Together with the PGA of Europe and the European Golf Industries Association, GOLF EUROPE once again presents its ‘Legend Award‘. The award was initiated last year in order to honour the life’s work of exceptional personalities who have a permanent place in the history of golf. This year it will be presented to the President of the PGA of Europe, Sir Michael Bonallack.
Sir Michael was born on 31st December 1934 in Chigwell, Essex, England, and in many ways has dedicated his life to golf. His career as an amateur golfer began by winning the British Boys‘ Championships in 1952. In the following three decades, he won both the British Amateur Championship and the English Amateur Championship five times and the English Amateur Stroke Play Championship four times. In addition, Sir Michael is the three-fold winner of the Royal St. George’s Gold Vase, besides winning the Golf Illustrated Gold Vase and the Berkshire Trophy six times and winning the Lytham Trophy twice. He was a member of the Walker Cup Team nine times, captaining the team on two occasions, member of the World Amateur Team seven times, and leading amateur in the Open in 1968 and 1971.
In addition to his playing career, Sir Michael has also held many leadership roles in golf. A member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews since 1960, he was chairman of the Amateur Status Committee (1975-79) and the Selection Committee (1975-79), member of the Rules of Golf Committee (1979-83), as well as secretary (1983-99) and captain of the R&A (1999/2000).
Sir Michael was chairman of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland (1976-81) and the Golf Foundation (1977) as well as President of the English Golf Union (1982). He has been president of the One Armed Golfers Society since 1995, and president of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association since 1999. He will hold the office of president for the Professional Golfers Association of Europe until the end of the year.
Sir Michael was chairman of the distinguished firm of golf course architects Cotton (C.K.), Pennink, Lawrie & Partners from 1978 to 1983.
Sir Michael has received a large number of awards: the Association of Golf Writers Award in both 1968 and 1999, the Bobby Jones Award in 1972, the Donald Ross Award of the American Society Golf Course Architects and the Gerald Micklem Award for Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Golf in England in 1991, the Ambassador of Golf Award in 1995, the Arnold Palmer Lifetime Service Award of the Golf Association of Philadelphia in 1997, the Gold Medal of Honour of the Spanish Golf Federation in 1999 and, finally, the Gold Shield of Honour of the Czech Golf Republic and the Metropolitan Golf Association Lifetime Service Award in 2000.
In 1994, he received honorary doctorates from Stirling University, from Dundee Abertay University and Myerscough College in 2000. That same year, Sir Michael was accepted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, having been knighted by the Queen in 1998 – one of only three golfing knights, the others being Sir Henry Cotton and Sir Bob Charles.
His wife, Lady Angela, is the former English champion Angela Ward.
GOLF EUROPE will take place 3rd to 5th October at New Munich Trade Fair www.golf-europe.com
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