“Let’s play two.”
That was Ernie Banks, greeting the prospect of a doubleheader with the kind of boyish joy he was known to embody. Banks was a ballplayer, of course. But you can imagine how the sentiment might have translated to golf, especially in the company of Walter Hagen.
Hagen, the game’s original showman, approached life with a mix of competitive fire and carefree indulgence. He chased titles, bagging quite a few, including 11 majors, but he also chased experiences, often blurring the line between the two. One afternoon in 1920, having traveled to England’s Kent coast for the Open Championship, he and fellow pro Jim Barnes went all in on Hagen’s carpe diem ethos. They went out for a casual round, then decided that one round wasn’t enough.
Their solution was a rambling, fence-hopping odyssey across three storied links — Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Royal St. George’s Golf Club and Prince’s Golf Club — stringing together 54 holes in a single, freewheeling day that was perfectly on point for the Hagen brand.
More than a century later, that escapade lives on as the Hagen 54, an annual pilgrimage that is both a festive outing and an endurance test. Since its inaugural playing in 2025, the event has found a robust audience. The 2026 iteration is already sold out.
But entries are now open for the 2027 edition. The core golf format remains unchanged since Hagen and Barnes blazed their exuberant trail — 54 holes in one continuous push across the three courses — but modern comforts have been added, with caddies, sustenance and camaraderie carrying players from one property to the next. It’s golf on world-class venues, with on-course catering and someone to carry your bag if you’d like.
The 2027 event will take place July 21–22 on the Kent coast. Participants arrive on the evening of July 21 for a welcome reception and BBQ at Royal Cinque Ports, with optional golf that day at Prince’s or Royal Cinque Ports for those who want to warm up. The main event begins the following morning with a 5:40 a.m. shotgun start, playing in fourballs across the Hagen Route. It makes for an exhausting but exhilarating day. The entry fee is £1,125 per person (about $1,500) or £4,500 (about $6,000) for a foursome.
Additional details are available here.
