There are plenty of bucket-list experiences in our sport. Playing at the Home of Golf, walking the fairways of Augusta National at the Masters, and playing the Hagen 54 are just a few.
The latter celebrates the 54-hole journey of Walter Hagen and Jim Barnes in 1920. Played across three Open Championship venues – Prince’s, Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports – it’s a day that looks to encapsulate what links golf is all about.
For the past two years the three golf clubs have come together to hold the event, which allows visitors to retrace Hagen’s footsteps.
On paper it sounds exhausting, but for most it’s an experience like no other. That was certainly the case for Tom Irwin and Mike Robertson, from the NCG Top 100s YouTube channel, who played in the most recent renewal.
Why the Hagen 54 is such a bucket-list event
“It is an amazing experience,” said Irwin on the NCG Top 100s podcast. “I don’t know anything else like it.
“As if I was going to turn down playing those three courses in the conditions that we’re experiencing at the moment in the UK, which is just these amazing, baked out fairways. There was no way I was turning down that opportunity.
“I can’t describe to people enough how much joy I get from playing golf when it’s bouncy like that.”
One of the reasons the Hagen 54 works so well is the variety offered by the three venues. Prince’s impressed with its conditioning and modern links design, while Royal St George’s provided the dramatic championship challenge synonymous with one of England’s greatest golf courses.
Royal Cinque Ports completed the trio with what Robertson described as some of the country’s finest links golf.
“It’s my favourite kind of area for golf in England,” he said.
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“The three courses, the quality, the conditioning of them and the subtle differences between the three just make it the best trip you can do in England.
“it’s not for the faint-hearted. You have to be that kind of golf sicko that appreciates everything that me and you love about the game; its history.
“And then to be able to go and do those three courses in one day, in one setting with so many like-minded people, is bucket list stuff.”
For all its history and prestige, the pair noted it is still very much a fun event to play and doesn’t take itself too seriously. There is no lengthy presentation or well-to-do dress code, the focus is purely on enjoying the golf and the championship links courses.
“They’re very keen on it being a just for fun type of thing,” Robertson explained.
“It’s wear what you want,” Irwin pointed out. “There are no great, big, grand speeches and no great, big, grand opening remarks from anybody, or indeed closing remarks. There’s no prize giving. I don’t think anyone spoke at the buffet at the end of play on the Thursday. That’s just what you want.
“The 54 holes of golf is more than enough without having to kind of ready yourself for jacket and tie and white tablecloths and silver cutlery.”
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Have you played in the Hagen 54 event before? If so, what did you make of it? And which was your favourite course to play. Let us know by leaving a comment or by getting in touch with us on X!
