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              Celebrating 80 years  1938 – 2018

FEBRUARY 2018 – NEWSLETTER

AGW GOLF OUTINGS – APRIL 23rd  – Important Notice.

As advised in January’s newsletter the AGW was set to tee-up at Panmure on Monday April, 23rd to contest the Presidents Putter.

Since this arrangement, AGW Golf Captain Peter Dixon and myself learned a Senior Open Championship media day is to be held on the Old Course at St. Andrews that same day.

Panmure was informed and with a request if we could possibly move the outing to late on Wednesday July 18 and the eve of The Open that would also accommodate many of our US-based members attending The Open but then Panmure advised it is booked solid that day.

Gordon Simpson is co-ordinating the Senior Open media day at St. Andrews and the AGW will move the staging of the 2018 Presidents Putter to this day.

Arrangements remain unchanged for the R & A Salver to be played on Tuesday, 24th April in conjunction with the R & As media outing at Carnoustie that day.

Both Gordon and Mary Flanagan (R & A) will shortly be emailing invitations.

I hope this news has not caused too much inconvenience to those who have already booked hotels in the Panmure/Carnoustie region.

EAMONN POWER – Passes away

Sadly, and so soon after the passing of Mickey Britten, and the AGW lost another of our Spanish-based members in Eamonn Power.

Ireland-born Eamonn, who was 77 when he died late last month, became a member of the AGW in 2005 and resided in Malaga.

Members will remember Eamonn just as he is dressed in the accompanying photograph also looking resplendent in coat and Open Championship tie.  He attended The Open on 11 occasions from 1997 up to an including 2012 representing Andalucia Golf who kindly forwarded me the photograph.

Eamonn Power passes away January 2018

Eamonn Power passes away January 2018

Fellow AGW members Dermot Gilleece, Norman Dabell and Isabel Trillo have kindly paid formal tribute to Eamonn.

Maria Acacia López-Bachiller, who knew Jeff Kelly, Mickey Britten and Eamonn so well, has expressed her condolences.

Eamonn Power, who died recently in Spain, was originally a Dublin accountant who turned to golf journalism when he moved to the Costa del Sol about 25 years ago. He had been a member of Clontarf GC where he often filled the role of a rules official.

His move to Spain coincided with an involvement with the British company, Barrett Homes, for whom he organised customer pro-ams on the Costa. In the course of this work, he became friendly with Jeff Kelly, the editor of Andalucia Golf. Gradually, he began contributing golf-course critiques to the magazine and when Jeff died, he took over as editor.

He was a keen golfer, though not a particularly good one and was noted for his cack-handed grip, as in the left hand below the right. He became an enthusiastic member of the AGW and made frequent trips to the Open Championship. He had been married in Dublin but the marriage broke down and, to my knowledge, his wife, Aine, pre-deceased him. He leaves a daughter.

 Eamonn was 77 when he died and was buried on the Costa .. Dermot Gilleece

Eamonn was a good friend to all, ready with a handy little tit-bit about the goings on with the Tour’s Spanish players. This was especially useful in the days when there were frequent events on the Costa del Sol. He had his finger on the pulse with Jeff Kelly and kept us in touch, for instance, with the local angles during the saga over Miguel Martin being dropped from the Ryder Cup team.

Eammon loved being part of the AGW scene and was always delighted to be included in the bigger picture with events like the Open and especially when Seve’s heroes did for the US in the Ryder Cup on his home patch in 1997.

He had a lovely droll sense of humour and this was demonstrated admirably after he and I played one of the new, rather baffling, Costa del Sol courses which cost us about a dozen balls between us. He’d been asked to do a review on the layout and suggest any improvements. I understand he told the owners the view was magnificent but perhaps they should think about turning the course the other way round  … Norman Dabell

Eamonn was a lovely person.  Jeff Kelly and Eamon were the first to congratulate me when I became a member (1996) of the AGW. Eamonn explained to me what a great thing it was to become a member of the Association. I am so sad and condolences to his family … Isabel Trillo

Very sorry to learn the very sad news about Eamonn.  He was a true gentleman .. Maria Acacia.

AGW FEES NOW DUE

Members are reminded that the 2018 subscriptions are now due. Anyone requiring information on how to pay should contact treasurer Peter Higgs on email hidden; JavaScript is required

CELEBRATING THE AGWs 80th ANNIVERSARY

As promised in January’s AGW newsletter here is another wonderful AGW photograph from the past.

Taken in 1962 at Penina GC, Portugual it features AGW members (left to right) Peter Ryde (joined AGW 1954), Donald Steel (1962) and Leonard Crawley (1945)

AGW Chairman Michael Williams pesents Jack NIckluas with a commemorative sterling ink well to celebrate the AGWs 50th anniversary in 1988.

