Charles des Graz, Dagblad van Zuidholland en ’s Gravenhage, 27 februari - 1891
Herkomst: Dagblad van Zuidholland en ’s Gravenhage, 27 februari - 1891
Personen: Charles des Graz
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Personen: Charles des Graz
C.L. des Graz
Biografische gegevens:
Charles Louis des Graz (1860–1940) was een Engelse diplomaat van Franse afkomst die een sleutelrol speelde bij de introductie van golf in Nederland. Geboren in Toulon en opgegroeid in Engeland, ontwikkelde hij zich tot een typisch vertegenwoordiger van de Britse elitecultuur. Hij genoot zijn opleiding aan Harrow en Trinity College Cambridge, waar hij uitblonk in sport, met name atletiek en cricket. In februari 1891 vestigde hij zich in Den Haag als tweede secretaris van de Britse legatie.
In de Haagse diplomatieke en aristocratische kringen voelde Des Graz zich snel thuis. Zijn sportieve aanleg en sociale vaardigheden maakten hem tot een graag geziene gast op het landgoed Clingendael, waar de familie Van Brienen een centrale rol speelde in het mondaine leven. Via deze familie, en in het bijzonder via freule Daisy van Brienen, wist Des Graz zijn enthousiasme voor golf over te brengen. Hij overtuigde haar en haar omgeving van de aantrekkingskracht van de sport, wat leidde tot de aanleg van een van de eerste golfbaan in Nederland op Clingendael. Na de oprichting van Hague Golf Club was Des Graz de eerste secretaris van de club. Dit bleef hij tot 1895, toen hij elders gestationeerd werd.
Des Graz fungeerde vooral als bemiddelaar tussen de Nederlandse elite en de Engelse golfwereld. Dankzij zijn connecties wist hij contacten te leggen met Britse professionals, die de aanleg van banen technisch mogelijk maakten. Daarmee vervulde hij een cruciale rol als initiator en netwerkfiguur.
Zijn betrokkenheid bij de Doornsche Golfclub verliep indirect. Via de Haagse golfkring en met name via jonkheer Van Loon werd hij benaderd als deskundige om advies te geven over de keuze van een geschikt terrein. Hoewel hij weigerde een doorslaggevend oordeel te vellen, was zijn reputatie als autoriteit op golfgebied veelzeggend.
Zie ook:
(Bestuurs)functies:
| Periode | Club | Functie |
| 1893-1895 | Hague Golf Club | Secretaris |
Golfresultaten:
| Jaar | Dutch Open |
Internationaal Amateur |
Nationaal Open |
Artikelen/foto's:
Charles des Graz - 1891
Herkomst: Haagsche GC (Album Charles des Graz)
Personen: Charles des Graz
Details:
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Personen: Charles des Graz
Details:
The Old Club House, Hague Golf Club - 1891
Herkomst: Haagsche GC (Album Charles des Graz)
Beschrijving: The Old Club House van The Hague Golf Club. V.l.n.r.: twee caddies, Charles des Graz, Onbekend, Jan Anne van Pallandt van Walfort (met hond), Onbekend, Onbekend, Onbekend, Adolph van Rechteren Limpurg
Details:
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Beschrijving: The Old Club House van The Hague Golf Club. V.l.n.r.: twee caddies, Charles des Graz, Onbekend, Jan Anne van Pallandt van Walfort (met hond), Onbekend, Onbekend, Onbekend, Adolph van Rechteren Limpurg
Details:
Final Recollections, Horace Rumbold, Golf Illustrated - 1905
Herkomst: Golf Illustrated - 1905
Transcript:
In the “Final Recollections of a Diplomatist,” by the Right Hon. Sir Horace Rumbold, Bart., the following perplexing passage occurs:
“I was introduced by des Graz, the kindest-hearted of men, to try for distraction the game of golf, which he had lately introduced at the Hague, and which has proved a solace to men in far greater trouble than mine. Although we never became proficient at golf, both my wife and I took to it very kindly and drove most days to the nine hole links which Baron de Briennen had laid out round his picturesque racecourse at Clingendaal. Golf became quite the rage in Dutch society at this time, and the fashion extended from the Hague to provincial centres. . . des Graz may well claim it as a feather in his cap that he was the first to introduce this fascinating pastime to their notice.”
