Sir Michael Bonallack passes away aged 88
Sir Michael Bonallack OBE (left), then playing captain, is presented with the Walker Cup after Great Britain and Ireland’s success at St Andrews in 1971 (Photo credit The R&A)
GBN: Sir Michael Bonallack, Britain’s most successful amateur golfer of the post-war era, and one of golf’s most pre-eminent administrators, passed away on September 26 in St Andrews, Scotland at the age of 88.
Born in Chigwell, Essex, in 1934, Bonallack first showed an aptitude for golf on a family holiday to Devon when, at the age of 10, his parents spotted his skill while playing around on the beach. He was given membership at Chigwell Golf Club and began to receive coaching from the club pro. A few years later, while still a junior, he joined Thorpe Hall Golf Club and shortly after won his first significant amateur title – the 1952 British Boys. He won the Essex County Championship in 1954, aged 20, and went on to win the title 10 more times, the last in 1972.
The winner of countless elite level amateur tournaments and championships throughout his golfing career, Bonallack’s CV included five British Amateur titles between 1951-70 and five English Amateur titles. He was also a four-time English stroke-play champion.
He played in 11 Open Championships, winning the Silver Medal as the leading amateur in 1968 and 1971, and finishing a career high 11th in 1959. He also played in the US Masters three times (’66, ’69 and ’70), missing the cut on each occasion.He represented GB&I in six World Amateur Team Championships, the last three outings as captain, and he tied for the Individual title with American Vinny Giles in 1968. He was a member of the Walker Cup team in nine consecutive years from 1957 and captained the team to success in the event at St Andrews in 1971. In total, he played in 131 matches in England internationals, winning 79 of them.
His services to golf continued after his playing heyday and he was chairman of the European Tour from 1976-82 and held the same role at the Golf Foundation between 1977-82. He was also president of the English Golf Union in 1982 and was appointed Secretary of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1983, a role he held until 1999.
As Secretary for 15 years, Bonallack helped to successfully guide the sport into the 21st Century. “It’s one continual satisfaction to see the way in which golf is developing,” he said. “Obviously, the expansion of The Open and the fact that we can generate money to put back into the development of the game is very satisfying.”
He was also Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews from 1999–2000 and, in 2013, received Honorary Membership.
“I’m extremely proud,” he said. “I feel privileged to have been so closely involved with the club for so much of my life and both it and the town of St Andrews are incredibly dear to me. It has been an honour to serve the Club.”
He also served as President of the Golf Club Managers’ Association (1974–84), Chairman of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland (1976–81), and President of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association – BIGGA – (1999-2016).
