Ian Forbes, Links Manager at St Andrews Links Trust, died on Saturday 9th September in the St Andrews Memorial Hospital. He was 45 and had been ill for some time.
As Links Manager, Ian had responsibility for matters relating to the maintenance and running of the golf courses – greenkeepers, starters, rangers, the caddie service, orderlies, engineering workshops, property maintenance and stores, as well as retaining responsibility for championships.
In addition, he managed all the developments on the Links including the building of the Links Clubhouse, the Eden and Jubilee Greenkeeping Centres, the Golf Practice Centre, the Caddie Pavilion, the Eden Clubhouse and the installation of the new irrigation system. During his time as Links Manager, the condition of the courses improved dramatically, as did the facilities and services, enhancing the reputation of the Links throughout the world.
“Ian’s contribution to the management and improvement of the Links in recent years cannot be overstated. He was a superbly effective manager of both people and projects,” said Alan McGregor, General Manager at St Andrews Links Trust. “His commitment to making the Links better for golfers was outstanding and he took enormous satisfaction from the improvements in the quality of the courses and the development of the teams of people reporting to him. Ian’s achievements will have a lasting impact on the Links. The Trust has lost an invaluable member of staff and his colleagues have lost a great friend and helper known for his dedication, warmth, and humour. The loss of Ian is a tragedy for his wife, Elaine, and their two children and our deepest sympathy goes out to them.”
Born in Blairgowrie, Ian went to school at the Morgan Academy in Dundee and graduated in business studies from Strathclyde University. A former college lecturer, he joined the Links Trust as Deputy Secretary in 1987 after five years at the Scottish Rugby Union. In the Trust’s management reorganisation in 1992 he took on the role of Championships and Development Manager with responsibility for managing the planned major development programme and became Links Manager in 1994.