H.G. CASTLE

From the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News -  October 8th 1904

GOLF JOTTINGS

Mr Castle must, I think, be deemed a fortunate man as regards his golf. He was a boy at school when the many attractions and beauties of the game had caused thousandsof men in England to regret that so many years of their lives had slipped away without a driver or iron ever having been in their hands.
Naturally, it was impossible for any boy with sporting instincts in him to see the heads of such vast numbers of men, many of them, too of mature years, completely turned by this wonderful game without a keen desire arising in him to follow in the footsteps of his elders. So it came about that at the age of fifteen, Mr. Castle commenced to drive and put, and laid the foundations of a career which it is not too much to say has been abnormally successful.

Fortune did not desert him in those early days for at Chiswick, on which links he started the game, he was constantly playing with such a performer as James Braid. Nobody, I fancy, realises what this means more fully than Mr. Castle himself, and he would probably be the first to admit that his present prominent position among the leading amateurs of the day is due in no small measure to the ex Champion’s admirable tuition. Realising to the full the vast benefit to be derived from playing with, and receiving hints from, men of this class, Mr. Castle has, during the last three years, played a. lot at Sunningdale with the Champion, from whom also, as may be imagined, many useful hints have been gleaned.
In 1894 Mr. Castle first got his name into print, when winning the Monthly Medal of the Chiswick Club, starting from the 11 mark. It seems, however, that this initial success did not greatly impress the minds of the handicappers, for he was shortly after put up to 13. It must be now somewhat amusing for those same handicappers to scrutinise the form of the man of whom in those days they seemed to hold such a. poor opinion.

It is impossible to go through all Mr. Castles successes, and it may be sufficient to touch upon some of his performances during the last three or four years, in which he has made his name known wherever the game is known. Perhaps the success of which Mr. Castle is most justly proud was that gained at Sandwich in 1902. There the St. George’s Vase, one of the prizes most coveted by amateur 'golfers, was carried off, and this win, of course, set the seal on his fame, and in conversations I have had with leading golfers. his name has nearly always cropped up as that of a man to whom, sooner or later, the Blue Riband of amateur golf will fall. Another notable success was achieved at Epsom in 1903, when Mr. Castle succeeded in winning the Brooks Cup and Rosebery Medal with the record score of 7l + 6=77. At Littlestone, too, the subject of this notice has been very “ busy ” from time to time, among other prizes which have fallen to his share being the Wintle Cleek won three times in succession, a Challenge Cup and the Erskine Goblets (foursomes), his partner being M. C. Hart. Challenge cups, too, have been won at Chiswick and Lahinch, so it can safely be said that the young golfer has not been idle during his short career.

Mr. Castle is a great record-breaker, for I think I am correct in stating that at Chiswick, Lahinch, Sunningdale,and Epsom, no amateur has been able to beat his 64, 72, 75, and 71. Mr. Castle’s favourite course is Lahinch, in regard to which he writes to me “'1 think the first ten holes are the very best I have ever played, and it is a magnificent course in my opinion.” With regard to his game, Mr Castle is certainly seen to most advantage when playing a full cleek shot to the hole, though it must be said that he is very nearly as deadly with his mashie. Unfortunately for him putting seems more or less “ a bore,” and as a consequence. his work on the green compares very unfavourably with that through it.
My space has run out, and I must take leave of Mr. Castle, only, however, in the full_ assurance that no long time will elapse ere I once again write his name as a winner.

From the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News - September 16th 1906

So terrible was the gale at Lahinch when the semi final round of the South of Ireland Championship was set for decision that the executive had no other course open but to postpone the matches. However, in the afternoon there was a change for the better. and the four men turned out for golf. Mr. Horace Castle had to face Mr. David Foster, the Frinton crack, who started well by taking the first hole. Mr. Castle, however, was soon after him. and once he had got his head in front at the third hole, never looked back, eventually sustaining the honour of Chiswick when winning by four and three.

Mr. A. C. Lincoln, who has done so many good things in the neighbourhood of London, had to face that Sterling Golfer, Colonel Baxter. The latter failed to "get into his stride" in the early stages. And this blot in his game he was never able to quite wipe out. Of course, the Colonel showed all his well-known grim determination, and was by no means cast down by his early losses. So well, indeed, did he stick to his man that by the time the turn was reached, only one hole separated the pair. On the way home, however, the South Herts golfer kept his lead, and brought matters lo a climax at the seventeenth, where the Royal West Norfolk golfer was two down.
Thus Mr. Horace Castle and Mr. Lincoln were left to fight out the all-important final, which, as far as my humble opinion goes, panned out according to the "book." I should be inclined to think that Mr. Castle's experience, both of important and unimportant golf, was superior to that of Mr. Lincoln, and so, when the homeward journey of the wind-swept links had to be faced, the Chiswick golfer was more at his ease. Going out matters were very even. but immediately the turn was made, Mr. Castle began to show superiority, and by the time the eighteenth hole had been played, his lead had gone up to three holes, a very satisfactory balance with which to start the afternoon's work. How many times, both at, cricket and golf, have we seen luncheon effect wondrous changes, and this final was another instance of what abstention from work may do for a man.

For the first three holes Mr. Castle was quite powerless to hold his own, and found all his hard earned advantage had slipped away from him. Realising his dangerous position however, the Chiswick golfer" set himself going in grim earnest, and so effectual was his golf that at the turn he once again held the same commanding lead of three holes. Intent on winning tactics, Mr. Castle brought matters to a climax at the fifteenth, where hewas five up. On his great, victory I hope the winner will allow me to congratulate him heartily, and I am sure the news will be received in his home club with unbounded satisfaction. In getting where he did, Mr. Lincoln fully maintained his reputation, and he may in the future yet go "one better."