The 80th anniversary AGW Annual Dinner was a resounding success with close to 70 AGW members and 190 guests in attendance on the night of Tuesday 17th July at Carnoustie.
Guests gathered in the Links Pavilion at Carnoustie to be greeted by a wonderful table arrangement featuring a superb 80th anniversary menu arranged and printed by Mike Harris and his team at Golf Monthly.
There were gifts of a HSBC note pad, a three-bottle Loch Lomond Whisky pack and Loch Lomond Whisky pavilion visitors wrist armband along with a very vivid Volvik three golf ball pack and this with thanks to Volvik and John Collard at Sports Impact.
On show, and clearly a source of attraction ahead of the dinner, was the famed Claret Jug and the Amateur Championship trophy. The AGW was fortunate to have two Open Champions in attendance in Gary Player and Ernie Els.
We had the pleasure of hosting a third South African in the reigning Amateur Champion, Jovan Rebula who is a nephew to Ernie and was residing the week of The Open at the Els rented house.
Ernie Els and his nephew, Jorvan Rebula.
An historic all-South African photograph by Dave Cannon of Ernie Els, Selwyn Nathan (Sunshine Tour Commissioner), Gary Player and Jorvan Rebula.
Allan Heron, and a member of the AGW since 1959, accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth and son, Lindsay.
Gary Player, who was celebrating 50 years since he won the 1968 Open at Carnoustie, addressed the dinner beforehand and pointing out his long-time relationship with the media.
Champion Gary Player speaks of his long-time relationship with the media as AGW Chairman, Iain Carter looks on. (Photo with thanks to David Cannon)
And ahead of the awards presentation, R & A CEO Martin Slumbers surprised the AGW with a special presentation to the Association to mark our 80th anniversary.
Martin Slumbers with Iain Carter and presenting the Association with a silver plate to mark the AGWs 80th anniversary. (Photo with thanks to David Cannon)
The AGW honoured Masters champion, Sergio Garcia as the 2017 ‘AGW Golfer of the Year’ along with presenting European Tour Chief Referee, John Paramor with the AGWs ‘Outstanding Services to Golf’ award’ and four-time Major winning Ernie Els with the ‘Arnold Palmer Open’ Award.
The AGW awards (left to right) – The Michael Williams Outstanding Services to Golf award, the AGW Golfer of the Year trophy and the Arnold Palmer Open trophy.
AGW Chairman Iain Carter hands the AGW Golfer of the Year trophy to Sergio Garcia. (Photo – David Cannon)
Sergio, and in the presence of his wife and management team, was clearly delighted to accept a second ‘AGW Golfer of the Year’ award in his career and having first being honoured in 1999.
And there was no hiding John Paramor’s peasure while Ernie Els was equally thrilled.
AGW Chairman Iain Carter with Roddy Williams, and the son of the AGWs much-respected Michael Williams, who hands the award to the European Tour’s Chief Referee, John Paramor. (Photo with thanks to David Cannon)
Iain prefaced his introduction of handing John his award by suggesting you may get stopped for speeding on the highway but John was a person to book you for going slow.
Four-time Major winning Ernie Els speaks of his fond relationship with the media. (Photo with thanks to David Cannon)
Ernie spoke of his early contact with the AGW and that being when he first came to compete in Europe in the early 1990s and taking-up the offer to reside in the Wentworth region with then AGW Secretary, Renton Laidlaw but wondering after nearly 30-years whether or not he paid any rent to Renton.
Renton’s sister, Jennifer who also attended the dinner confirmed ‘No, he did not!’
Ernie Els and his wife join Renton Laidlaw at his table and with Renton’s sister, Jennifer proudly by Renton’s side. (Photo with thanks to David Cannon)
And in speaking of Renton, it was wonderful to see our past President, Chairman and Secretary make the effort to attend the dinner and in the company of his wonderful sister, Jennifer.
The AGW can be very proud of our Chairman, Iain Carter who again acted as MC and with many of the ‘thank you’ emails received since the dinner praising Iain and the bright and bubbly format of the evening.
‘Famed’ Royal Portrush Secretary, Wilma Erskine catching-up with Kingsbarns Links CEO Alan Hogg at the AGWs annual dinner.
This was no more highlighted in Iain’s chat with 1999 Open joint runner-up Jean Van DeVelde who was a guest of the AGW, and with Jean pointing out that while he did not get his name on the claret jug, his name does appear at Carnoustie and saying how delighted he was whoever wrote it into the Barry Burn brickwork ‘spelt it correctly’.
Jean Van DeVelde chatting with annual dinner MC and AGW Chairman, Iain Carter. (Photo with thanks David Cannon)
Jean Van DeVelde chatting with annual dinner MC and AGW Chairman, Iain Carter. (Photo with thanks David Cannon)
Of course, a lot of hard work went into arranging the dinner and the AGW is very grateful for the invaluable work of Dinner Secretary, Trevor Peake who handled the role admirably and without fuss.
Thank you as well to AGW Treasurer, Peter Higgs and also Andy Farrell.
The AGW now looks forward to our 2019 annual dinner at Royal Portrush.
Recent Comments