[Photo: Tom Shaw]
Did you know there’s an exclusive golf club with its own clubhouse that grants access to play a top-20 course in the world every day, and membership is free?
Yes, you read that right.
It all started in 1931 when 32 working-class tradesmen came to an agreement with Royal Birkdale Golf Club. In exchange for access to the course, these golfers would volunteer their labour to help maintain it.
Thus, the Royal Birkdale Artisans Golf Club was born.
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The definition of an artisan is a “skilled craft worker who makes or creates material objects partly or entirely by hand.” The current captain is a window fitter. Other members work as gas engineers, electricians, barbers, floor fitters, bricklayers, builders and bus drivers. There are about 60 artisan clubs at courses in England, with similar arrangements established at courses such as Royal Liverpool, Sunningdale, Walton Heath, West Lancashire and Formby.
“Membership is via an application process,” says Aiden Coulton, the Royal Birkdale Artisans Club secretary, “and there’s an interview to understand suitability to the Artisan golf way of life.”
I had to ask the obvious follow-up.
“The Artisan way of life is built on friendship, duty and our shared love of golf. We work together as a team to look after a valuable part of Royal Birkdale’s history.”
To apply for membership, you must live within 10 miles of Royal Birkdale and volunteer two hours every week to help maintain the course. Each member is given a purple vest, their uniform for working on the course, with the words “Royal Birkdale Golf Club Artisan” on the back. Every hour and job is strictly tracked, and there are clear consequences for non-adherence, namely your access to play the course is withdrawn.
Reporting to Royal Birkdale’s course manager Sean McClean, the Artisans fill divots, rake bunkers, trim sprinkler heads, pick balls on the range and do whatever tasks are needed to look after one of world’s top links courses. Membership is capped at just 32, matching the number of original members.
WORK HARD, PLAY HARD: Rounds start on hole No. 5, steps from the clubhouse.
“Divoting is my favorite job,” Coulton says. “Walking the fairways early in the morning is very peaceful, and you can clearly see the impact our work has on the course, especially when the Open is coming to town.”
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Coulton doesn’t work in a conventional artisan trade—he’s a banker. “In the past there was an expectation of artisan work, so that’s why historically a lot of hands-on trade workers were members,” he says. “Nowadays, there is no requirement or restriction on membership based on profession. Rather, it is based more on ability and willingness to complete the course duties required. We teach each member what to do, like how to properly rake bunkers. It’s harder than most people would think.”
HOLDING COURT (From left) Mark Galley, Chris Hind, Allan Brandon, Aiden Coulton, Jimmy Singleton.
From their quaint brick clubhouse located next to the fourth green of the course, the Artisans often gather and watch visiting golfers from around the world stroll past. The building, built in 1897, was originally the pro shop for Royal Birkdale. However, when the iconic art-deco clubhouse opened in 1935, the club donated the old pro shop to the Artisans, giving them their own space to meet, change into golf shoes and make a well-earned cup of tea after their weekly chores are complete.
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As for playing the course, if they’ve completed their weekly tasks, the Artisans can tee off any day before 8:30 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Members often gather at first light to start on the fifth hole, just steps from their clubhouse. Competitions are held on Sundays with regular matches against other Artisans clubs and annual fixtures against Royal Birkdale’s men’s and women’s clubs. Handicap Indexes range from 2 to 20, with Carl Westby, a 3-handicap and postman, adding his name to the list of club champions last summer.
Retired gas engineer Jimmy Singleton trims a sprinkler.
One night each year, the Artisans don jacket and tie for the club’s annual prize-giving. Hosted by Royal Birkdale in its famed white clubhouse, the night is a highlight for the 32 members and an opportunity to feel an even stronger connection to the main club.
“It’s a club within the club to us,” says Alan Brough, a Royal Birkdale member. “We’re very grateful for the work the team does. I usually see them on my evening rounds in the twilight, divoting. They are always cheerful and encouraging, clearly enthusiastic for the game. The Captains Match with the Artisans is a great annual fixture. During the round, we are invited into the Artisans clubhouse, which is full of interesting pictures and artifacts and their fantastic hospitality.”
Of course, the Artisans’ hospitality always extends when The Open comes to town.
“Pros will often stop during practice days and have a look at the clubhouse. Phil Mickelson took a picture with us in 2008, Colin Montgomerie always stopped in, and Christy O’Connor, Jr., even came in during a rain delay once to drink whisky and play cards.”
One Artisan, Jimmy Singleton, has witnessed every Open at Birkdale since 1976. The 76-year-old former gas engineer has seen Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O’Meara, Padraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth all lift the claret jug on the 18th green of the course he calls home.
When the Women’s British Open came to Birkdale in 2005, Singleton walked a practice round with Birdie Kim, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion, and her caddie. “We met on the first tee, and she introduced herself as Birdie Kim, to which I said, ‘Nice to meet you, I’m Bogey Jim!’”
CLEARLY MARKED Members of the Royal Birkdale Artisans Club dress accordingly for playing and caretaking.
That story and others from Open weeks are recounted often in the Artisans’ clubhouse. The main room, no more than 300 square feet, is decorated on all sides with images from Open Championships, photos of players stopping in and champions boards celebrating the various winners of Artisans competitions dating back 96 years—all hand-built by the members, of course.
“We do all the maintenance,” Coulton says. “Painting the interior, upgrading fixtures, electrical work, whatever’s needed. The range of skills within the membership helps the club stay self-sufficient.”
If you’re lucky enough to play Royal Birkdale, on your way to the fifth tee you can stop and see through the gap in the hedge to a door. On that door is a sign with a poem.
“As the earth is not meant to be carried away, The divots you cut in the course of your play Should be neatly replaced by your caddie or you with their roots to the Earth and their blades to the blue.”
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