AGW Chairman Michael Williams pesents Jack NIckluas with a commemorative sterling ink well to celebrate the AGWs 50th anniversary in 1988.

Letter from Jacki Nicklaus thanking the AGW Chairman Michael Williams for the gift of an nk well to celebrate the AGWs 50th anniversary in 1988.

Letter from Jacki Nicklaus thanking the AGW Chairman Michael Williams for the gift of an nk well to celebrate the AGWs 50th anniversary in 1988.

MASTERS ACCOMMODATION

Simon Lewis advises he has very good accommodation available for the up-coming Masters at Augusta.

It is a two-bedroomed house just off Washington Road close to I20 in a small gated community, Charleston Drive. The house has parking for two cars and the landlord is asking for $3000 for a 7-day rental, although you could arrive the Sunday before and stay eight nights.

And Simon advises there may be other houses on the street that may be available. Anyone interested can contact the owner Loren Hartley direct at email hidden; JavaScript is required

US OPEN MEDIA DETAILS – Media Outing, Accommodation, Media Centre

Media outing – Set for Monday 21st May at Shinnecock Hills.

Media accommodation – The official hotel is Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino in Islandia, New York and about a 30/40-minute bus ride and with wifi to be installed on all shuttle buses.  Accreditation will open in March and with all details of hotel arrangements and parking.

Media Centre – I had a good chat with USGA Press Officer, Pete Kowalski during the recent Pebble Beach Pro-Am and there will be new seating arrangements for the UK/Irish/European media and this following numerous complaints regarding the undue noise being generated by local TV in the area ‘we’ were seated at Erin Hills.

In short, the UK/Irish/European media will be moved to in front of the main TV screen and scoring.

Pete was fully aware of the many complaints his Erin Hill team received while AGW Committee member, Phil Casey has to be thanked for his input in this matter.

Also, Pete advised the media centre will be located down the first fairway, so it is going to be around a 5/10-minute walk back-and-from the ‘flash’ area.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – Media Accommodation Deadline.

A reminder media accommodation for this year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie closes Friday, 9th March.

Attached is the form you will to complete and it should be returned direct to Mary Flanagan at the R & A.at email address:  email hidden; JavaScript is required

The hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from Carnoustie and there will coach transfers to and from the course (two morning departure times from the hotel and two evening departure times from the course).

WENTWORTH LUNCHEON AND GOLF – Celebration of AGWs 80th.

Stephen Gibson, CEO at the Wentworth Club has kindly extended an invitation to help the AGW celebrate its 80th anniversary with the offer of a luncheon and also golf on the famed West Course.

No date has been set but I will advise members once all details are known.

GOLF  – Week of The Open.

Scott Peddie with Performance 54 PR advises members of the AGW have been extended an invitation to play golf at Fairmont St. Andrews during the week of The Open at Carnoustie.

The golf will be complimentary to any AGW member. You can contact Scott at email – email hidden; JavaScript is required">email hidden; JavaScript is required

PETER GODSIFF CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY

AGW member Peter Godsiff celebrated his 80th birthday on 11th February and with many members paying tribute and extending their congratulations to Peter.

Rob Perkins provides a full repot of Peter’s birthday and you can read how Peter celebrated and the AGW tributes to him by clicking on the following link:-

https://www.agwgolf.org/peter-godsiff-celebrates-80th-birthday-agw-members-pay-tribute/

Here is a photo of Peter (right) celebrating with his Farrington GC buddies.

Peter’s 80th - Fellow Farrington (left to right) Ron Grew, Tim Pierce, Paul Harwood and Peter Godsiff.

Peter’s 80th – Fellow Farrington (left to right) Ron Grew, Tim Pierce, Paul Harwood and Peter Godsiff.

BOB WILKINSON – Passes Away

Many of the more senior AGW members would have known Bob Wilkinson, a very good friend of the AGW, and who passed away on January 22nd.

Bob Wilkinson - Passed away January 2018

AGW member, Mitchell Platts has penned a wonderful tribute to Bob and you can read the tribute by clicking on this link:-

https://www.agwgolf.org/bob-wilkinson-passes-away-tribute-by-mitchell-platts/

MALCOLM MASON – Passes Away.

There will be many AGW members also again sad to learn of the passing of renowned European Tour caddy, Malcolm Mason.

Malcolm Mason caddying for Danny Willett in hhe 2011 Andalucia Masters

Malcolm Mason caddying for Danny Willett in hhe 2011 Andalucia Masters

Of course, Malcolm was not a member of the AGW but there will be so many members who, like myself, befriended Malcolm and also benefitted so much from his tournament input.

Norman Dabell has penned a tribute to Malcolm and you read this by clicking on the link:-

https://www.agwgolf.org/popular-caddy-malcolm-mason-passes-away/

 

Bernie McGuire,

Secretary.