Burch Riber, who has died, aged 87, was a wonderful supporter of the Association of Golf Writers – he attended many of our Annual Dinners – and he forged many special and lasting friendships with countless Members especially during the 15 years when he was at the helm of the World Cup of Golf as the Executive Director of the International Golf Association.
Those Members who knew Burch will remember him fondly as the most convivial (and dangerous!) of hosts who would thoroughly enjoy a small refreshment – Grappa or ‘The Grappa’ as he called it was one of his favourite tipples – into the early hours discussing the game of golf or, of course, horse racing which with golf was his other great sporting passion.
Indeed it was my good fortune to go racing with Burch from West Coast – Del Mar in San Diego – to East Coast – the Breeders Cup at Belmont Park – although my favourite memory is of taking him to the Cheltenham Festival and enjoying a pint (maybe more) in the Guinness Village. Burch loved Guinness and I know he was frustrated not to be able to take the World Cup of Golf to Ireland in the Millennium.
Renton Laidlaw, our former President and Chairman, led the tributes: “International businessman Burch Riber loved golf and especially his trans-Atlantic friendships with members of the Association of Golf Writers. Although based in America, he was a popular entrepreneur for The European Tour.
“Golf was important to him in his business dealings as was his passionate enjoyment of horse racing in his leisure time.
“Burch lived life to the full. He was a true-blue enthusiast whose glass was always half full. His extrovert character and friendly personality ensured that anyone fortunate to know and work with him enjoyed the experience. Like so many of his colleagues and friends I shall miss him deeply.”
Burch’s role as Executive Director of the IGA ran from 1985 to 1999 at venues in Australia, China, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Spain, South Africa, South America and the United States. In fact, he managed professional golf tournaments on every continent bar one.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he initially worked with Taft Broadcasting during which time he was proud to become in 1973 the first administrator to organise a professional golf tournament in ‘his’ City – the Ohio Kings Island Open – where he went on to run tournaments for 27 years with the LPGA Championship and the Kroger Senior Open. He was also the General Manager of the Jack Nicklaus Golf Centre, and his friendship with Jack lasted his lifetime.
Burch also became a familiar figure on The European Tour after he introduced Pfizer, the research-based global pharmaceutical company, as a Ryder Cup sponsor starting with the 34th edition at The Belfry in 2002. The Riber Sports Marketing Group, the company he founded in 1983, co-ordinated the Pfizer Heathcare Units which greatly enhanced the tented villages at numerous European Tour venues and offered valuable advice to players, media, the public and officials.
Sam Riber, Burch’s son and the President of the Riber Sports Marketing Group, informed me on Sunday of Burch’s passing and I have conveyed on behalf of the Membership the condolences of the Association of Golf Writers to Charlotte, Burch’s wife, their daughters, Susie and Connie, and, of course, Sam.
* With great thanks to Mitchell Platts
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