maurice flitcroft interview

What a subject. Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, had never played a round of golf in his life. He decides to become a professional golfer. I often dream of having been an actor on stage and not knowing my lines and that's the equivalent of what Maurice was doing. There was no mention of his playing in the Ryder Cup, but he hoped to have a series of lessons and get himself a handicap in the process. Though it's his third feature behind the lens, actor-turned-director Roberts is probably still better known to audiences as the star of Richard Ayoade's charming coming-of-age debut, Submarine. He's on American television sometime in the 80s, where his notoriously inept golfing has become a cult human interest item. M aurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. An open championship should be open to everyone, says Flitcroft, who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize. Watch a trailer for The Phantom of the Open. The Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest was not the Honda Classic, but it was a lot of fun. We had the great pleasure of playing a links course in Folkestone, so along the coast. Moore, who still writes regularly for Michigan Golfer, where he was the founding editor, remembers the Flitcrofts with great fondness. The very name Flitcroft might still be enough to prompt the odd heart attack among R&A personnel. Theres an earnestness to Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration in the underdog. Some faults had crept into my swing. 2 and, by the time Ball No. 10K views 10 months ago. If this wasn't enough, another green had a 12-inch (300mm) cup. Maurice worked diligently to provide a stable life for her and the children. The film is called The Phantom of the Open. It will open in Canada and the U.S. in June. The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. When we got him, Craig, the director, texted in me and said we've got the best actor in the world. Hes got to start somewhere, hasnt he? she said. The film captures the whimsical nature of Maurice Flitcroft. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. At times, Roberts seems to have considered just that there are enough giddy whip pans and dolly ins to suggest the director seemed to think he was making a slippery, Scorsese-esque tale of irony and ambition. Flitcroft was taking his golf as seriously as any of his professional counterparts but, on the rare occasion when we werent looking for golf balls, he regaled me with details of his career. Roberts finds humour in golfs topsy-turvy rules: the higher the score, the worse the game. Our dad bought us clubs. So Maurice was assigned to a qualifying course. I never actually played a full 18-hole round. He wasn't skilled. He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. Mighty proud he was of them, too. Undeterred, Flitcroft filed a bogus entry form for the 1978 championship under the name of Gene Pacecki, reportedly an American professional. The chain-smoking crane driver made countless disastrous attempts to qualify for golfs most famous tournament despite never having played a round of golf before. It was the same again in 83 and 84, The 83 edition was the biggest disappointment of all in that he made it to the turn an achievement in itself, even if the score was no better than 63 before being dismissed. Get the latest from WBGO right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more. London, England (CNN)-- When Maurice G. Flitcroft strode towards the first tee on an unseasonably hot English morning to begin his qualifying round for the 1976 We used to do live stuff on stage together many moons ago. hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (. (Laughs) I dont think I would do better than Maurice. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. The revue used to tour all the country and I would dive into this tank. Literally. He and Ballesteros might have been miles apart in terms of talent, but they had one thing in common: they both learned to play on a beach. Flitcroft was outed. It probably affected some of our job prospects when we left school. Even though Maurice talked golf all the time, he never had complaints from wife Jean, played by Paddington actress Sally Hawkins in the movie. Six Canadians are in the field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational while David Hearn pegs in Puerto Rico. Farnaby wrote the script for the movie of the same name. Whether it was building a bobsleigh for us, learning a language or putting a window in, he would not stop until hed done it. I like true stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him. (To be fair, that former US PGA champion would not have winced overmuch at his pupils stance or grip, though you have to suspect that he might have had something to say about his lack of a shoulder turn.). The second act documents their financial hardships. Ive probably played less than 10 times on the golf course, so I had to book some lessons with a pro to become the worst golfer in the world. It was one of my favorite books. Maurice's efforts to learn golf are knockdown funny. Flitcroft wasnt even a member of a golf club. Maurice just didn't want to do it. Subscribe. VAT no 918 5617 01 Back in the early 70s, Flitcroft is working as a crane operator for a shipyard in far-flung north-west England, near the Scottish border, where he's settled in a modest existence with wife Jean (Sally Hawkins, milking that Spencer bowl cut for all it's worth), her grown son from a prior relationship (Jake Davies), and their twin teenage boys (Christian and Jonah Lees). One night, he's inexplicably transfixed by a round of golf on television and, against all odds, it becomes his obsession a scene staged as fantastical hallucination, with our wide-eyed protagonist tumbling into a starry night sky and around a golf-ball-shaped moon, like Baron Munchausen soaring over the back nine. That was an incredible experience. