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 Press Golf Society Hall of Fame.

 I would be most grateful to receive from members any contributions that they may have to add to this page.Some very famous names have belonged to this Society and it would be fitting to see their stories here.

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Fred Daly, 1947 British Open winner.

Fred Daly won the Open Championship in 1947 and, had it not been for the Second World War, would undoubtedly have won more honours. As it is he is the only Irishman, so far, to have won the Open. He was brought up on links golf, born at Portrush in 1911 where his father, an artisan member, gave him a set of cut down clubs at the the age of three. His first professional post was assistant at Mahee Island in 1927. He became full professional here the following year and paid tribute to what he learned from the course. "Coming from links golf at Portrush, I needed parkland experience and it was at Mahee that I gained my confidence to vary my game to suit any terrain." It was here he perfected his lofted cut-up, "There came a stage when I could pop ball after ball into a hole halfway up one of the trees on the course". It was while he was attached to the Balmoral club that his best championship performances came. In difficult conditions at Hoylake in 1947, Daly opened with rounds of 73 and 70 but then shot a 78 on the morning of the final day. His final round in the afternoon (none of this namby pamby one round a day stuff then) was a 72 and, with the weather deteriorating, he was back in with a shout. One by one the challengers fell away until Frank Stranahan needed to hole his second on the last to force a play-off. He very nearly did, his ball coming to rest a few inches from the hole but victory was Daly's. Those who muttered that he had been lucky might consider his record in the subsequent Open championships: 2nd in 1948, the year of Cotton's third triumph; third in 1950 and 1952; and 4th in 1951. He was also played in all four Ryder cups from 1947 until 1953. Between 1936 and 1958 he was Ulster Professional Champion 11 times and won the Irish Open in 1946. In 1947, 1958 and 1962 he was British PGA matchplay champion.

PGS Past President Fred Daly.
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Click to visit Royal Liverpool G.C.

Fred receives the Claret Jug at Hoylake 1947.
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Click image to visit the Open.

Brum Henderson

    It is with great sadness that the Society has to report the death of long-time member Brum Henderson. While many of us have played interesting games of golf with Brum, I have to say I always found him to be very good company. My fondest memory of him was how he came to the Society’s assistance in 1986 when we wanted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Fred Daly’s, our then president, winning of The Open at Royal Liverpool. Brum sponsored the event and organised a camera crew to film it. We even brought Harry Bradshaw over from Portmarnock for the event. Fred and the Brad had prepared for the 1946 Open that year by playing in a number of tournaments in Britain, finishing up with the Greater Manchester Open, from which they travelled to Royal Liverpool together. For our commemorative visit, the Hoylake council played its part in granting Fred honorary life membership. Would anyone who was there forget the occasion?

                   by John Devine.

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Vice-President Jack Magowan

Vice-President Jack Magowan


Northern Ireland sports journalism has lost one of its acknowledged master craftsmen with the death, after a short illness, yesterday of Jack Magowan, distinguished former Belfast Telegraph boxing and golf correspondent. He was 79.

Tributes, fulsome and admiring, have poured in from sporting officials and personalities throughout the UK and correspondents covering the US Masters at Augusta National, Georgia. They all revealed not only the deep affection in which he was held but recognised his professional expertise, his passion and conviction for sport

Jack Magowan was the ultimate all-round journalist with a capacity to write entertainingly in a Damon Runyonesque lets-publish-and-be damned style, and he also possessed the technological ability to design and edit award winning pages.

He was unquestionably the most accomplished Irish boxing writer of his generation — acerbic, fearless yet fair in his criticism, be they amateur or professional, competitor or official.

He began his newspaper career as a copy boy on the now defunct Northern Whig, nursery for so many who reached the heights in all branches of the local, national and international media. He joined the Belfast Telegraph in November 1950 to become an integral part of an accomplished team that developed a comprehensive world-wide coverage after the sporting stagnation of the Second World War years. As the sports editor I found Jack was an ideal man to have in your corner until his retirement in September 1991, although he continued to produce outstanding columns. “Retirement is not on my radar screen,” he said.

