Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

I found myself wondering this morning about the question in this blog headline, even as I contemplate a great Thanksgiving with my family here in the California desert.

The impetus for wondering was two-fold:  (a) having had the privilege of playing golf five times in Scotland where the title “Royal” abounds; and (b) reading again “A Season in Dornoch,” a book which touts the “Royal Dornoch” golf course, one of my favorite courses in the world.

So, golfer that I am, I turned to Golf Digest and I found that there is no simple way to answer the question.

Here is a summary from the Digest in a story written by Ryan Herrington:

“By definition, the title is authoritatively regal.  Royal Troon, host of the 152nd British Open Championship (golfers in Europe would call this “The Open”) is one of 69 clubs from around the world that can claim the label ‘Royal.’  Seven of them are in ‘The Open’ rotation.”

“’Royal,’ the Digest adds, is a distinction brimming with pageantry and, in most cases, import.

“Indeed, having the distinction brings with it an added level of authority. But it also begs the question:   Just how does a course earn the right to call itself ‘Royal?’”

More from the Digest:

“According to Scott Macpherson’s definitive 2013 book, Golf’s Royal Clubs, the designation of Royal clubs began in 1833.  The captain of the Perth Golfing Society, Lord Kinnaird, went on a trip to London to address King William IV, who had recently taken up the game.  While there, Kinnaird asked the King if he would become a patron of the Society and if the club could, in turn, call itself the Royal Perth Golfing Society.  William agreed, and a movement was born.

“A year later, the Society of St. Andrews Golfers, with royalty among its membership, renamed itself the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.”

Earning “Royal” status, however, has not been as simple as having royal figures as part of your club.  Royal Aberdeen in Scotland, for instance,  which did not have royalty as members, added the label in the 1870s only to be turned down by the crown when officials at the course requested the official designation.  It wasn’t until 1903 that Aberdeen finally was approved.

So, there now is a formal application process for the designation.  The reigning monarch has final approval.  

Back to Macpherson for the moment.

He said the title was restricted to “institutions of eminence, long standing and secure financial position, and devoted to national, charitable and scientific objects.”

So, the designation recognizes excellence and that is what I have seen in Scotland as I have played several “Royal” courses – Royal Aberdeen, Royal St. Andrews, Royal Troon – and, as I said, my favorite, Royal Dornoch.

Beyond Europe, “Royal” status also has been given to six courses in Canada (first to Royal Montreal in 1884 where the recent President’s Cup was played), eight in Australia (first to Royal Melbourne in 1895), six in Africa, three in Asia, two in New Zealand, and two in continental Europe.

So, as a monarch – yes, I am a monarch – I hereby convey “Royal” status on my home course in Salem, Oregon, Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club.

Now and forever more, it will be named Royal Illahe.