The question arises: Was this really an introduction or merely a reintroduction after a sleep of centuries to Dutch Rip van Winkles?
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Transcript:
In the “Final Recollections of a Diplomatist,” by the Right Hon. Sir Horace Rumbold, Bart., the following perplexing passage occurs:
“I was introduced by des Graz, the kindest-hearted of men, to try for distraction the game of golf, which he had lately introduced at the Hague, and which has proved a solace to men in far greater trouble than mine. Although we never became proficient at golf, both my wife and I took to it very kindly and drove most days to the nine hole links which Baron de Briennen had laid out round his picturesque racecourse at Clingendaal. Golf became quite the rage in Dutch society at this time, and the fashion extended from the Hague to provincial centres. . . des Graz may well claim it as a feather in his cap that he was the first to introduce this fascinating pastime to their notice.”
The question arises: Was this really an introduction or merely a reintroduction after a sleep of centuries to Dutch Rip van Winkles?
H. Rumbold, Final recollections of a Diplomatist - 1905
Herkomst: archive.org
Beschrijving: Horace Rumbold (ere-voorzitter van de Hague Golf Club) o.a. over de introductie van golf in Den Haag
Transcript (p. 250-251):
It was about this time that, feeling very depressed over my diplomatic prospects, I was induced by des Graz, the kindest-hearted of men, to try for distraction the game of golf, which he had lately introduced at The Hague, and which has proved a solace to men in far greater trouble than mine. Although we never became proficient at golf, both my wife and I took to it very kindly, and drove most days to the ninehole links which Baron de Brienen had laid out round his picturesque race-course at Clingendaal. Many an exhilarating game did we play, losing innumerable balls in a certain rough wood by the fifth hole, and in the ditches that intersect the links. How well I recollect it all, and how delightful was the fresh, salt air blowing in from the downs close by Golf became quite the rage in Dutch society at this time, and the fashion extended from The Hague to provincial centres. A pretty club-house was put up at Clingendaal, and we had interesting competitions - in which Mile. Daisy de Brienen distinguished herself, as did also my gunner - son and cheery club luncheons, where as Honorary President of the Club I had sometimes to take the chair. Des Graz, who had made himself an exceptional position among the best people at The Hague, may well claim it as a feather in his cap that he was the first to introduce this fascinating pastime to their notice.
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Beschrijving: Horace Rumbold (ere-voorzitter van de Hague Golf Club) o.a. over de introductie van golf in Den Haag
Transcript (p. 250-251):
It was about this time that, feeling very depressed over my diplomatic prospects, I was induced by des Graz, the kindest-hearted of men, to try for distraction the game of golf, which he had lately introduced at The Hague, and which has proved a solace to men in far greater trouble than mine. Although we never became proficient at golf, both my wife and I took to it very kindly, and drove most days to the ninehole links which Baron de Brienen had laid out round his picturesque race-course at Clingendaal. Many an exhilarating game did we play, losing innumerable balls in a certain rough wood by the fifth hole, and in the ditches that intersect the links. How well I recollect it all, and how delightful was the fresh, salt air blowing in from the downs close by Golf became quite the rage in Dutch society at this time, and the fashion extended from The Hague to provincial centres. A pretty club-house was put up at Clingendaal, and we had interesting competitions - in which Mile. Daisy de Brienen distinguished herself, as did also my gunner - son and cheery club luncheons, where as Honorary President of the Club I had sometimes to take the chair. Des Graz, who had made himself an exceptional position among the best people at The Hague, may well claim it as a feather in his cap that he was the first to introduce this fascinating pastime to their notice.
De Corinthian (19250100 (1))
Bijschrijving: o.a. E. Cremers, Mr. A.A. Del Court van Krimpen †
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