His knowledge of boxing was unsurpassed, his research and archival facilities the envy of competitors. A member of the British Boxing Writers Association he had a special friendship with Reg Gutteridge, ITV commentator and for years the London Evening News boxing writer, and Harry Carpenter of the BBC, both of whom accepted his ability to “read” fights.

One of his sports writing heroes was the American Paul Gallico, a supreme wordsmith, and he repeatedly quoted his comment: “You talk of the golden age I was writing about. It is a golden age now. Cassius Clay is every bit as colourful as Dempsey; Lee Trevino could upstage Walter Hagen. It is one of the tragedies that the golden age we so rarely recognise is the one that we’re actually living through.”

Golf, his other addiction, held him in total esteem — so much so he was made an honorary member of many Northern Ireland clubs. He covered more than 30 Open championships, Ryder Cups, United States and European tournaments and, unlike others, he walked round the course to get “the feel”, as he called it, instead of sitting in the media centre collecting data and the interviews.

He was a founder member of the Belfast Press Golf Society of which there are now only two original survivors — Denis O’Hara and Bill Clark — and was a member of the Irish Golf Writers Association.

Behind his straight-from-the-hip approach there was a genuine warmth and friendliness, never a mercenary streak, a feeling for his fellow humans and a generosity in helping causes or those who might have hit hard times.

His life revolved around his family and his devotion to them was remarkable. Every morning for years he would rise at dawn and take his son Simon, a graduate of Edinburgh University, to Campbell College pool as he trained for the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.

Sincere sympathy is extended from all in Northern Ireland sport to his wife Betty, Simon and daughter Jane. We have all lost a wonderful colleague and sport a true friend.

A man missed by all who knew him

Northern Ireland Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke has paid tribute to former Belfast Telegraph golf correspondent Jack Magowan.

Clarke was speaking at the launch of the Magners North of Ireland amateur championship yesterday at Royal Portrush, an event Jack covered for the Telegraph for many, many years.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of Jack’s passing,” he said.“He was a very good man who knew the game inside out and knew what he was writing about.

“Everyone connected to the game here will be sad to hear this news.”

Ivor McCandless, chairman of the Ulster Branch of the GUI, said: “Jack was a great friend to the game of golf and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.”



Well-known Belfast-born golf and boxing writer Jack Magowan has died suddenly at the age of 79.

Jack began work as a sports journalist in the Belfast Telegraph in 1950 and covered mainly boxing, swimming and golf before retiring in 1991.

A member of the Clandeboye and Belvoir Park golf clubs, Jack continued to pen articles and approached them with his usual quirky and well-informed style.

Jack covered numerous Majors and Ryder Cup events as golf correspondent.

He also followed with relish the boxing careers of many of Ulster's best fighters including Freddie Gilroy, John Caldwell, Barry McGuigan, Dave McAuley, Hugh Russell and Wayne McCullough with a few of his own literary punches thrown in for good measure.

Jack also covered numerous Olympic and Commonwealth Games for the Belfast Telegraph where he was known as an excellent journalist and sub-editor who could turn his hand to any sport.

Jack was also personally responsible for the former Ireland's Saturday Night sports edition of the Belfast Telegraph newspaper when it was in its heyday three decades ago.

He was also a founding member of the Belfast Press Golf Society and former chairman of the Irish Golf Writers. His witty metaphors and similes will be missed.

Jack is survived by his wife Betty, son Simon and daughter Jane.





A TRIBUTE TO JACK  DUDDY, SOCIETY VICE-PRESIDENT  


Jack Duddy, who has died at the age of 90, was one of the founding fathers of the Press Golf Society more than 40 years ago and went on to donate trophies to the society and become one of its most respected vice-presidents.


