Silliman Looks @ Ryder Cup History 1920s Thru 1960s In Verse

Here's a Silliman look at the Ryder Cup from the 1920s to the present.

We'll check out Samuel himself plus Walter, Ben, Arnie and Jack

And to be sure we'll be keeping it light, nothing unpleasant

So run the slide show, old days to now, enjoy the pics... despite being whack

The 1920s (Brits and Yanks Split)

THE 1920s (THE YANKS & BRITS SPLIT) 1927 British Captain Ted Ray pictured in sport coat and tie shown at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts

Samuel Ryder (package seed merchant supreme)

To sponsor a cup pitting Brits and Yanks, his dream

In 1927,one month after Lindy's Trans-Atlantic cross

The Yanks hosted the Brits at Worcester... applying the sauce

Led by Walter Hagen, Waltrous and Diegel, we poured it on

Winning 6 of 8 singles leaving Ted Ray in dismay... weeping at dawn

Our chance to repeat in 1929, the year of the crash

At Moortown in Leeds, our hopes, they were dashed

Led by Whitcombe and Duncan, Aubrey Boomer and Compston

Beating Sarazen and Turnesa, but barely 7 to 5, not a romp... son

The 1930s: The Depression Years (Not For Our Team; The U.S. Dominated)

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

JUN 1920: WALTER HAGEN OF THE UNITED STATES IN ACTION DURING A GOLF MATCH BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA. Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive

The 1930s found the Americans winning 3 of 4 events including in 1937 at Southport on British soil. In the 30s the U.S. won twice as many matches as the Brits. Walter Hagen, captain of the three of the teams is pictured

In 1931 we welcomed the Brits to Scioto, a country club in Ohio

Then at 9-3 (3 to 1) we bruised them and beat them in style

Sarazen, Hagen, Billy Burke and the boys were not even shy

When they told Robson, Hodson and the Whitcombes "You're in Columbus. Goodbye!"

In 1933, we sailed to Southport for a most competitive match

J.H. Taylor captained his team, a close victory they would snatch

In the singles, we split 4 to 4; three duals wound up 2 and 1

But in the foursomes, we struggled, losing close ones and, sadly, won only one

The margin of 6.5 to 5.5 was a sliver, "By a cat's whisker," gestured Walter Hagen

Ridgewood, New Jersey was the site for 1935, the Big Apple... not a far drive.

Captains Walter Hagen and Charles Whitcombe faced off, the two best captains alive

Too bad Henry Picard wasn't captain or Paul Runyan was without an ox to bare

But we smashed them 9 to 3; with Henry and Paul winning, with plenty to spare

1937 marked a return to Southport where the Brits turned out in droves

Some games were close as two matches were halved; like bread split into loaves

But overall, Snead, Sarazen, Picard and the gang spanked the Brits most fine

By 8-4; doubled their score, a cause to enjoy the loaves with some wine

The 1940s: The War's Over Guys: Let's Play Golf

Getty Images/Getty Images

Jul 1953: Ben Hogan of the USA with the Claret Jug after victory in the British Open at Carnoustie, Scotland. Mandatory Credit: AllsportUK/Allsport

The Ryder Cup was suspended from 1939 through 1946. When it resumed in 1947 it didn't appear the British were up to the task, as American golf was leaving them in the dust. Ben Hogan (pictured) was again captain but now joined by Sammy Snead, Jimmy Demaret, Byron Nelson, Lloyd Mangrum, Lew Worsham, Ed Oliver, Dutch Harrison and Herman Barron. Their captain, Henry Cotton, showed up fielding a team to be picked dry by the Yanks. The Brits lost 11-1

Both years had captains questioning the other teams clubs. In 1947, Henry Cotton thought we must be cheating and in 1949 Ben Hogan questioned the grooves on the British clubs made by John Letters.

