Samuel Ryder

The first Ryder Cup played on British soil was at Moortown in 1929, when Samuel Ryder was Captain of Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club.

In business, he was a successful seed merchant in St Albans and following a year as Mayor, he took up golf, joining Verulam Golf Club, where he became Captain in 1911 and was granted Life membership in 1920. His passion for Shakespeare led him to Stratford-upon-Avon, and he became a country member of the Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club in 1927. The following year, he was elected Vice President, and in 1929, he took on the role of Captain of the Club, serving for two years.

The British team at Moortown included Stewart Burns, C.A. Whitcome, Fred Robson, Ernie Whitcome, Percy Alliss, George Duncan, Henry Cotton, Archie Crompton, Aubrey Boomer, and Abe Mitchell. Abe Mitchell, who helped reduce his handicap to 6, served as a personal professional for one of the players.

Sam Ryder organised an exhibition match at Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club to celebrate its official opening on April 27, 1928. In this match, George Duncan, the British Open Champion in 1920 and captain of the Ryder Cup team in 1929, partnered with Abe Mitchell. Their opponents in the two 36-hole matches were Ted Ray, captain of the 1927 Ryder Cup team, and a two-time champion of the British Open in 1912 and the U.S. Open in 1920, along with Alex Herd, the British Open Champion in 1902 and runner-up in 1920. The exhibition attracted 500 spectators on Friday and 700 on Saturday.

Following the successful Ryder Cup victory in 1929, Samuel Ryder continued to invite top professionals and amateurs for exhibition matches at the club. He hosted a dinner at the Shakespeare Hotel in honour of the winning captain, George Duncan. On another occasion, Henry Longhurst, who later gained fame in television and journalism, teamed up with Abe Mitchell. Our member, Dr. William Tweddell, also participated in a match in 1931. Dr. Tweddell was the British Amateur champion in 1927 and served as the captain of the Walker Cup team in both 1928 and 1936.

There is a second Ryder Cup which is played for by the Ladies at Moortown every year. After the playing of the event Samuel Ryder presented the Ladies with a cup as a thank you for all their help and support.

Bibliography

A Confident Century, Stratford on Avon Golf Club 1894 – 1994 John Gee (1994) Samuel Ryder, The Man Behind The Ryder Cup – Peter Fry (2000).