Bryan Griffiths, golf course architect and former chairman of the Golf Consultants Association, has died at the age of 88.
It is with sadness that I have to report the passing away of Bryan Griffiths, our former Chairman at the age of 88,writes Ian Bulleid, GCA chairman. We at the Golf Consultants Association have fond memories of Bryan, as will all his old friends within our industry.
Many will not know, as we didn’t until recently, that Bryan had been ill for some time following a broken hip a couple of years ago.
Bryan had two distinguished careers, first in the army where he served in the Royal Engineers all over the world for more than 30 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
It is his second career as a Golf Course Architect that, not surprisingly, he is remembered for within the industry. Initially with John Harris, but more latterly by himself, he built over 50 golf courses throughout the world.
He found that the skill in reading topography honed during reconnaissance work for the Royal Engineers gave him a valuable insight when developing route plans for his courses.
He was one of the first architects to incorporate a suspended water table into his green designs, Telford Golf and Country Club being a good example.
Later in life he became passionate about the need for golf developments to be market lead and it was this belief in good business planning principals which lead him to rally a small group of industry professionals to form the GCA in 2000.
Howard Swan, one of the UK’s leading architects and GCA member commented, “I was fortunate enough to know him when he worked with John Harris in the sixties and seventies and he left with me a strong and interesting impression of a man of some energy and professional stature.”
As current Chairman of the Association I had the pleasure of working with Bryan for a number of years. He always struck me as a man of integrity with a clear sense of duty. He was very generous in sharing his thoughts and ideas to help colleagues within the Association and we all owe much to his drive and tenacity which helped carry us through the early years.
He will be missed by family and friends alike.