Our esteemed president, John Jacobs, OBE was very keen for us to honour golf industry specialists who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the sport over the years
Our esteemed president, John Jacobs, OBE was very keen for us to honour golf industry specialists who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the sport over the years – so far we have made 9 such awards and will make more in the years to come.
Below is a snapshot of these great golfing figures and their impact on golf.
Sadly John Jacobs, John Stirling, Peter Thomson and Peter Alliss are no longer with us, but their impact on golf remains undiminished.
John Stirling and Roger Mace
John Stirling had been a leading professional for his whole career and a key member of the PGA, as a former Captain (1989) and as PGA of Europe ‘Professional of the Year 1988 ’; in addition he was a PGA tutor, a member of the Ryder Cup Committee and was an Honorary Life Member of the association.
John was for many years the professional at Meon Valley, where he was President of the club. He was passionate about golf and played regularly as well as spending a considerable amount of time promoting the game.
Roger Mace has been accurately described as a one-man golf boom – rarely has there been such an enthusiastic professional golfer. From his ‘ laugh and learn’ trick shot golf show to his abilities as a merchandiser and teacher, Roger is the great all rounder.
Roger has been a PGA professional throughout his adult life and inspired many others to follow in his footsteps. For many years he was a PGA tutor. He was heavily involved in promoting the game at grass root level at his golf centre, near Andover, Hampshire.
Peter Alliss
The 2009 OGRO Lifetime Achievement Award was made to Peter Alliss. Peter had played the game at the very highest level – an accomplishment often overlooked by the public, who are only familiar with him as the ‘Voice of Golf’.
Peter was, in his heyday, without question the best golfer in Europe, winning the forerunner of The European Order of Merit, The Vardon Trophy, twice; three PGA Championships; played in eight Ryder Cups and won the Open Championships of Italy, Spain, and Portugal in three consecutive weeks.
Peter received his award from OGRO President, and lifelong friend John Jacobs, OBE.
Peter Thompson and John Jacobs
The 2010 awards were made at the PGA Cocktail Party on the eve of the Open at St Andrews.
Peter Thomson, five times Open Champion, and John Jacobs, OBE, accepted Lifetime Achievement Awards from Colin Jenkins, Chairman of OGRO, following an introduction from Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the PGA.
Peter Thomson’s Open Championship wins came in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965. He was the only man to win the tournament for three consecutive years in the 20th century.
John Jacobs, OBE, Ryder Cup player and captain and one of the all time great teachers in the game. He served as Tournament Director-General of the European Tour from 1971 to 1975, a period which included the inaugural season of the modern tour in 1972. In 1979 and 1981 he was the non-playing captain of the European Ryder Cup team
The awards were made in the form of a framed photo of the R&A clubhouse printed on canvas and a glass paperweight bound in silver.
Adrian Yallop and Doug McClelland
The legendary John Jacobs OBE, President of the Organisation of Golf and Range Operators (OGRO) presented Adrian Yallop of European Golf Machinery and Doug McClelland of Silvermere Golf Centre with the OGRO 2011 Lifetime Achievement Awards for their outstanding contribution to the golf industry.
Rob Maxfield, representing the PGA, introduced the award to Doug, a PGA Master Professional. Doug has had a very successful career as a player and teacher, but was best known as the largest independent retailer in Europe. His ‘Doug McClelland Superstore at Silvermere’ set new records for turnover and standards for anyone involved in the golf industry.
Colin Jenkins spoke on behalf of OGRO to introduce the award to Adrian Yallop, founder and owner of European Golf Machinery. Adrian has been fully involved with the invention and development of golf range equipment for the last 30 years. He is an innovator and applies clear logic to the most complex subjects, thus bringing great service and reliability to all the products he sells under the European Golf Machinery label.
Peter Dawson
Peter Dawson, the Chief Executive of the R&A, received the 2012 OGRO Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Marketing Surveys Inc Industry Lunch, held on the eve of the recent Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes. Stephen Proctor, founder and Chairman of Sports Marketing Surveys Inc, made the presentation on behalf of OGRO.
Stephen outlined Peter Dawson’s work in running the largest and most prestigious golf event in the world and also in his work behind the scenes in helping to ensure that golf became an Olympic sport in the next games in Rio in 2016. Some may not rate this as a very high achievement, but the reality is that countries across the globe are prepared to help fund the participation in Olympic sports, so if golf was not to be included, then the funding of the game and its development would be greatly affected.
Butch Harmon
John Jacobs OBE, OGRO Honorary President presented Butch Harmon with the OGRO Lifetime Achievement Award at the PGA Cocktail Reception on the eve of the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013.
Butch Harmon had been a great player, coach, author and broadcaster throughout his career. He was coach to Phil Mickelsen, who won the Open four days after the award.
It was an emotional and moving meeting for these two legends of the game which we captured on video, available on the OGRO website or by clicking on the image above.