Young and Old Tom Morris make the big screen
Golf will once again make it to the big screen. In the tradition of Tin Cup and Caddyshack, Tommy’s Honour is a story built around 18 holes of golf. Tommy’s Honour (yes, the U does belong in honor) is the story of the complex relationship between the pioneering Scottish golfing champion Old Tom Morris (who established that 18-hole standard) and his son Young Tom Morris as the latter moves to become a champion in his own right.
World premieres, to benefit First Tee will be held in St. Augustine, Fla., on Monday, March 27 at the World Golf Hall of Fame; New York City on Wednesday, April 12; in Chicago on Thursday, April 13. Superintendents who cannot make it to one of the big events can tune in for the half-hour, exclusive, behind-the-scenes special featuring Jordan Spieth on Saturday, March 25 at 2:30pm Eastern, 1:30 Central, or 11:30 Pacific…immediately preceding the Saturday coverage of The Dell WGC World Match Play.
Superintendents will instantly recognize the name Tom Morris and link it to the top award presented by GCSAA. The Old Tom Morris award is bestowed upon an individual who, through a continuing lifetime commitment to the game of golf, has helped to mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris. It was presented for the first time at the 1983 conference and show in Atlanta, GA. The recipient of this award is determined by the GCSAA Board of Directors which is presented annually at the GCSAA Education Conference.
Tommy’s Honour is based on Kevin Cook’s book “Tommy’s Honor: The Story of Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, Golf’s Founding Father and Son.” The book has garnered its share of awards, notably the 2007 Herbert Warren Wind Book Award. The film is directed by Jason Connery, son of acting icon, Sean Connery.
Check out www.Facebook.com/TommysHonor or www.TommysHonour.com.
To share it in the clubhouse, download the trailer at here.
Early buzz, before it hit the commercial theatres in the United States is solid. Tommy’s Honour won Best Feature Film at the 2016 British Academy Scotland Awards.
View the trailer for the movie here.
Jack Lowden plays the role of young Tommy Morris while Peter Mullan plays the senior Tom. Lowden, a 27-year old Scott did not have to fake the accent. Lowden has been in such recent movies as the war film Dunkirk, and in Denial. Mullan’s resume is much deeper, including War Horse and includes a Primetime Emmy for his work in Top of the Lake. He, too, is a Scott.
As every superintendent knows, Old Tom was an outstanding greenskeeper at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. He was the three-time winner of the first major golf tournament, The Open Championship which he founded in 1860. In addition to being credited with setting golf’s 18-hole standard, Old Tom – in his spare time — made outstanding golf clubs.
The younger Tommy Morris, growing up in golf – but not in proper society – is able to move past his father. As a kid in his teens, he wins The Open Championship three times in a row. Shades of young Tiger Woods! He becomes a bygone era’s version of a media star. Women love him. Men envy him. As golf royalty, everyone wants to see him play and win. Well, almost everyone except for the gentry which gives him grudging acceptance.
This is British society where your birth position traditionally determines your life’s path. Old Tom is old school. Young Tom is progressive. There are explosions between father and son. It becomes personal as Tommy marries his crush Meg Drinnen, played by Ophelia Lovibond. Meg is, shall we say, far from upper crust. She has a shameful secret in her past…a secret that neither his parents nor the upper class see as a positive thing. Will Young Tom ever become a gentleman as British society defines it? Will controversy hurt his game?
Jason Connery directs the film which answers those questions in its 112-minute run time.
Parts of the movie were filmed on location at St. Andrews. Roadside Attractions has the U.S. rights to distribute the film which will be shown at many movie houses including Regal Cinemas.
Photos: Gutta Percha Productions (U.S.)
Tommy’s Honour Productions/SellOutPictures