The poem
How straight it flew, how long it flew, It clear'd the rutty track And soaring, disappeared from view Beyond the bunker's back - A glorious, sailing, bounding drive That made me glad I was alive.
And down the fairway, far along It glowed a lonely white; I played an iron sure and strong And clipp'd it out of sight, And spite of grassy banks between I knew I'd find it on the green.
And so I did. It lay content Two paces from the pin; A steady putt and then it went Oh, most surely in. The very turf rejoiced to see That quite unprecedented three.
Ah! Seaweed smells from sandy caves And thyme and mist in whiffs, In-coming tide, Atlantic waves Slapping the sunny cliffs, Lark song and sea sounds in the air And splendour, splendour everywhere.
Reprinted with the permission of John Murray (Publishers) Ltd.
I am not a big literary fan but this is a beautiful description of the joy one can get out of the simple game of golf. (if only every hole was so simple!).
It manages to capture the very essence of why the sport has gripped so many people(the natural scenery, the self satsifaction of beating the course) and shows why the sport shoud not stay exclusive to the priviliged few who get to play the game
i frist heard it durning the BBC golf coverage of the 2003 open and love it ever since.
Shane in Hackney, London
I have been studying John Betjeman for English, i think that he is a wonderful poet and how ever much i hate golf, this poem does make it sound fun and something that can be enjoyed. What is most amusing is his way of being able to remember every single detail of what the day was like, it just shows that people never really grow old and he shows this within all his poems.
As we all know golf can be a very frustrating game. Even the best of golfers wants to give it up when they play badly so imagine the joy a good game can bring. John Betjeman does just that in Seaside Golf. The rhyme and rhythm and the choice of words that Betjemin employs reinforces the euphoria of a good game. JB used to holiday in Cornwall and he may have played at one of the seaside golf courses where he had this…
Read the whole commentAs we all know golf can be a very frustrating game. Even the best of golfers wants to give it up when they play badly so imagine the joy a good game can bring. John Betjeman does just that in Seaside Golf. The rhyme and rhythm and the choice of words that Betjemin employs reinforces the euphoria of a good game. JB used to holiday in Cornwall and he may have played at one of the seaside golf courses where he had this wonderful experience. I first read this poem in 1975 and I often think of it when I play golf. I am sure golfers would immediately identify with it, especially when they enjoy a good round of golf. In the last stanza he arouses all our senses and is literally "flitting" above the grass when he makes par. And it's not just about golf. It could apply to any game and to life too. A wonderful poem.
A lovely poem and reminds me strongly of my most euphoric game of golf, at St Enodoc about which I believe this was written.
JB was a member at St Enodoc golf course in Rock, over the estuary from Padstow in Cornwall.
He is buried in St Enodoc church (see other poems), which was recovered from the sands where it had been covered for many years.
A beautiful place well worth seeking out !
golf greens
Now who know's which green JB was sat beside when he wrote this poem
Seaside Golf
Betjeman was writing about the 14th hole at St Enodoc and verse three, line four should read "Oh, most securely in."