Peter Dawson, the former Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has been made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours List.
Mr Dawson has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in golf since being appointed as Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in succession to Sir Michael Bonallack in 1999. He served in the role for 16 years and presided over one of the most important eras in the Club’s history. In 2004, the same year that it celebrated its 250th anniversary, the private members’ club formed a separate group of companies to run The Open and carry out its governance responsibilities.
As well as leading The R&A and The Open, golf’s original championship, through a period of significant growth, Mr Dawson played a key role in securing golf’s return to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 after a 112-year absence, as Joint Secretary and then President of the International Golf Federation (IGF).
Mr Dawson retired as Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2015 and that same year was awarded an OBE for his services to the sport. A year later he was appointed Chairman of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Earlier this month the IGF announced that Mr Dawson was stepping down as President to be succeeded by Annika Sorenstam from 1 January 2021.
Martin Slumbers, who succeeded Mr Dawson as Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, said, “On behalf of all of us at The R&A and the Club I would like to congratulate Peter on being made a CBE. It is thoroughly deserved recognition for the sterling work he has done over many years in supporting and growing the game not only here at the home of golf in St Andrews but throughout the world.”
Originally from Aberdeen, Mr Dawson played County golf for Warwickshire and captained the University team at Cambridge. He graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1969 with an MA degree in Engineering and Management Studies before embarking on a 25-year career in the engineering sector. He became a Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1994 and served on its Rules Committee from 1994 to 1998.
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