George Small

Died: September 11, 2015

George Small, who has died aged 87, was a well known figure in the Borders golf world, and was one of the last of the greenkeeper/golf professionals, a combination of roles virtually unheard of today. He was a member of the Professional Golfers' Association [PGA] for 50 years - the last 25 as an honorary member - and as such, was one of their longest serving members.

His brother Elliot, a former greenkeeper for 39 years, remarked, "George must have been one of the last of the greenkeeper/professionals - I think by the 1970s they were dying out. He was 30 years at Ladhope in Galashiels and in fact succeeded our father Robert who was there in the same capacity for 32 years.

"I'm always careful to refer to them as golf professionals as opposed to professional golfers, who, to me, are tournament players. I spent latterly almost 30 years at Tulliallan golf club and my son Craig has now been a greenkeeper for 30 years, the last 19 at Wentworth. So you could say we've had a family dynasty connected to golf as I reckon we have so far accumulated over 140 years' service to the game."

Further underlining the family's affinity to golf, a sister Jessie was an accomplished amateur player.

George Small was born in the hamlet of Drumeldrie near Elie when his father was a greenkeeper at Lundin Links. Shortly after, the family moved to the Ladhope course when his father secured the post of greenkeeper/professional there in 1928 and George succeeded him in 1960. After his father retired, he emigrated to Invercargill, New Zealand where he was a golf instructor and following his death his ashes were returned to be buried at Ladhope.

Although there was almost an inevitability about George following in his father's footsteps, having been brought up at the Ladhope course, he spent the first 10 years of his working life as a railway fireman from the age of 15 onwards, based in Arbroath and employed by LNER. It was hard work carried out in cramped spaces and he and his colleagues had to contend with extremes of temperature often in a smoke filled atmosphere.

By 1952, Mr Small decided it was time to swap the unpleasant confines of the steam train for the wide open spaces of the golf course and he started work as a greenkeeper. The year before he had married Rosemary Halls from Galashiels, but the happy marriage was to be tragically cut short.

His first posting was to Buchanan Castle golf club at Drymen where he was assistant to well known greenkeeper Willie Bradford. By coincidence another former railway fireman was the tournament professional there - Eric Brown, one of Scotland's best known golfers.

In 1953 at Glenbervie, Mr Small won the scratch trophy at the annual Scottish Greenkeepers' Association championship, while another brother Alex won the handicap event, a double that has never since been repeated. Mr Small was a gifted golfer when younger, playing off a 1 handicap before turning professional. As time went on he had less opportunity to play, although he used to compete regularly in the Scottish Professional championship and East of Scotland Alliance competitions.

In the mid 1950s he moved to Dunbar golf club, initially as assistant greenkeeper before being promoted to head greenkeeper and club professional and then on to Ladhope.

Being greenkeeper/professional entailed much multi tasking for Mr Small, with his wife's assistance, as he had responsibility for course maintenance, clubhouse duties, running the professional's shop, doing club repairs and giving lessons. Living onsite at the course meant these duties were effectively 24/7. By 1965 he was elected to membership of the PGA and he and his wife were also busy bringing up a family. Sadly in 1968, Rosemary suffered a brain haemorrhage and died. This was an enormous blow to the whole family and Mr Small was left with the responsibility of bringing up six children. That he did so successfully while holding down a demanding job is testament to his worth and a lasting tribute to him.

Andrew Wayness, the Ladhope treasurer, recalled, "George was very obliging and well respected. The course was always kept in very good condition and over the years he made a number of improvements. As a teacher, he had lots of patience."

On his retiral, the local council who owned the course granted Mr Small free use of it in perpetuity, stating in a letter that "in the event of any over zealous official questioning his entitlement, all he had to do was produce the letter." The Galashiels golf club, based at Ladhope, awarded him life membership and in January 1990 he was made an honorary member of the PGA. This distinction was accorded him for services developing golf in the local community and was an honour only rarely handed out.

In retirement, as well as supporting Gala rugby club, Mr Small played golf regularly in the company of lifelong friend Bert Hood. "Our fathers had served together in the First World War and we were childhood friends. We played each week and when the Ladhope became too hilly for us we played the nine-hole course at Lilliardsedge, Jedburgh, which suited us as it was flat. He was looked on as a kind of father figure there and was always generous with his advice, if asked, on greenkeeping and golf swings. He truly loved his golf - on being told something at a medical consultation months before he died, his first question was,'Can I carry on playing golf?'"

Mr Small is survived by sons David, Neil and Keith, daughters Susan, Alison and Elaine, brother Elliot, sister Jessie, several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

JACK DAVIDSON

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