This report, under the heading Great Golf Match, was published in the Montrose Standard on Friday, August 17th 1849.
It should be noted that the word Frith is not a typographical error but an alternative spelling to the word Firth, used when referring to an estuary.
The return match between Allan Robertson and Tom Morris of St. Andrews on the one side, and the two Dunns of Musselburgh on the other side, came off on Wednesday last, on the Links of North Berwick; and seldom, if ever, has a match excited so much interest, or been contested so keenly as this one. A finer Links might have been more easily fixed for the game, but a more romantic spot could scarce have been chosen. North Berwick is but a petty place, still it lies in a fine locality, surrounded by beautiful country, and placed in the centre of a number of natural objects of interest, which are striking and attractive. The town lies on the east shelving of Berwick Law, which rises in gigantic proportions behind it, as if it were a guardian to protect the little town below, which occupies a strip of sandy ground between that mountain and the sea, whereof the links form a portion. The seaward prospect is bounded by the Bass Rock, which guards the coast in solemn majesty, and by a cluster of small islands which extend for several miles along the shore, - here imparting to its margin more the appearance of a mountain lake than that of a stormy portion of the German Ocean. The scene had, therefore, attractions independent of the game; but the match, nevertheless, was for the day the great interest. Young and old were all alive to its importance. Each had their bets, small or large; and even the ladies, of whom there were a numerous and beautiful assemblage, composed of the elite of East Lothian and Berwickshire, were all ready to take an interest in the far-famed match by backing their favourites at the hazard of a pair of gloves.
It is right here to mention, what will probably be recollected, that the match was a trial of strength, for the purpose of testing the prowess of the Champions of the north against those of the south side of the Frith of Forth. The nominal stakes were £400, but very large bets besides were depending upon the result of the contest. It had been fixed that the competition should take place on three different Links, viz.; Musselburgh, St Andrews, and North Berwick. At Musselburgh, which is the Dunns’ calf ground, they beat their opponents in a canter, winning the match there by 13 holes, with 12 to play. At St Andrews, however, they were not successful – having lost there by 2 or 3 holes, although they started and kept ahead till the very last. North Berwick, therefore, which was comparatively neutral ground to both parties, became the scene of the final struggle, which excited the keenest interest in the golfing circles, and collected on Wednesday last one of the largest assemblages which have ever graced the Links of that place.
At starting the Dunns were the favourites. They looked in excellent condition, and appeared confident of victory. Allan and his partner, on the other hand, appeared somewhat dispirited, and their ardour was undoubtedly dampened by the obvious preferences which was given to their opponents. The match was arranged for 36 holes – which was five times round the course, consisting of 7 holes, with an odd hole besides. The starting took place at twelve o’clock, and both parties went to their work in a beautiful manner. The Dunns, however, got into difficulties the first hole, which they lost, thus giving Allan and his partner the lead. They, however, soon rallied, and after struggling neck and neck, both parties finished the first round equal. The Dunns commenced the second round by taking the lead, and although Allan and his partner fought hard, they came in at the close of this round no less than four holes behind. The third round closed without any alteration in the stage of the game. The Dunns were still four holes ahead and now played with the confidence of winning. Allan and his partner were evidently playing a losing game, struggling against a consciousness of being defeated, but evidently determined to die game. By this time opinion, which from the first had been leaning in favour of the Dunns, became quite decided. Their backers already fancied they felt the £400 in their pockets, and freely offered 20 to 1 upon the result of the game, little thinking of what was in store for them, overlooking the fact that
“The best laid plans o’ men and mice gang aft agee”
At the end of the third round, a halt took place, and the competitors and the spectators were allowed time to luncheon which was very grateful and necessary, both from the oppressive heat of the day and the killing pace at which both parties had followed out the game. At the commencement of the fourth round, the Dunns led off with four holes ahead, now flushed with success, and confident of victory, which now appeared certain. At the fourth hole of this round they increased their advantage to five holes, but closed it precisely as they started, with four holes ahead. The play on both sides was still splendid. Allan and his partner, though still losing, still struggled on manfully, and never allowed their want of success to affect their play. All parties thought they were gone, but, nevertheless, they started their last round, still hoping for success, and determined, if they did not gain victory, they would do more – they would deserve it. At this time they were four behind, with eight holes to play; but they again set the first hole – then the second – halve the third – gained the fourth – halved the fifth – and by gaining the sixth, once more restored the equality of the game. But by this time, though the game was equal, the chances were far from being so. The Dunns had now changed places with their opponents. They were now playing the loosing game, and that, too, very unsuccessfully. The interest in the game, which had previously fagged, became now quite intense. Many of the backers who had previously thought the game up, and had left the ground, were once more attracted to the exciting contest, which had all the animation of the Derby when the little cluster of favourites approach the winning post. Many were the surmises of the result of the game – all being now equal with two holes to play. Allan’s backers, however, were now sanguine, and the Dunns dispirited. Blank looks had taken the place of sanguine hopes, and the south side of the Frith had lost its prestige of success. Both started, however, on the fatal hole with brilliant strokes. Tom Morris led off, and it fell to Allan to play the second stroke. Tom hit a beautiful ball, but Allan missed. The Dunns seemed to have the best of it, but their second ball, though well played, was not so judiciously directed, and went off the course and under a large boulder. This lost them the hole, though there were some doubts as to whether the ball was really a playable one or not, but this dubiety was of little consequence as they lost the next hole also, which was of the last; and therefore Allan Robertson and Tom Morris were declared conquerors; winning, without dispute, the match of 36 holes by 1 hole ahead. Thus ended one of the most interesting and keenly contested games of Golf ever played in Scotland, which, though creditable to Allan and his partner was no less so to the twin brothers Dunn, who, throughout the three matches have played a brilliant game, which would be difficult to surpass. In point of driving, they decidedly beat their opponents, and the older brother, at least at the last match, appeared to be the superior putter of the whole four. In fact, it would be difficult to say where they failed, unless perhaps it might have been in want of caution, the result of too great confidence and their success at first. Allan and his partner are well known, but they never exhibited their science, and particularly their pluck, in playing a loosing game to so much effect, and with such perseverance as they did in this match. To this, and not to any brilliant efforts do they owe their victory. In fact this game was not equal to many of their former contests, and it just proves what is daily exemplified, that sometimes “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.”
We may add, that Sir David Baird performed the duties of chief umpire on the occasion in a manner which gave general satisfaction.
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Great Golf Match
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