Jack had been the Gallaher PR manager in Northern Ireland and, at the start of the Troubles, was a prime mover in bringing top-class golfers here for the Gallaher Ulster Open.


The tournament was held at Shandon Park from 1965-70, and Malone in 1971. It was something of a benefit for three-time winner Christy O'Connor, and another player to shine was our esteemed president, Norman Drew.


Norman says: "It wasn't easy getting the pros to come to Northern Ireland because of the Troubles, but Jack's persuasiveness and friendly manner achieved the feat.


"He was an absolute gentleman and will be fondly remembered by many people in golf here and further afield." 


Jack, who was a member of the Malone and Royal County Down clubs, was also a great supporter of amateur golf and attended several Walker Cup matches at home and in the United States.


Our deepest sympathy goes to Jack's son, Barry, daughter-in-law Sandra and grandsons Fraser and Raymond. 


Des Magee

John McAviney

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Past Captain John McAviney


 It is with a genuine and deep sense of regret and a very weary heart, that

 I have to inform you of the sad passing of our friend, colleague and former

 Captain John McAviney.

 

  John had been ill for some time and bore the problems and setbacks that

 went with it in his own gutsy style with a fortitude and optimism that was

 astonishing to all. Even this year as he was ill in The Mater Hospital

 Dublin, he confided that he hoped to get to along to Carton House to support

 the Inter-Pro team as he thought it unlikely he would be fit to play.

 

  John was Captain of the society in 1994 - yes, it is that long ago -  and

 in his own words "had a fantastic year, it has been an honour and a pleasure

 to be Captain of this society that is 'well got' everywhere we go.Throughout

 the whole year the friendship and camaraderie I had was brilliant."

  A vote of thanks to John was proposed at the AGM in 1994 by Norman Stockton

 who said he had brought honour to the society and in his 15 month Captaincy

 he'd had to endure many difficulties such as abusive heckling from Des Magee

 and others. He felt John had dealt admirably with such people and he was

 generally a good person- for a Southerner!!

 

  I note from records that John had also hosted his Captain's Day at Clones

 and picked, organised and led the PGS team that entered the Multiple

 Sclerosis charity at Tandragee the same year.

  The following years AGM also contained another gem when John declared,

 during a discussion on the old chestnut 'when's the grub'-  "Ah'm starving,

 I could eat a horse's arse through a wicker chair".  He is also mentioned in

 despatches for his performance at the Inter-Pro competition at Cork in 1991 

where he was the clear individual winner with 44

 points, this was the year that, ably assisted by Ivan McMichael and Cyril

 Troy in second and third places, we won the competition.

 

  I am sorry that I cannot write more on John and would be grateful for

 anything that members wish to contribute, the records do not show when John

 joined the PGS but he was around at the AGM in October of 1991  where he

 signed those in attendance. Indeed the first outing that I can see his name

 at was  Kirkistown on January 13th 1992. He finished as overall runner up

 with 34 points. After that his name appears frequently on the winners

 rostrum as it does against quite a few of the trophy winners.

 

  Being a recent (5 years) member of the Press Golf Society, I have not known

 John as well as most of you would have , when he was a regular face at the

 Society outings. I did get to meet the long talked about and legendary John

 at Portnoo last year and he certainly was the larger than life character

 that I had heard about and a genuinely nice guy with a wicked sense of

 humour.

   He had a good two days at Portnoo when the sun shone and all was well with

 the world, if not the golf. He teamed up with his old friends Deric

 Henderson, Ivan McMichael and Cyril Troy and indeed that unholy quartet

 adorned the front cover of this years fixture list. He told me he had a

 great time and asked for me to send on the pictures that I had taken of

 himself and his pals at Portnoo, which I did.

 

  I also played nine holes with John, Frank Johnston and Peter Russell at

 Knock last year at George Hamilton's Captains day and had an enjoyable time

 before John confided that he felt tired and was going to set off home. That

 was the last time that we saw him.

