George Brown

GEORGE Brown, who has died aged 77, was a former head greenkeeper at Turnberry and one of the most knowledgeable and respected figures in golf course management.

When the humble caddie master's son was invited to take up the post at Turnberry, it is said he had to consult a map to find out where it was. When he arrived he was put up in the iconic hotel in the only room left due to a refurbishment programme and on looking out the window at Ailsa Craig and Arran he remarked: "This will do me." And so it did.

He started life as a caddie and rose to be one of the most sought after greenkeepers in the country. He chaired several important trade bodies, was universally popular and a highly respected figure with the R&A.

He was, some might say, born into his chosen profession. His father was caddymaster at the famous Prince's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, and his mother was the club cook. His ability to play the game was recognised when he was still a young man. While caddying he had many opportunities to play with members but also got the "good bags" carrying for Lady Astor, the first female MP, and Douglas Bader, the Battle of Britain hero. He later played with him when he visited Turnberry.

The young George was always quizzing the staff at Prince's about grasses, the rough and everything that goes to make up a great course and it was only a matter of time until he joined the greenkeeping staff. His enthusiasm for the game and its traditions set him aside as someone wanting to get on.

He was soon a scratch golfer and a county champion and being able to talk about the game saw him appointed as pro/greenkeeper at Alton Golf Club in Hampshire. Further recognition came his way in the early 70s when he was asked to come back to Prince's as course manager and in 1979 he was appointed to run Broome Park Golf and Country Club.

News of his good work continued to spread and in 1984, he was offered the job of head greenkeeper at Turnberry to oversee the preparation of the Ailsa course for the 1986 Open Championship. This was a challenging task as Turnberry had long been starved of investment, but it was an opportunity he relished and it won him great praise for the way he presented the Ailsa for the championship won by Greg Norman.

He went on to oversee another Open won by Nick Price, 6 Senior British Opens, 2 English Amateur Championships and the 2002 British Ladies Open. During this time the Turnberry owners realised this was certainly one member of staff they could not afford to lose and a new position came his way as director of the Turnberry Estate and Golf Courses.

In all he was to give 25 years of his life passionately caring for the fabric of The Ailsa, Kintyre and Arran Courses. It also afforded him the opportunity to be ambassador for Turnberry, an honour which involved many overseas trips. He greatly enjoyed mixing and playing with important hotel guests and of course in the company of many members who soon became lifelong friends.

Saturday and Sunday fourballs were a feature of his life and until his health began to fail he was the one to beat. His personality and wit were a feature of his everyday life and when Prince Andrew arrived for the day to play with George, the Prince remarked how lucky George was. Quick as a flash George quipped back "indeed not sir you are the lucky one if it was not for me you would not be allowed to play the course." Bill Clinton also played with George on a visit to Scotland.

Mr Brown cared about all those staff members who worked for him and who never let him down presenting the courses in pristine condition. He took time out to help one or two employees who found themselves with personal problems and even one or two who got the wrong side of the local constabulary. Several had good reason to accept his wise counsel and to many he became a father figure.

Many accolades came his way, one of which was an invitation in 2003 to become chairman of BIGGA, The British International Golf Greenkeeepers Association. This was a difficult time for the association but he succeeded in turning things around and in 2009 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Scroll from BIGGA. It would be fair to say that when fellow professionals recognise you in this way it says it all.

In between his retirement and his move down south last year, he found time to act as a consultant to several local clubs who were experiencing problems and worked with a relatively new course in East Lothian - Archerfield - giving them the benefit of his great expertise and knowledge.

In 2010 he was made an honorary member of Turnberry Golf Club, an honour only bestowed on those who have been in the club for 50 years. The hotel owners even named a room after him, which is used for private dinner parties. In 2013 at the age of 75 he had two holes in one.

He was great company, never short of a humorous story often against himself and on his death, Turnberry members and green staff realised while they could not all go to Kent to pay their respects they would do the next best thing. A tribute gathering was held behind the 18th green and a toast to this fine man was a fitting way for friends to say their goodbyes to the humble caddymaster's son who had personally welcomed and played with statesmen, movie stars, famous sportsmen and business leaders over his pride and joy the Ailsa at Turnberry.

George is survived by Brenda, his wife for 53 years, and by his son Paul and daughter Sarah.

IAIN BROWN