Walter Hagen’s first Open in 1920 has become the stuff of legend.
Turning up at Royal Cinque Ports in a chauffeur-driven luxury car, replete with his own footman, the two-time US Open champion fell out with club brass almost immediately.
Told he must change in the pro shop, rather than the clubhouse, Hagen responded by parking his car at the flagpole outside the building every day and shipping on his shoes and sweater there.
Given how much fuss changing your shoes in the car park can still cause today at some clubs, imagine how it will have gone down then!
But Hagen’s notoriety stretched further. He embarked on an adventure of a practice round – hopping over fences from Prince’s, to Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports, as he tried to get used to links conditions.
Hagen would finish 53rd, but he’d win The Open four times between 1922 and 1929 and change the face of golf for professional players.
And his impact on the Kent coast has not been forgotten. His course-jumping round is an event the members of the trio of clubs commemorate each year in The Hagen Hoof, a 54-hole one-day marathon that takes in all three courses.
What is the Hagen 54?
“It’s a celebration of Walter Hagen in the 1920s when he was playing at Cinque Ports. He played all three courses. The Hagen Hoof is for members of all three courses – Prince’s, Cinque Ports and St. George’s,” Royal St. George’s secretary Colin Sinclair told the NCG Top 100s podcast.
“We play a match, 12-aside and we play 18 holes at Prince’s first at 6 am, then go to Cinque Ports for 18 holes and have a lunch, and then come to St. George’s and play 18 holes, all in one day and have a dinner in the evening.
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“The Hagen 54 is playing it the way Hagen played it. So Hagen didn’t do it that way. He played the first 11 at Cinque Ports and thought, ‘What’s over there?’ He jumped the fence and walked out. In the tournament, we will bus you to the sixth hole to the 13th at St. George’s, go through the fence and play all 18 at Prince’s.
“You come back through the fence, play 14 through to the fifth. Get back on the bus and play the 12th in (at Cinque Ports).”
This July, each of the three clubs have come together to produce the Hagen 54, which now allows visitors to retrace the steps of one of the greatest golfers to live.
The highlight is a fourball, Stableford, best two out of four to count, competition, with the 54-holes played consecutively. It’s the centrepiece of a two-night, three-day stay that will see competitors holed up in The Lodge at Prince’s and dotted around southeast Kent.
The three courses have all played host to the world’s oldest major championship. Royal Cinque Ports had the Claret Jug in 1909 and 1920 (won by JH Taylor and George Duncan), Prince’s in 1932 (won by Gene Sarazen), and Royal St George’s on 15 occasions between 1894 and 2021. Collin Morikawa was the last player to win on the Kent coastline.
With all green fees included, and guests enjoying a two-course dinner each evening at The Lodge’s Brasserie on the Bay, the event will be staged between July 23 and 25.
For more information, and to register or visit the event website or email info@thehagen.com. There will no doubt be more opportunities to get involved in 2026 as well.
Now have your say on the Hagen Hoof
Have you tried to emulate Walter Hagen’s feat? Will you have a go at the Hagen 54? Have you played at Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports, or Royal St George’s? Let me know your experiences of the Kent coast by leaving a comment on X.
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