 

 

   I will be writing to the family on your behalf and I will update you with

 details of the funeral as soon as I get them. A death notice has been placed

 in the Monday edition of the Irish News on your behalf.

 

  Spare a few thoughts and prayers this festive season for John as he would

 have done for you, another passes away of whom we will not see the like of

 again.

  Rest in Peace...................     MGM (Secretary PGS).

 

 


Hi George, 

I texted him a couple of months ago - which I did once or twice

since he became ill, occasionally he would answer and this time he did not.

I told him that recently I had been in Cork and had passed Harbour Point Golf Club.

  I told him that every minute of the second day of the Inter-Pro competition in which I was captain came back that day. I remember standing anxiously by the 18th green awaiting the last couple of cards. Ulster were in the lead but by nothing comfortable. John was, I think, the last but one to come down the 18th in the singles. 

 He hit his second shot to the heart of the green. As he came up on to the green my quizical glance at him to ascertain how he was doing was met with a smile and a double flash of four fingers...... Forty-four points.

   Ulster had won the cup for the second time and by a record margin, then. I can remember eveything about it except the year. The only time previously that Ulster had won was when Brendan McCann had captained the team. 

                        John Devine.

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CCECIL McCAUSLAND

    By his daughter, 

Fiona McCausland


Cecil McCausland was born in Belfast on 15th March 1930. The son of a professional soldier from Beragh, County Tyrone, his early years were spent living in parts of the world such as India, Egypt and Hong King. These early experiences of rich cultural diversity laid the foundations for his future life and his interest in culture history and his talent for a good picture.


On his return to Northern Ireland the family lived in Tyrone before moving to the Shore Road in Belfast. Cecil’s involvement in the Scouting movement led to his involvement with the Patricia Mulholland Irish dancing and a passion for dance which was to last throughout his life.


As part of the Belfast Folk Dance Society and Patricia Mulholland’s Irish Ballet, he was a leading dancer and took part in international Folk Dancing teams. 


His photographic talent was recognised when he started work in the Northern Whig in his twenties. Learning his journalistic craft he joined the Newsletter as a photojournalist but by his late twenties he had become part of the editorial team as a Picture Editor until his retirement in 1995.


This time-frame spanned the period of the Northern Ireland “troubles” which Cecil, supported by his team of photographers including Bob Hamilton, Randal Mulligan, Eddie Harvey and Trevor Dickson chronicled the story of the conflict through their photographs often risking their lives a to bring a story to the public. Cecil was commended for his bravery in driving cars away from the firebombed Newsletter building and was photographed on the roof of the building with a hosepipe trying to put out the fire before the fire brigade arrived.


Cecil also enjoyed opportunities within the Newsletter to seek out stories on the cultural history of Northern Ireland. One of his reminiscences was travelling with a reporter in Fermanagh and discovering the ancient art of Mumming was thriving in the region.


Despite offers of employment from Fleet Street where his talents were widely coveted, he was committed to the Northern Ireland media. His talent and the pivotal role he played within the media was recognised in 1996 by the National Union of Journalists when they bestowed him with an Honorary Life membership.



Throughout his life Cecil balanced his career as a “Newspaperman” with his commitment to looking after his family and his other interests. Cecil met his wife Elma through his love of Scottish Country Dancing and together they began a life partnership.


Following his retirement in 1995 Cecil wasted no time in enjoying his new leisure time travelling across the world to Japan, Australia, America and Canada and through his love of Scottish Dancing, making new friends wherever he went.


His “home” time was committed to his family - his children Fiona and Andrew and his grandchildren Scott, Andrew, Alan, Matthew and Bethany, of whom he was intensely proud.


Cecil was diagnosed in 2010 with leukaemia and despite initially responding well to treatment he died suddenly on 13 April 2011 in the City Hospital, Belfast. The funeral service for Cecil will be held at 10 am at Roselawn Crematoriam on Tuesday 19th April 2011.