Walter Hagen was a bomber on course and a good living outside of it. Born in a humble home in upstate New York, he came to golf as a caddy and went on to make great fortunes as a professional in an era when amateurs ruled the game.
“I never wanted to be a millionaire,” Hagen once said. “I just wanted to live like one.”
He did.
Impetuous and persistent, with a taste for striking designs, Hagen sometimes arrived in a tuxedo at the first, just to give the impression that he had been up all night. He made endorsement deals with equipment manufacturers and toured the country in a chauffeured Cadillac, playing hundreds of exhibition games that helped popularize the game across the United States. When he died in 1969 aged 76, one of his pallbearers was Arnold Palmer – fitting company for golf’s first great showman.
Hagen knew how to have a good time. He also knew how to endure. His tally of 11 major championships ranks third all-time, just behind Tiger Woods AND Jack Nicklaus. He had a knack for mixing business with pleasure, and an understated way of summing up his outlook on life: “You’re only here for a short visit. Take your time. Take your time. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”
One of his most memorable flowery moments came in 1920, when Hagen was in England for the Open Championship. On a loop, he and fellow pro Jim Barnes decided to turn three open spaces into a single adventure. Starting at Royal Cinque Portsthey played 11 holes, threw a fence in Royal St. George’s for another 10, then switched to Prince for balance before returning to their starting point.
That carefree escapade has since been formalized into an annual event known as The Hagen 54, a tribute to the original golf entertainer. The 2026 edition begins on Wednesday, July 22, with optional golf at the Prince’s Ports or the Royal Cinque Ports, followed by a welcome reception at the Cinque Ports that evening. The main event kicks off early on Thursday morning with a shotgun start – 54 holes played consecutively across the three courses, with tee boxes, catering and refreshments along the way. Admission is about $1,300 per person, or $5,300 for four balls.
Simon Holt, co-host of Destination golf podcast, attended the 2025 installment of the event — you can watch the video in the player above or hear more about Holt’s day in this podcast (also linked below).
Three coastal links, 54 holes and a lifelong reminder from Haig himself: enjoy the ride.