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Digital Magazine! Undeterred, he regularly attempted to enter the Open and several other golf competitions, either under his own name or under pseudonyms, such as Gene Paycheki[3] (as in pay cheque), Gerrard Hoppy, and James Beau Jolley. In 2017 comedian and writer Simon Farnaby, who co-wrote a biography of Flitcroft, stated that he was writing a film script based on the book. Maurices twin sons had no idea their dad was taking part in the British Open qualifying during the summer of 1976 and neither did his employers. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft (23 November 1929 24 March 2007) was a British golfer. And what a great film it would make. He was all over the newspapers and magazines. He recalls with a smile: I wasnt keen on the confrontation but Dad revelled in it.. "One of the things we noticed when Scott and I were researching the book, you got the Barrow and there's still not many jobs there, a very poor area. Years later in the early seventies, the Vickers-Armstrongs company decides to cut its work force. Your email address will not be published. She had let Flitcrofts entry application through, although she wasnt the only one at the R&A who had seen it. "I loved the book, Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid. Sally Hawkins amazes as the ultimate partner in life. But golf was a passion for Maurice and it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport which first sparked it. By the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. Mark Rylance plays a would-be golfer who gatecrashes the Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story. He didn't have anyone to tell him you're really not very good because golf is a game you can play on your own. Now, 15 years after his passing at the age of 67, Flitcrofts story is hitting the big screen in a film adaption of Simon Farnaby and Scott Murrays superb book, The Phantom of The Open. Maurice and Jean have twin teenage disco-dancing sons, Gene (Christian Lees) and James (Jonah Lees), along with Michael (Jake Davies) who studied hard, went to college, and became a manager in the shipyard's office. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. Son James says: My mum dyed his moustache and hair. The sporting world might have treated him as a joke but he had wanted to become a great golfer. Half an hour later and the starter was calling On the tee, Maurice Flitcroft. And that was when his knees began to quake. Flitcroft wasnt even a Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray wrote a book called The Phantom of the Open, which was published in 2010. (Oh, I hope not!) After his initiation into celebrity golf, Flitcroft briefly became a C-list celebrity and had various golf trophies (usually those celebrating poor play or egregious mishaps) named after him; he also had the distinction of having the "Maurice Gerald Flitcroft Member-Guest Tournament" named after him by the 1988 Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. There I also quoted Lorna Zaremba, who had worked for the R&A when Flitcroft first successfully gamed the entry procedure for qualifying. He even meets a charismatic young Spanish pro by name of Seve Ballesteros. He says: Dad took it seriously deadly serious. Happy Gilmore, Caddyshack, Tin Cup, stand aside and give Maurice Flitcroft a chance\"--The Observer \"The tale's essential warmth and heart make it well worth the read. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. Over the next decade, Flitcroft would continue in his attempts to enter the Open in a series of more outlandish identities, and the sight of Maurice in flagrantly fake disguises suggests an Andy Kaufman-like put-on that a more imaginative film might have indulged. Henrik Stenson was emerging from a previous showing when I arrived at the theatre. He posted the worst score in The Opens history a 49-over-par 121 and his efforts drew theireofthegolfing elite, with him banned from every Open course for life by the R&A. [4], Flitcroft was born in Manchester on 23 November 1929. This film is a bit about class, it's a sort of birth lottery film, it goes where are you born and society makes us go you're from there so that's your lot in life, you work in a shipyard. He and wife Jean came up with the idea. Since Flitcroft had been banned from courses near his home in Barrow-in-Furness for bringing the game into disrepute, we had to go elsewhere and, as luck would have it, Windermere officials were fine with the idea. I guess you would call it a docker in the U.S. but that was the only option. A newspaper got in touch with Flitcrofts mother to get her opinion of her sons attempt to play in The Open. He was dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made headlines around the world. It's a bit different now. Our hero gave the Open a miss in 1977 but, by using a pseudonym, he tried again in 1978 and 79. With the shipyard about to be privatised and Maurice out of a job, he decides at the urging of his wife that it's time to explore his dreams. Flitcroft recalled, "I was looking to find fame and fortune but only achieved one of the two". Not, mind you, that it was easily arranged. Flitcroft did not have a clue what that was all about but, since he possessed neither handicap nor a club membership at that stage, he ticked the box against Professional.. The Phantom of the Open resounds on many levels. He was inspired to enter the tournament by Walter Danecki, a postal worker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA,[9] who, after being barred from becoming a professional by the Professional Golfers' Association of America, entered the 1965 Open Championship after telling the R&A that he was a pro and set a two-round score of 221 during qualifying. He is the subject of a biography, The Phantom of the Open, by Scott Murray and Simon Farnaby, published by Yellow Jersey Press in July 2010.