Open champions celebrate at Prestwick Golf Club

Jul 16 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

FIVE Open champions were at Prestwick Golf Club last weekend to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Open which was launched at the seaside course.

Sir Bob Charles, Tony Jacklin, Sandy Lyle, Peter Thomson and Lee Trevino, collectively winners of ten Opens, joined members and guests including the captains of all Open venues, past and present, in a special competition and celebration dinner to mark the milestone.

To celebrate the anniversary, Prestwick Golf Club has commissioned a handmade replica of the original winners' belt which will be presented to the victor of the 2010 Open at St Andrews.

The original belt presented by Prestwick Golf Club in 1860 was clinched outright by Tom Morris jnr when he won the Open in three consecutive years (1868-70).

It was presented to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club by the Morris family in 1908 following the death of Old Tom.