Vinny Giles, a member of the Inaugural Class of 2016 of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, had a hugely successful record in the Walker Cup, an international match pitting the best amateurs from the United States against the best amateurs from Great Britain and Ireland. He played in four matches (1969, 1971, 1973, 1975) compiling an overall playing record of 8 wins, 2 losses, and 5 ties. He was the non-playing captain for the 1993 U.S. squad that to this day holds the record for the largest margin of victory – U.S. 19, Great Britain & Ireland 5.
The story of one hole in Vinny’s Walker Cup experience is amusing and interesting. In a 1971 singles match at The Old Course at St Andrews Vinny was playing Sir Michael Bonallack, one of Great Britain & Ireland’s finest amateurs. They came to the famous 17th Road Hole, all square. Vinny describes the situation as follows:
“My ball was just off the green behind the Road Hole bunker and Michael was close (5 -6 feet away for a par 4). My third shot had to be almost perfect to get what I figured was a half. I actually hit a very good shot that had to be at the hole. It hung briefly on the edge of the green but fell onto the old cinder-filled road. I was dead, with no realistic chance to even make a 5. I took a sand wedge and hit a bunker type shot. It came out hot and hard, but with spin. The ball hit 3 or 4 feet up the flagstick and the spin took it straight down into the hole. Michael was clearly shocked and his putt for 4 didn’t come close. The result was pure luck and a Scottish writer described it that evening ‘a most dastardly act’”.
Vinny went 1 up in the match, which is how it ended, giving the U.S. an important point.
After the match, Giles was presented with the flagstick, which on good authority, remains with him to this day.