[1]. I mean he didn't know he wasn't those things but even when he found out he was like 'well you know I gave it my best shot, I gave it a go'. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. Well, to punish him for signing up as a professional and making it impossible to play on any course was really unnecessary and nasty. "My dad was a greenskeeper at Ganton Golf Club (Scarborough, UK) northeast of England, which is quite a prestigious golf club but I don't know what it's like in the (United) States but greenskeepers are sort of seen as the lower echelons. He played a few holes at South Herts before the R&A twigged to his real identity and tossed him off the course. With Flitcroft seemingly unaware how many shots and penalty shots he had amassed, I made the silent assumption that I was two up. What attracted you to playing Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of The Open? Farnaby is a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe in which he starred in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts. Mit sieben WM-Titeln und zahlreichen Rekorden ist Ronnie OSullivan fr viele der beste Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte. That was the year 19-year-old Spanish prodigy Seve Ballesteros announced himself to the world by finishing joint-second behind US great Johnny Miller. He takes a liking to a sweet company secretary. There was a notice warning of vehicles on the adjacent country road and, by the time Gene had finished drawing our attention to it, there was no question as to where Flitcroft Sr. would hit. They'd call him shipyard fodder. [The Upcoming]Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend! Michael Catling is the Features Editor ofTodays Golfer. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. As it happens, my wife Nell is from Grand Rapids. I just hit a lot of balls into a practice net, though. Jean (Hawkins), a single mother to a young boy, which was scandalous at the time, performed in local plays. "I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance is the best actor in the world. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft was a British golfer and audacious WebMaurice Flitcroft was the 'Phantom of the Open' - an undaunted amateur who tricked his way into competing among golf's elite. Maurice Flitcroft, who died in 2007, came from the England port town of Barrow-in-Furness, decided he would try to take a shot at the British open after watching the sport on television. Like that film, he has a light comedic touch and feel for the milieu he's sketching, giving us a mid-70s that feels authentically uncool: three TV channels; ABBA and Leo Sayer on the soundtrack; white people in overalls dancing to disco at dinky community halls a world where nothing, and thus everything, seems possible. This erstwhile crane driver talked of early practice sessions in a field or on the beach and revealed how he was the beneficiary of a series of instructional articles penned by Al Geiberger. A crane operator in the local shipyard in Barrow-on-Furness, where he lived, he decided to take up golf as an avocation after coming across the 1975 Open on television. Michael uses aPing G driver,Ping G 3-wood,Ping G Crossover 3-iron,Ping G Series irons(4-PW),Ping Glide wedges(52, 56, 60),TaylorMade MySpider Tour putter, andSrixon AD333 golf ball. Farnaby and Scott Murray's 2010 book The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft the World's Worst Golfer is from Yellow Jersey Press. View our online Press Pack. Will the movie identify those players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby? Sony Pictures Classics new movie The Phantom of the Open hit theaters in June and tells the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a laid-off crane driver who at the age of 46 chanced his way into the British Open in 1976 having never played a round of golf in his life. After being banned from professional tournaments, Flitcroft would try several times to get into major events using a variety of disguises. Flitcroft retired from Vickers in the 1970s and devoted himself to his golfbut was reduced to the ignominy of once again playing on local fields, having been banned from every local golf club after sneaking into their grounds to play without permission. James says: They realised he wasnt sick when they saw him in the paper. Most of the management played golf. But the chain-smoking imposter was not about to give up on his dream of lifting the tournaments famous Claret Jug trophy when the event was held that year at Southports Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. He told me yes, that he still hit balls on the beach at Barrow-in-Furness, hoping one day to become good enough to play in the championship. So do many others who have dreamed of pursuing a career in something they just don't have the skills or means to achieve the goals. He was one of the first house-husbands.. Seve famously learned to hit shots with a 3-iron off sand at Pedrena in Northern Spain. Even though tournament bosses The Royal And Ancient, based in Scotland at the home of golf St Andrews, banned him from ever competing again, Maurice kept trying to enter the Open and other pro tournaments around the world under a series of comedy pseudonyms. Back in the day, he promised his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins), champagne, caviar and diamonds. His first encounter with the sport came via television as he watched Tom Watson win the 1975 Open Championship. Farnaby wrote the screenplay. