Double Diamond International


The Double Diamond International was a team golf tournament that was played from 1971 to 1977. It was hosted in England for the first three years, and then in Scotland.
From 1974 and 1977 the event was preceded by an individual 36 hole stroke play tournament that was included on the British PGA tournament circuit; the circuit would later become officially recognised as the European Tour.

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:
Thursday 21 October
TeamScoreTeamScoreHalved
England6 Wales11
Ireland5 Scotland21

Friday 22 October
TeamScoreTeamScoreHalved
England7 Ireland10
Wales6 Scotland20

Saturday 23 October
TeamScoreTeamScoreHalved
Ireland4 Wales31
England5 Scotland21

Final table

, 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:
Thursday 31 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
England9 Wales3
Ireland7Rest of the World5
Europe8 Ireland4
Scotland7 Wales5
England8Rest of the World4

Friday 1 September
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Europe7 Scotland5
Rest of the World6 Wales6
England7 Ireland5
Rest of the World6 Scotland6
Europe10 Wales2

Saturday 2 September
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Scotland8 Ireland4
England6 Europe6
Ireland8 Wales4
Rest of the World8 Europe4
England9 Scotland3

Final table

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:
Thursday 30 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
England4 Wales4
Ireland5 Europe3
Scotland8 Wales0
Ireland6Rest of the World2
England4 Europe4

Friday 31 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Scotland6 Ireland2
Rest of the World7 Wales1
England4 Ireland4
Rest of the World4 Scotland4
Europe6 Wales2

Saturday 1 September
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Rest of the World6 Europe2
England6 Scotland2
Ireland8 Wales0
Scotland7 Europe1
England4Rest of the World4

Final table

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:
Thursday 22 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
England8 Wales0
Europe4 Ireland4
Scotland5 Wales3
Rest of the World6 Ireland2
England8 Europe0

Friday 23 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Ireland4 Scotland4
Rest of the World6 Wales2
England5 Ireland3
Rest of the World5 Scotland3
Wales5 Europe3

Saturday 24 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Rest of the World8 Europe0
England5 Scotland3
England5Rest of the World3
Ireland5 Wales3
Scotland5 Europe3

Final table

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:
Thursday 25 September
TeamPointsTeamPoints
England4 Wales4
Rest of the World5 Ireland3
Scotland4 Wales4
The Americas5 Ireland3
Rest of the World5 England3

Friday 26 September
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Ireland4 Scotland4
The Americas6 Wales2
England4 Ireland4
The Americas5 Scotland3
Rest of the World5 Wales3

Saturday 27 September
TeamPointsTeamPoints
The Americas4Rest of the World4
England4 Scotland4
Ireland4 Wales4
Scotland5Rest of the World3
The Americas6 England2

Final table

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:
Thursday 19 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
England3Australasia1
Ireland2Rest of the World2
Europe4 United States0
Scotland2 Wales2
Australasia2 Ireland2
Rest of the World3 England1

Friday 20 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Europe2 Scotland2
United States2 Wales2
England2 Ireland2
Australasia2Rest of the World2
Scotland United States
Wales Europe

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:
Thursday 18 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Australasia3 England1
Rest of the World4 Ireland0
United States3 Europe1
Wales Scotland
Australasia2 Ireland2
England2Rest of the World2

Friday 19 August
TeamPointsTeamPoints
Scotland Europe
United States Wales
Ireland3 England1
Australasia3Rest of the World1
Europe2 Wales2
United States Scotland

Group tables

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.