHouse, Adrian Arnaus, Go Car, Real Sociedad Fundazioa, Laboratorios Cantabria, Sushi Donosti, Arima Wellness Center, Zuasti, PGA España, bodegas Launa, , Azen Proyectos y Obras y BFC Basque Financial Consulting viajealgolf. com, Costa del Sol Malaga, golfclasic, Club Metropolitan, lapubli,…

All the players were transported to the origins of golf for a day, an experience that they certainly want to repeat next year. 

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