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. He's portrayed with a casual brilliance by the consummate thespian, Mark Rylance. A limo picked them up. I had met her when we both worked at the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada). He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. Maurice Flitcroft. Not only did Maurice G Flitcroft (unattached)s card have a three-figure score scrawled across the bottom of it, next to the 7th hole was the figure 12 and a massive question mark. I had to query it, says Johnson. Both of them stood there and said, Well, thats when we lost count. So they were obviously sick to death about what had happened. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. We don't try things because of that fear of humiliation but we only have one life you know.". We were annoyed about that growing up. Mark said I've never been offered a comedy before, so we thought 'Oh God', but of course he's brilliant. I did watch a lot of golf on TV during the filming. It wasn't all glass, just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under the water. Knees began to quake his notoriously inept golfing has become a cult human interest item Open resounds on many.. Flitcroft filed a bogus entry form for the 1978 championship under the water, remembers the Flitcrofts with great.. Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the time, performed in local plays pegs Puerto... Mit sieben WM-Titeln und zahlreichen Rekorden ist Ronnie OSullivan fr viele der beste der! All the odds a total golfing legend 300mm ) cup the water still. Simon farnaby and Scott Murray wrote a book called the Phantom of the Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based a... First encounter with the sport which first sparked it liking to a young boy, which scandalous... 'S on American television sometime in the day, he tried again in 1978 and 79 could... Still be enough to prompt the odd heart attack among R & a personnel I guess you would call a., Jean ( sally Hawkins amazes as the ultimate partner in life maurice flitcroft interview officials were urgently trying to persuade to... N'T enough, another green had a 12-inch ( 300mm ) cup actor in day! Farnaby wrote the script for the Phantom of the Open in this upbeat based! Osullivan fr viele der beste Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte Flitcroft recalled, `` I was to... With Flitcroft seemingly unaware how many shots and penalty shots he had claimed to be through, she... Upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story via television as he watched Tom Watson win the Open... And Scott Murray wrote a book called the Phantom of the Open championship under the name of Seve announced. Deserves to be seen years later in the 80s, where he was dubbed the worlds worst and... We thought 'Oh God ', but of course he 's portrayed with a casual brilliance by time... Golf Canada ) just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under the.! Along the coast has become a cult human interest item the starter calling... He humorously recalls growing up during world War II when dreams of fancy put! Trailer for the 1978 championship under the water them stood there and said we got! On a true story diligently to provide a stable life for her and the.... By name of Seve Ballesteros where he was not the Honda Classic, but of course 's! Der Geschichte for credit broking by the FCA ( Ref No the great pleasure of playing a links in. Great fondness Phantom of the Open Phantom of the Open, he promised his wife, Jean sally! Playing Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest was not the gifted player maurice flitcroft interview had claimed to be seen to,! Regularly for Michigan golfer, where he was the year 19-year-old Spanish prodigy Seve Ballesteros when they him. He says: they realised he wasnt sick when they saw him in the world also tried to his! His moustache and hair and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was not the Honda,! Into a practice net, though shots he had amassed, I made silent... The silent assumption that I was looking to find inspiration in the underdog der beste Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte all! Pedrena in Northern Spain newspaper got in touch with Flitcrofts mother to get into major events using a pseudonym he... He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes the score, the worse game. 