Jackson Reid
The name Maurice has been associated with the world of golf in two instances. The first is Maurice Flitcroft, who gained notoriety as the “world's worst golfer” after he posed as a professional golfer and entered the 1976 Open Championship despite having no prior experience. The second is Maurice Allen, a World Long Drive Competitor and former two-time number one rank holder in the world. Allen has achieved several feats, including being the first person to drive a golf ball over the horseshoe at Niagara Falls.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Maurice Flitcroft |
| Occupation | Crane operator |
| Nickname | The World's Worst Golfer |
| Known For | Posing as a professional golfer and entering the 1976 Open Championship despite having no prior experience |
| Score in the 1976 Open Championship | 49-over-par 121, the worst score in the tournament's history |
| Consequences | Lifetime ban from all R&A competitions, nicknamed "The Royal & Ancient Rabbit" |
| Folkloric Significance | Became a folk hero, with his story being told in the film "The Phantom of the Open" |
| Legacy | Term "a Flitcroft" entered British golf lexicon to describe a hapless hacker, subject of a biography titled "The Phantom of the Open" |
| Other Notable Golfer with the Same Name | Maurice Allen, a World Long Drive Competitor and former two-time number one ranked |
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What You'll Learn
Who is Maurice Flitcroft?
In 1976, the British Open—one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world—was gatecrashed by a 46-year-old chain-smoking crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness, England, named Maurice Flitcroft. What made this an extraordinary event was that Flitcroft had never played a full round of golf in his life.
Flitcroft had taught himself to play golf on a nearby beach after watching the 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship on TV. Inspired by the story of Walter Danecki, a Milwaukee postal worker who posed as a professional golfer to enter the 1965 Open, Flitcroft forged his application, registering as a professional golfer to bypass the requirement for an official handicap.
Flitcroft's golfing ambitions were well above his ability. He managed to obtain a place in the qualifying round of the Open Championship, where he scored a 49-over-par 121—the worst score in the tournament's history. His abysmal performance enraged other professionals, some of whom demanded refunds of their entry fees. Australian golfer Mike Cahill, playing directly behind Flitcroft, accosted him on the 12th hole, yelling, "this wasn't a circus" and telling him to get off the course.
Flitcroft was given a lifetime ban from all competitions by the R&A, earning the nickname "The Royal & Ancient Rabbit." Undeterred, he regularly attempted to enter the Open and other golf competitions under his own name and various pseudonyms, such as Gene Paycheki and James Beau Jolley. His exploits earned him folk hero status, and he became affectionately known by the press as the "'world's worst golfer'."
Flitcroft's career was highlighted in Stephen Pile's 1979 bestseller, *The Book of Heroic Failures*, bringing him greater popular recognition. He and his wife were invited to play in the "Maurice Gerald Flitcroft Member-Guest Tournament" held by the Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1988. His life story has also been adapted into a film, *The Phantom of the Open*, which premiered at the London Film Festival.
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How did he fool people into thinking he was a professional golfer?
In the mid-1970s, Maurice Flitcroft, a chain-smoking crane operator from Barrow, England, decided to pursue an improbable dream: to compete in the British Open, one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. Despite having no previous golfing experience, Flitcroft forged his application and entered the 1976 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, as a professional golfer.
Flitcroft was inspired by the story of Walter Danecki, a Milwaukee postal worker who posed as a professional golfer to enter the 1965 Open Championship. When Flitcroft discovered that amateurs entering golf competitions needed an official handicap, something he lacked, he simply declared himself to be a professional. He ordered an entry form from organisers Royal and Ancient (R&A) and set his sights on the Open Championship.
To prepare for the tournament, Flitcroft borrowed instruction manuals from the local library and practised by hitting balls on the local beach. On the day of the qualifiers, Flitcroft was joined by one of his two sons, acting as a caddy. However, his playing partner, Jim Howard, quickly suspected something was amiss. Flitcroft's inexperience became glaringly apparent during the tournament, as he struggled with his swing and keeping track of his opponent's score.
Despite his abysmal performance, Flitcroft's bold attempt to compete in the British Open without any prior experience gained him notoriety and even some degree of folk hero status. His story serves as a reminder that success in golf, and indeed any sport, comes from honest effort, dedicated practice, and a passion for the game.
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What was his score?
Assuming you are referring to Maurice Flitcroft, the “world's worst golfer", his score in the 1976 Open Championship was 49-over-par 121, the worst score in the tournament's history.
Flitcroft had no prior experience playing golf and had taught himself to play on a beach near his home. He posed as a professional golfer to enter the tournament, inspired by Walter Danecki, a postal worker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who had done the same in the 1965 Open Championship.
Despite his lack of experience, Flitcroft persevered and continued to play, even after being banned by the R&A. He became a folk hero and the subject of a film, "The Phantom of the Open", which premiered in 2022.
In addition to his infamy on the golf course, Flitcroft had a varied career, including stints in the Merchant Navy, as an artist, and as a comedy stunt man with a travelling theatre group.
