Lesson 2: The Open Championship
In 1860, at a golf course called Prestwick in Scotland, eight professional golfers competed in the very first Open Championship — now one of the four most prestigious tournaments in golf, known simply as ‘The Open.’
The winner received a prize — a red leather belt to wear with pride. Later the prize became the Claret Jug, a beautiful silver trophy that the champion gets to hold for one year before returning it for the next year’s winner.
The Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament in the world. It has been played every year since 1860 (except during the World Wars). Every champion’s name is engraved on the Claret Jug — a list that stretches back over 160 years.
When a golfer wins The Open today, they drink champagne from the same cup that legends held before them. That connection to history is part of what makes golf special.
The Open Championship began in 1860 — the oldest golf tournament in the world. The winner receives the Claret Jug.
Research the Claret Jug with your parent. Find a picture of it — it is a beautiful piece of history. Count how many names are on it (roughly — you do not have to read all of them!). Write in your history journal: if you won the Claret Jug someday, what would it feel like to hold it? What would you do first?
A photograph of the Claret Jug — especially one where you can see the list of names inscribed on it — communicates the weight of golf history more powerfully than any statistics can. If the Masters week or Open Championship week aligns with this lesson, watching highlights together adds a live connection to the history.