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This cache commemorates a remarkable generation of golfers who were born in the parish of Grouville, or learnt their skills on the course which opened on Grouville Common in 1878, but who subsequently became internationally known. The cache involves three stages where questions are answered to establish the co-ordinates for the physical, final cache which is a short distance away from stage 3. The cache has room for small swaps, TBs and coins.
The published co-ordinates (stage 1) are for the statue of the most celebrated of these golfers, Harry Vardon. Roadside parking is available near the statue, but please do not park on the road which leads across the golf course, as this road crosses the 16th fairway and flying golf balls are a hazard. The area is very busy in school term times around 9.00am and again around 3.00pm, and parking will be a problem around these times. Bus route 1 (St Helier to Gorey) is the principal route from St Helier, but others also stop close to the statue – ask to get off at Grouville Station, or Grouville Cenotaph (same stop – new name).
Harry Vardon was born in Grouville in 1870, and educated at the local school. He was encouraged to take up golf by the success of his younger brother Tom, and proved to be a natural player, going on to be (British) Open champion on no less than 6 occasions, in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911 and 1914, a record that still stands today. He also won the US Open in 1900, and finished 2nd on the only two other occasions that he competed (in 1913 and 1920 – the latter at the age of 50). As commemorated on the plinth of the statue, he is also renowned in golfing circles for popularising (but not inventing) the “Vardon grip”, which is still used by thousands of players today.
The statue was unveiled in 2001 by Tony Jacklin, another winner of both the British (in 1969) and US (in 1970) Opens, and who lived in Jersey for a time after his successes. Unfortunately, Harry’s club occasionally goes missing, but (to date) has always been replaced after a short while.
We have mentioned Harry’s younger brother Tom. His reputation is somewhat overshadowed by that of his older sibling, but he was a good enough player in his own right to finish 2nd (to his brother Harry) in the Open in 1903, and in the top 10 on another 8 occasions.
After Harry Vardon, probably the greatest of the Grouville golfers was Ted Ray. Born in 1877, and noted for his flamboyant playing style, he won the Open in 1912 and the US Open in 1920 (when Harry Vardon finished 2nd). He also featured with Harry Vardon in the 3-way tie for the US Open in 1913 which was eventually won in a play-off by the US amateur Francis Ouimet, an event immortalised in the Disney film “The Greatest Game of All Time”. Ted Ray was player captain in the British and Ireland side in the first ever Ryder Cup in 1927.
Harry Vardon’s teacher at the parish school was George Boomer. He was later instrumental in the establishment of the other championship course in Jersey at La Moye, but his sons became internationally known in their own right. Aubrey’s best finish in the Open was 2nd, but he won many European national open titles, including the French Open 5 times in 11 years between 1921 and 1931. His brother Percy also won three national opens, but was better known as an instructor and the author of a widely read book on golfing technique.
Across the main road from the statue, the white painted house behind the hedge is the former Grouville station of the Jersey Eastern Railway, which closed in 1929 due to competition from motor buses. It’s ironic that the local bus stop was still referred to in the timetables up to the end of 2012 as Grouville Station. With a change of bus operator at the beginning of 2013, it is now known as Grouville Cenotaph, which is also inaccurate, as the adjacent Grouville parish war memorial is not a cenotaph. You will see the war memorial just to the north, opposite a bus shelter decorated with a design by pupils of Grouville Primary school.
At stage 1, around the published co-ordinates, you will need to find the answers to the following questions (please note that you will need to cross the main road for answers B and C - please take care with children and dogs):
The number of spikes on the heel of Harry Vardon’s right shoe = A (this is a two-digit number)
The number of Simonets whose names appear on the war memorial = B
The number of Leverdiers whose names appear on the war memorial = C
The number of buses painted inside the bus shelter = D
You then need to go to stage 2 at N49 11.252 W002 02.352. Here you will find a stone commemorating one of the golfers mentioned above. Please note that the golf course is on common land, and so there is public access, but always be aware that this is a busy course, and give priority to the golfers. There should be no need to walk on any fairways or to cross any greens to complete this cache.
At stage 2, find the answers to the following questions:
The number of letters in the 2nd word of the 4th line of the inscription on the stone = E
This stone is adjacent to the ?? tee = F (this is a two-digit number)
Then proceed to stage 3, which is another commemorative stone found at N49 11.382 W002 02.209.
At stage 3, you need the following answers:
The number of letters in the 2nd word of the 1st line of the inscription = G
This stone is alongside the ?? fairway = H (this is a two-digit number and you will need to trace the fairway northwards to identify the answer).
The final cache is at N49 11.(H/C) (A-E) (C-B-D) W002 02.(G-E) (F-A) (B+E). Please note that you only have to perform the calculations within each set of brackets to obtain the co-ordinates – you do not need to multiply the answers together as you would in algebra.
Good luck!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre snyyra gerr gehax (ng ebbg)