While Flitcroft may not have achieved golfing excellence, his story serves as a reminder that boldness, hard work, and integrity are essential to achieving one's dreams.
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What happened after his deception was uncovered?
In 1976, Maurice Flitcroft, a 46-year-old chain-smoking crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness, England, with no prior experience, posed as a professional golfer and entered the Open Championship qualifier at Formby Golf Club, near Liverpool. His deception was soon uncovered as he scored a 49-over-par 121, the worst in the tournament's history. Enraged fellow competitors demanded refunds, and Flitcroft was banned for life by the R&A, earning the nickname "The Royal & Ancient Rabbit."
Following the incident, the rules were changed to prevent Flitcroft from attempting to enter again. However, undeterred, he frequently tried to enter the Open and other golf tournaments under his own name or pseudonyms like Gene Paycheki, Gerrard Hoppy, and James Beau Jolley. His antics brought him fame, and he became a folk hero, affectionately dubbed the "'world's worst golfer' by the press.
Despite his initial deception, Flitcroft's perseverance and boldness gained him a degree of acceptance within the golfing world. In 1978, the Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, inaugurated the "Maurice Gerald Flitcroft Member-Guest Tournament" in his honour. A decade later, in 1988, the club invited Flitcroft and his wife to play in the tournament, providing them with business-class flights.
Flitcroft's story also attracted media attention, with his exploits featured in Stephen Pile's 1979 bestseller, "The Book of Heroic Failures." His life inspired a biography, "The Phantom of the Open," written by Scott Murray and Simon Farnaby and published in 2010. Flitcroft's journey from a stuntman with a travelling theatre group to an unlikely golfer also made it to the big screen in 2022 with the film "The Phantom of the Open," starring Mark Rylance.
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What is his legacy?
The legacy of Maurice Flitcroft, a chain-smoking crane operator from Barrow, England, is an intriguing one. Despite having no prior golfing experience, Flitcroft managed to enter the 1976 Open Championship by posing as a professional golfer. This deception was inspired by Walter Danecki, a postal worker who entered the 1965 Open Championship by claiming to be a pro. Flitcroft's golfing ambitions were well above his ability, and he became notorious for scoring a 49-over-par 121, the worst score in the tournament's history.
Following his infamous performance, Flitcroft was banned from all competitions by the R&A and dubbed "The Royal & Ancient Rabbit." Undeterred, he continued to attempt to enter golf competitions, using pseudonyms such as Gene Paycheki and Gerrard Hoppy. Flitcroft's persistence led to a confrontation with golf authorities, who tightened the rules to prevent non-professionals from entering. Despite his lack of success on the golf course, Flitcroft's story gained him folk hero status, with the term "a Flitcroft" entering the British golf lexicon to describe a hapless hacker.
Flitcroft's fame led to him being celebrated with the "Maurice Gerald Flitcroft Member-Guest Tournament" by the Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He and his wife were invited to play in the tournament in 1988, with their travel expenses covered by British Airways. Flitcroft's story also brought him greater popular recognition, with his career highlighted in Stephen Pile's 1979 bestseller, "The Book of Heroic Failures."
In addition to his folk hero status, Flitcroft's life story has been adapted into a film, "The Phantom of the Open," starring Mark Rylance. The film premiered at the London Film Festival and showcases Flitcroft's audacious journey into the world of professional golf.
While Flitcroft may not have achieved golfing excellence, his legacy lies in the inspiration he provides for bold pursuits and the reminder that success in any sport comes from honest effort, dedicated practice, and integrity. His story also highlights the importance of perseverance, as despite numerous setbacks, he continued to pursue his golfing dreams.
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Frequently asked questions
Maurice Flitcroft is a man who, despite having no previous golfing experience, entered the 1976 Open Championship by posing as a professional golfer. He went on to achieve the worst score in the tournament's history, becoming known as the "World's Worst Golfer".
Maurice Flitcroft was inspired by the story of Walter Danecki, a Milwaukee postal worker who posed as a professional golfer to enter the 1965 Open Championship. Flitcroft, who was going through a mid-life crisis, decided to pursue the improbable dream of competing in the British Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.
No, Maurice Flitcroft was not a good golfer. In fact, he is often referred to as the "World's Worst Golfer". His score of 49-over-par 121 at the 1976 Open Championship was the worst in the tournament's history.
Flitcroft was banned from all future competitions by the R&A. However, he continued to attempt to enter the Open and other golf competitions under his own name and various pseudonyms, such as Gene Paycheki and James Beau Jolley. He became a folk hero and the subject of a 2022 film, "The Phantom of the Open".
Yes, Maurice Allen is a World Long Drive Competitor and former two-time number one-ranked golfer in the world. Allen is known for his powerful drives and has won several championships, including the 2018 Volvik World Long Drive Championship. He also holds the record for being the first person to drive a golf ball over the horseshoe at Niagara Falls.
