Former AGW Chairman Derek Lawrenson heads into retirement after 40 proud years reporting on golf and he used this year’s 150th Open to end a career that included be present at some 145 major championships and 18 Ryder Cups.
Derek recalled first setting foot on a golf course as an accredited golf journalist in September, 1983. It also seemed appropriate his first Major was the 1984 Open at St. Andrews and he signed off his final story for the Daily Mail at the 2022 Open, also at St. Andrews.
Present AGW Chairman Martin Dempster used the AGWs AGM to express the feelings of all AGW members in saying: “Derek has been a great colleague, a great friend and will be missed”. Martin continued by saying: “Iain Carter summed-up this person well at last night’s AGW annual dinner. Derek, you will be missed. You have been a great colleague, a great friend and there is a selection of wine being delivered to your house as a token of your support and friendship among the AGW members, with a farewell dinner later in the year”.
The AGW then extended the European Tour’s Scott Crockett, himself an Associate Member of the AGW, to make a presentation to Derek and in doing so, Scott said: “I was saying to Martin the other day I am on the other side of the fence, so to speak, but I’m still a member of the Association, and very proud to be a member of the Association. It’s a fantastic body and you do a lot of good work.
“We at the Tour pride ourselves with the relationships we have with the golf writersand we try our best to help you do the job that is getting increasing harder as the years go by. I have also said this to a couple of people earlier this week that as long as I am in the role, that will continue. We will always put the needs of the media first and we will always try to do what we can to help you do your job.
“One of the great things we enjoy on our side of the fence is the relationships we have with everyone and therefore it is quite sad and poignant when one of you retires, so we could not let this occasion pass without saying a few words to Derek. We were going to do this on Friday at the Scottish Open but you beat us to lunch and off you went but you are here now.
“However, I was thinking of what I was going to say to you and I thought why not I just read what is written on the silver salver we wish to present you. It says: ‘To Derek. Capturing the true essence of our sport in words is a fine art and there are few greater exponents of that over the years than you. Golf will miss your intelligent insight and your thoughtful coverage and we, of course, will miss your company. Enjoy your retirement’.
After the warm applause, Derek responded saying: “I guess the two big questions. Am I going to join LIV Golf? No, definitely not! (laughter) And am I going to do a David Facey? No, definitely not! (More laughter).
“I was trying to work out the other day when I first stepped onto a golf course as golf tournament and it was September 1983. I can say it’s not all been plain sailing over the years as we have had to resolve our differences or drink away our differences on occasions, but I have always valued the working elationships and thank you Scott, as this is very touching. Thank to Iain Carter for his far too generous words last night.
“I have really enjoyed my career and a large part of that has been the advice I received from the golf-writing colleagues every year, the friendships, the camaraderie and the laughter, so thank you very much and if I talk anymore, I will get teary, so before it gets messy I will leave it at that”.
Well said Derek and on behalf of all your many friends’ congratulations on a fabulous golf reporting career and wishing you and Paula happy times together in this next exciting chapter in your life.
Read one of Derek’s last articles and about his life as a golf journalist go to: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-11003439/DEREK-LAWRENSON-145-majors-18-Ryder-Cups-shall-bowing-40-superb-years.html
Derek Lawrenson – Joined the AGW in 1985 and proudly still a member.
AGW Chairman – 2013 to 201
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