COMPARED to the magnificent scenery enjoyed by some of its Open rivals, not even the best friends of Royal Lytham and St Annes could describe its golf course as a beauty.

In terms of the challenge it presents, however, it's definitely a beast, from being the only Open Championship venue to start with a par three right through to the ferocious five - the last few holes which are as daunting a test of nerve as they are of ability.

But Royal Lytham, beauty or beast, has provided incomparable moments of sheer magic.

For me it has become golf's equivalent of Wembley - a venue of legends.

Three visions in particular stand out in the memory, the first being particularly poignant as it prompted my own "conversion" on the road to golf's Damascus.

The year was 1969, my interest in the game was peripheral to say the least.

But Tony Jacklin's triumph, the first by a British player for 18 years, was enough to make me, and I suspect many thousands of others, to think afresh about what was long since cynically described as a long walk spoiled.

Jacklin became an instant hero and, when he then became the first British player since Harry Vardon to hold Open and US Open titles at the same time, what joy the TV pictures transmitted.

Personally, from the moment the Lytham crowds cheered Jacko as he collected the famous claret jug, I was hooked - on golf.

And developed a hook! But that's another story for another time...

Since then I have travelled to see the Open, on both sides of the border, numerous times and almost always found time to follow Jacklin for a few holes, reliving the memories but without quite being able to recapture the magic.

Ten years on from '69, however, and a new hero emerged with Royal Lytham again the place to witness the start of a fresh and exciting era.

Seve Ballesteros became the king of the car park when his ball landed under a vehicle.

Needless to say, the smiling Spaniard still floated a wedge to the green, sank the putt and laughed all the way to the title, without even picking up a parking ticket.

Another legend was born.

Last, but by no means least, was the sight of Accrington's Trevor Foster atop the leaderboard in 1988 - albeit temporarily as Seve was back in business with a vengeance.

Trevor recently described the experience as "spine-tingling" but I wonder if he has ever realised just how much pleasure it gave to the legions of East Lancashire golf followers to see "one of our own" making an impact on the game's greatest tournament.

The Venue of Legends - with apologies to Wembley - is back in business this week.

Will 96 throw up a new name and feat to add to the memory banks?

I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.