At Royal Birkdale, amidst the modern advancements of professional golf, a team of local sixth-formers and their teachers maintains a cherished, analogue tradition: operating the massive, hand-powered leaderboards flanking the 18th green. These iconic yellow scoreboards, in operation since 1979, offer spectators a view of the day's unfolding drama, albeit from a cramped and often dimly lit vantage point.
Charlie Boddington, a deputy headteacher from Surrey, has supervised one of the boards, known as 18R, for over a decade. This role, he explains, is an unpaid labor of love, fueled by a passion for The Open and its enduring customs. "The Open is wonderful. It’s about tradition, right? And these leaderboards are part of that tradition," Boddington stated. The manual operation, however, is not without its challenges and occasional errors. The boards are susceptible to mistakes, such as misspelling a player's name or inverting numbers.
Operational Challenges and Corrections
During one instance, Nicolai Hojgaard's surname was incorrectly spelled with three 'A's. Errors are often corrected swiftly, with supervisors keeping a close watch on each other. "You get a fair amount wrong, especially in the early rounds, when the team is learning the ropes," Boddington admitted. "It is usually with the numbers rather than the names — it is very easy to put in a six or a nine upside down."
He recalled an incident at Troon in 2024 where Xander Schauffele's score was momentarily misread as a six instead of a nine, leading to a gasp from the crowd who believed he had double-bogeyed the hole. Such corrections are facilitated by an internal radio system and app that relays information from "scoring central." Jonathan Edwards, the triple jump world record-holder and a single-figure handicap golfer, is part of this scoring team, adding another layer to the operation.
Despite the limited view through a small mesh window, the students operating the boards often vie for the opportunity to display the names of prominent players like Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy, anticipating the crowd's roar when their names appear.
A Glimpse into Tradition
Carolyn Moir, a PE teacher and another supervisor, shared a personal anecdote from 1991, when she served as a driver for players and their families. She recounted driving Ian Baker-Finch's wife to a local shop for celebratory champagne and pizza after his victory, eventually joining them in their rental home. "I love being around this tournament. These leaderboards are part of the tradition. I hope they stay," Moir said.
In recent years, The Open has seen significant growth in merchandising and hospitality, leading to increased ticket prices and some sentiment that the tournament's essence is being diluted. However, the two manual leaderboards at the 18th green remain as a steadfast symbol of tradition, offering a quirky and reassuring continuity amidst the evolving landscape of professional golf.
