The traditional driving-in ceremony for the new Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews took place on the 1st tee of the Old Course today [September 23].
Clive Brown started his year in office with a drive at 8am as a cannon fired alongside the tee.
A large crowd, including past captains of the club, gathered to watch the ceremony.
As Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Brown will serve in an ambassadorial role for The R&A to support its work in developing golf around the world and will attend its professional and amateur championships.
After hitting his tee shot, Brown, 70, said: “I was really nervous, so I’m absolutely elated that the ball got in the air and it went a reasonable distance. I had the benefit of Peter Forster’s advice, as well as being on the practice ground this morning to prepare.
“The Captaincy of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club is a historic role and it’s an honour and great thrill for me to represent this very special institution both at home and overseas.”
A renowned Welsh international golfer, Mr Brown has enjoyed a long and successful amateur career, including captaining the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team in their victorious 1995 match at Royal Porthcawl and the 1997 match at Quaker Ridge.
The Welsh Amateur champion in 1971, Brown made 65 appearances for his country in the 1970’s in the Home Internationals, the European Team Championship and the Snowdonia Trophy.
He currently plays off a handicap of 7 and is honorary member at Royal Porthcawl, Royal St Davids, Llandudno Maesdu, Conwy, (Caernarfonshire), Porthmadog and Rhuddlan golf clubs. He is also currently a member of Penmaenmawr Golf Club, the Narwhals, Aberconwy Past Captains and Seniors golf societies.
Brown became a member of The R&A in 1995 and has served on a number of committees. He was Chairman of the Championship Committee in 2017 and the Open Championships Committee from 2018-19. He has also chaired the Amateur Status Committee since 2019 and served on the General Committee and Membership Committee in recent years.
He served as a Rules official at a number of major professional championships and leading amateur championships and was Chief Recorder at The Open from 2011 to 2015.