Beard Liberation Front
22nd July
Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266
The fall & re-appearance of hirsute golf
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that the victory for fully bearded Shane Lowry in the 148th Open Golf Championship held at Royal Portrush represents a return to the hirsute golf that was common in the early, late Victorian days, of the competition.
The last winner with a beard was Bob Ferguson in 1882. Some biographical details are this link:
https://www.prestwickgc.co.uk/history/open-champions/bob-ferguson/
In the final years of the nineteenth century through to the end of World War One (The Open was not played in the war years) a moustache was not uncommon. However from the 1920s and most particularly after 1945, golf became one of the most clean shaven of sports.
It resisted facial hair in a previous period- the 1970s- when it was relatively common amongst footballers and cricketers.
Facial hair has never been banned by golfing authorities but it has been frowned upon until the re-appearance of the golfing beard in recent years. It may be seen as part of a wider trend, including women’s golf, of making the sport more inclusive
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, its not just a matter of appearance. A beard properly aligned with air currents can help a golfer guide the ball when a shot is made.
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