Flashback: Three Regrets From The 1922 Walker Cup

Golf Illustrated's R.E. Porter wrote a fantastic (and upbeat) account of the 1922 Walker Cup at The National Golf Links of America.

But he did have "three regrets" worth noting for a variety of reasons, but especially considering the amazing flag-raising ceremony.

First, the fact that the British captain, Robert Harris, was forced to forego the pleasure of playing as a member of the team owing to a sudden illness, although Bernard Darwin stepped manfully into the breach. Second, that the National Golf Links are so far from a metropolitan centre and that no provisions were made for the comfort or convenience of the vast golfing public that was undoubtedly interested. Some of those who had charge of the matches were perhaps unconsciously selfish or absent-minded in making the arrangements, and that brings me to the third regret, that there was no British flag flying from any flagstaff in courtesy to the visitors. It was a curious oversight in comparison to the flying of the Union Jack at the Engineers Club during the visit of the Canadian team and at Brookline during the National Amateur and to the flying of the Stars and Stripes at Hoylake last year when the American team visited the British Isles. Someone blundered, but who and why?

It was strange how once again, in 2013, the flags of the countries involved disappeared during the competition, especially since The National Golf Links has one of the great flag poles in the world. And flying the USA, GB and Irish flags might have caused an enebriated boater to think he'd come upon the Irish coast, it would have been worth the risk to raise the flags above The National.