Blair-Wellington Golf Exchange

The 2006 American Team with the Claret Jug, Sunningdale Clubhouse.

History
The Blair-Wellington Golf Exchange began in 1969, and this year we will celebrate 40 years of the tours. Originally, the exchange began with Blair Academy sending a team of seven to The Stowe School. Consequently, the following year Stowe sent a team of seven to Blair, thus beginning the illustrious tradition. Presently, the coordinator of the program works at Wellington College, so the tour has become known as the Blair-Wellington Golf Exchange.

By 1971, other schools were included in the competition and to date over 70 schools and over 200 players here and abroad have participated in this extraordinary tradition. In 1992, teams were expanded to eight players when a selection decision between two players could not be made, and as a result, they’ve played that way ever since.

The Tour Today
The tour lasts approximately three weeks, and participants play somewhere around 20 matches. The British team, the Swifts, comes one year to the United States in March and April, and the following year the American team heads to England in June and July. While there, we play some of the finest courses in England, including Royal St. George’s, Sunningdale, and Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s.

Simply being chosen to participate in these events is considered by all to be a success. Players are chosen for their sportsmanlike approach to competition and talent on the golf course. The players are top-notch, well-rounded individuals with a keen sense of fair play. Blair’s top golfers, assuming they meet the criteria for going, are given preference when final decisions are made.

The golf exchange has delighted schools and families by bringing an unparalleled golfing experience to the players who undoubtedly walk away with memories to last a lifetime. Usually, American tour members from one year will play host to the British team the following year. The same is true of British participants hosting their American counterparts. This reciprocal nature of the tour helps build a sense of camaraderie between the British and American participants, and also helps keep the cost of the tour down to a reasonable level.

If you have any questions about the Blair-Wellington Golf Exchange, please contact me at sykesa@blair.edu or Wayne Rasmussen at rasmuw@blair.edu.

Thank you for your interest in this great tradition.

Andrew Sykes
Golf Coach, Blair Academy
2006 Tour Chaperone

2006
Royal St. George's	Sunningdale Golf Club
Rye Golf Club
The 2006 American Team at Winchester Cathedral.

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