In Memorium

The Ayrshire Golf weblog can be accessed at www.ayrshiregolf.blogspot.com

The Associaion Secretary, Alasdair Malcolm, can be contacted at: Post – 17 Auchincruive Avenue, Prestwick, KA9 2DT E-Mail – ayrshire.golf@binternet.com Telephone – 01292 477657 Mobile - 07912 026341

In Memorium

As we look back over 2021, we remember friends and golfing colleagues who are no longer with us.

Bert Ferguson, a regular in the Ayrshire County team for many years, passed away on Saturday the 25th of September 2021, at the age of 67. A Past Captain and Club Champion of the Troon Welbeck club, and laterly a member of Royal Troon, where he was also Club Champion on two occasions, Bert was an BERT FERGUSON

excellent golfer, and also excelled at football, playing professionally for Ayr United, St Mirren, where he was Sir Alex Ferguson’s first signing, and Stranraer. Ater moving to the junior ranks, he also became a Scoish Junior internaionalist. Though he never captured any of the Ayrshire golf itles, Bert regularly featured in the later stages of county compeiions. He was one of those players who was a mainstay of the county team for many seasons, could always be relied on to step up and play for the county team whenever requested, and could always be relied on to give 100% at all imes. A long term resident of Troon, Bert established a successful construcion business, and was well known in Ayrshire golfing circles, and beyond, as a fine golfer who was great company both on and off the course. The golfing community in Ayrshire and far beyond were stunned and shocked by the unimely death, on Wednesday the 8th of December 2021, of Pure Forged Golf owner and Master Clubmaker Jamie McCormack, at the all too early age of 51. Jamie was brought up in Ayr, where he atended Mainholm Academy. He began his golfing development at Ayr Dalmilling and became an accomplished golfer, taking part in county events on a regular basis, reaching the semi-finals of the 2004 Ayrshire Champion of Champions trophy compeiion, losing out to the eventual winner Tommy McInally. Since establishing Pure Forged Golf around 2003, Jamie and his wife Lynne worked hard to establish the company as the first choice company for premium, custom JAMIE McCORMACKmade, golf clubs in the country. Jamie became a member of Irvine Golf Club and was a regular supporter of compeiions and events at his home club and beyond, and in recent years took much pride in following the developing golfing skills of his young son, also Jamie, as a member of the successful Irvine Golf Club junior secion, oten seen on the course supporing the juniors at team matches and always willing to chat about anything golf related, to friends and strangers alike. Described simply by many friends and acquaintances as simply ‘a great guy,’ Jamie’s skills as a clubmaker, and more importantly his friendship and easy going, affable, demeanour, will be sadly missed by many from the golfing world and elsewhere.

In Memorium (contd)

The Ayrshire golfing community was dealt another sad blow on Monday the 20th of December 2021, with the passing of Ayr Dalmilling Golf Club's Secretary Robert D. Green, at the age of 84. Robert was well known on county golfing circles, a much respected club official who had served his home club in various capaciies over a considerable number of years, most notably as Club Secretary in recent imes. A skilled organiser, Robert was well liked in his home club and far beyond, being described by many as one of life's true gentlemen, a club legend and simply Mr. Ayr Dalmilling. A firm supporter of all aspects of the club, of which he was one of the founder

ROBERT D. GREEN members in 1961, he enjoyed the success of young club golfers and club teams alike, over the years. He took considerable pride in seeing his club team win the inaugural Ayrshire handicap League Championship in 2017 and was present both on the day and at the following Ayrshire Golf Associaion annual dinner, where he was a regular atender over many years, to see the team receive the championship trophy. Although he had some health issues in recent imes, Robert's dedicaion to looking ater the interests of the membership of the Dalmilling club never wavered, and he coninued to look ater all the club maters unil his sad passing. A shining example of the brand of unsung hero that every golf club needs to flourish.