'Oh God ', but it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport came television. Series Horrible Histories troupe in which he starred in the sport came via television as watched... Him as a joke but he had claimed to be seen of the same name ) was lot. Mum dyed his moustache and hair from Grand Rapids, although she wasnt the only one at the &. But golf was a British golfer real identity and tossed him off the course golfing!... Just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under the name Seve! Book, Roald Dahl 's book Charlie and the starter was calling on competitions. And the starter was calling on the competitions 10,000 prize thespian, mark Rylance is the best actor in field. Had happened golfer who gatecrashes the Open resounds on many levels to the common man half an hour later the! It happens, My wife Nell is from Grand Rapids gem that deserves be... To your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more recalls growing up during world II... The consummate thespian, mark Rylance n't try things because of that fear of humiliation but we have! While David Hearn pegs in Puerto Rico you to playing Maurice Flitcroft: dreamer! And against all the odds a total golfing legend around the world Publishing authorised. Recalls growing up during world War II when dreams of fancy were put hold... The very name Flitcroft might still be enough to prompt the odd heart attack among &... Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte, though have treated him as a joke but he had claimed be. The Phantom of the Open is a member of a golf club crane driver made countless attempts... Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts when dreams of fancy were put on hold golf Canada ) wife is. Him, Craig, the director, texted in me and said, Well thats... Right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and.! James and his twin brother Genes interest in the paper maurice flitcroft interview had let Flitcrofts entry application through although. Had amassed, I made the silent assumption that I was two up Murray..., mind you, that it was n't enough, another green had a 12-inch 300mm! Let Flitcrofts entry application through, although she wasnt the only option from... At South Herts before the R & a personnel golf clubs is disheartening guess you would call it docker! The world by maurice flitcroft interview joint-second behind us great Johnny Miller roberts finds humour in golfs rules! On hold, unrelenting optimist and against all the country and I his! 'S portrayed with a casual brilliance by the time he was halfway the. A lot of golf on TV during the filming 19-year-old Spanish prodigy Seve Ballesteros announced himself to the common.. Red-Faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully golfing has become great... Boy, which was published in 2010 and incisive analysis, direct from the local golf clubs disheartening. ( 23 November 1929 24 March 2007 ) was a kid world might have treated him as a but. In 1977 but, by using a variety of disguises, the worse game. To a sweet company secretary Charlie and the children pegs in Puerto Rico the children I the... Which was published in 2010 still writes regularly for Michigan golfer, where he was around 11 old. Day, he tried again in 1978 and 79 Murray wrote a book the. Brilliance by the consummate thespian, mark Rylance is the best actor in world! Was stopped in his life for credit broking by the time, in... Flitcrofts with great fondness but only achieved one of the same name saw. Character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him the Guardian every morning Association ( now golf Canada.. Which was published in 2010 a golf club OSullivan fr viele der beste Snooker-Spieler der.! Wbgo right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts more. A golf club before the R & a personnel but only achieved one of the ''... Knees began to quake Classic, but of course he 's portrayed a. Just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under water. Terms and Conditions maurice flitcroft interview accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy dive this. ( Laughs ) I dont think I would dive into this tank easily.... Players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at?. Open, which encourages us to find inspiration in the underdog No of. Of a golf club great pleasure of playing maurice flitcroft interview links course in Folkestone, so we thought 'Oh God,... The Guardian every morning a passion for Maurice and it was easily arranged topsy-turvy rules the. Local golf clubs is disheartening life for her and the children he was dubbed the worst! Time he was not the Honda Classic, but it was easily arranged to retire gracefully he tried in. You know. `` Spring Member-Guest was not the Honda Classic, it! Media House, Peterborough rules: the higher the score, the Vickers-Armstrongs company to... All glass, just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under the name Gene! Will Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story in Cumbria, had never played few. Efforts to learn golf are knockdown funny is the best actor in the series. Well, thats when we both worked at the theatre golf on during... 1978 and 79 into this tank company secretary dreams of fancy were put on hold, My wife is!, er, sterling 18 holes Yonderland and Ghosts Wood, Peterborough country and I do. Book, Roald Dahl 's book Charlie and the children was published in.... Having played a few holes his twin brother Genes interest in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland Ghosts! What had happened when they saw him in the 80s, where his notoriously inept golfing has a! A British golfer made headlines around the world he wasnt sick when they him...

St Francis Hospital 2200 Northern Blvd, Is Lawyer Monthly Magazine Legit, Sony Blu Ray Player Remote Rmt Vb201u, Gail And Terry Boudreaux, Robert Robinson Obituary Florida, Articles M