America northwest, Portland, Oregon was the site of the '47 Cup

We swiped the chairs from beneath them as the Brits sat down to sup

Sammy Snead and Dutch Harrison shot low scores; winning singles 5 and 4

Then in foursomes, Oliver and Worsham humbled Cotton and partner, 10 and 8, the score

Yes, Cotton's balls were rottin'; Henry and his partner lost every hole; lost every hole

Then he had to play Sammy in singles; it was enough to lose your soul; lose your soul

In 1949, Ben Hogan led the team to the Ganton Golf Club in jolly ol' Scarborough

By the way, Old Chap, do you know the way to Scarborough fairway

The Americans prevailed, toughly fought,  7-5 was the score

A close battle decided when Demaret (7 & 6) and Mangrum (4 & 3) closed the door

The 1950s: Television, Elvis, Frozen Dinners & U.S. Wins 4 Of 5 Matches

J.D. Cuban/Getty Images

24 Mar 1996: Sam Snead makes a good takeaway during the Legends of Golf tournament at the PGA West Stadium Course in La Quinta, California. Mandatory Credit: J.D. Cuban /Allsport

The 1950s. The British invented the game, created the cup but were fast becoming uncompetitive when matched with the U.S. Matches in the 1950s showed one of the reasons, we had courses available year around and three of the Cups featured these courses:1951 (Pinehurst), 1955 (Thunderbird, Palm Springs, CA), 1959 (El Dorado, Palm Desert, CA).

Plus the PGA was becoming significant, air travel easier and Elvis made our golfers have better hip turns. During the 50s the U.S. won 37 matches to Great Britain's 23.

1951 - US 9.5 GB 2.5

1953 - US 6.5 GB 5.5

1955 - US 8    GB 4

1957 - GB 7.5 US 4.5

1959 - US 8.5 GB 3.5

Sammy Snead (pictured) captains twice in the decade; Lloyd Mangrum, Chick Harbert, Jackie Burke, too

All lead our teams on victorious quests, with the Mayer (Dick) and the Barber (Jerry) and Cary Middlecoff (that's Doctor, to you)

In the desert, we wear Ban-Lons, cool shirts with Sans-a-belt pants, leaving the Brits to melt with no chance

They're in their knickers and sweaters, looking good for TV. Except they're sweating like boxers competing at a spelling bee

They win one match at Lindrick, in Yorkshire on putting and after they finish they sample the pudding

Tommy Bolt, they did beat, a club or two thrown; and this next one, I'm sure, will be met with a groan

To their credit, they golfed hardy, their countrymen laud; a beating they put on our Dow Finsterwald 

The 1960's: 12 Man Teams, Arnie, Billy and Jack: Total Domination

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 08: Jack Nicklaus(L) and Arnold Palmer(R) start the 2010 Masters Tournament on the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2010 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for Golf Week)

Five matches, five wins. U.S. scores 96.5 to 55.5 although Britain did forge out a tie in 1969 (16 to 16) we kept the cup. If anything the Cup, itself, settled in to familiar surroundings. None of these custody sharing squabbles.

Team members of our 60s teams included Art Wall, Gene Littler, Jay Hebert, Billy Casper, Mike Souchak, Jerry Barber, Dow Finsterwald, Tony Lema, Frank Beard, Doug Ford, Don January, Tommy Jacobs, Lee Trevino, Ray Floyd, Tommy Aaron, Julius Boros, Miller Barber, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus. It would be hard to dip into any era of golf history and find as talented as group as this. I had the enjoyment of caddying for Julius Boros, an amazing golfer and a gentleman.    

The Cup matches in the 60s started off in England at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes in St.Annes. Jerry Barber captained in 1961 and welcomed Arnie to his first of many Ryder Cup teams. We won 14.5 to 9.5

Arnie, of Latrobe, had forearms like Popeye

When he belted the ball, it sailed... then waved bye-bye

Billy Casper, no ghost, and without friendly confines

Still putted so dramatically, the ball knew its lines

Mike Souchak would power it, a smashing debut

His distance, tape measured, was equaled by few

Don January could play any time of the year

And when teamed with Tommy Jacobs, opponents did fear

The awesomeness team ever assembled on earth

Our Ryder Cuppers from the 60s, a billion dollars worth