The Double Diamond International was a team golf tournament that was played from 1971 to 1977. From 1974 and 1977 it was preceded by an individual 36 hole stroke play tournament that was included on the European Tour schedule, the 1977 event being called the Skol Lager Individual.
Contents
Winners
England won in 1976 by being 2 holes up in the four matches played in the final against the Rest of the World.
1971
The tournament was played on 21, 22 and 23 October between the four home nations at South Staffs Golf Club with each team playing the other three. There were teams of 6 with 2 foursomes matches in the morning and 6 singles in the afternoon. All matches were over 18 holes. The total prize money was £10,250.
The teams were:
Matches
Thursday 21 October
Friday 22 October
Saturday 23 October
Final table
Neil Coles, John Garner, Tommy Horton, Jimmy Kinsella, Peter Townsend won their 3 singles matches and shared the individual prize of £350. Kinsella beat all the three opposing captains in his singles matches.
1972
The tournament was played on 31 August and 1 and 2 September between six teams, the four home nations, Continental Europe and the Rest of the World. The event was played at Pannal Golf Club, Harrogate with each team playing the other five. There were teams of 8 with each match consisting of 6 singles matches over 18 holes. Two points were awarded for each match won with one point for a halved match. The overall winner was decided on points won. The total prize money was £15,000.
The teams were:
Matches
Thursday 31 August
Friday 1 September
Saturday 2 September
1973
The tournament was played on 30, 31 August and 1 September between six teams, the four home nations, Continental Europe and the Rest of the World. The event was played at Prince's Golf Club, Sandwich with each team playing the other five. There were teams of 5 with each match consisting of 4 singles matches over 18 holes. Two points were awarded for each match won with one point for a halved match. The overall winner was decided on points won. The total prize money remained at £15,000.
The teams were:
Matches
Thursday 30 August
Friday 31 August
Saturday 1 September
1974
The tournament was played on 22, 23 and 24 August between six teams, the four home nations, the Continental Europe and the Rest of the World. The event was played at Gleneagles with each team playing the other five. There were teams of 5 with each match consisting of 4 singles matches over 18 holes. Two points were awarded for each match won with one point for a halved match. The overall winner was decided on points won.
The teams were:
Matches
Thursday 22 August
Friday 23 August
Saturday 24 August
1975
The tournament was played on 25, 26 and 27 September between six teams, the four home nations, The Americas and the Rest of the World. The event was played at Turnberry with each team playing the other five. There were teams of 5 with each match consisting of 4 singles matches over 18 holes. Two points were awarded for each match won with one point for a halved match. The overall winner was decided on points won.
The teams were:
Matches
Thursday 25 September
Friday 26 September
Saturday 27 September
1976
The tournament was played on 19, 20 and 21 August between eight teams, the four home nations, Continental Europe, the United States, Australasia and the Rest of the World. The event was played at Gleneagles. Teams were divided into two group of four with the each team playing the others in the group on the first two days. The leading two teams in each group then played semi-finals and a final on the last day. There were teams of 5 with each match consisting of 4 singles matches over 18 holes. In the group matches, one point was awarded for each match won with half a point for a halved match. The order of the groups was decided on points won. In the event of a tie between two teams the order was decided by the result of the match between the teams and, if this was a tie, on net holes up overall.
The teams were:
Group matches
Thursday 19 August
Friday 20 August
Group tables
England finished ahead of Ireland since they were 3 holes up while Wales were level.
Scotland finished ahead of Wales since they were 9 holes up while Wales were 6 holes down.
Knock-out
Saturday 21 August
England won the final because they were 2 holes up in the four matches. Scotland won the third-place match because they were 9 holes up in the four matches.
1977
The tournament was played on 18, 19 and 20 August between eight teams, the four home nations, Continental Europe, the United States, Australasia and the Rest of the World. The event was played at Gleneagles. Teams were divided into two group of four with the each team playing the others in the group on the first two days. The leading two teams in each group then played semi-finals and a final on the last day. There were teams of 5 with each match consisting of 4 singles matches over 18 holes. In the group matches, one point was awarded for each match won with half a point for a halved match. The order of the groups was decided on points won.
The teams were:
Group matches
Thursday 18 August
Friday 19 August
Knock-out
Saturday 20 August
The Rest of the World won the third-place match because they were 8 holes up in the four matches.