Wales Golf has paid tribute to former Welsh Golfing Union President Ian Hughes, one of the most influential administrators behind some of Welsh golf’s greatest amateur successes.
Hughes passed away at the age of 94. He was a key member of a group who transformed the fortunes of Welsh golf in the 1980’s and 1990’s from also-rans to winners at Home Internationals and European levels.
He was team manager for the 1992 Boys Home Internationals when Wales finished tied for the title with Scotland – the only time in Welsh golfing history they have won that event. He was involved when Wales won the European Team Championships in 1993, with players such as Bradley Dredge, David Park, Gary Houston and Richard Johnson going on to play on the European Tour and PGA Tour in the professional ranks.
He was an R&A Rules Official for 15 years, including eight Open Championships from 1994-2001, as well as many other amateur and professional events.
“Ian was a very quiet but very influential part of a group of people who developed Welsh golf after he became a Welsh Boys selector in 1986, following a successful business career,” said John Jermine, former chairman of Ryder Cup Wales and Wales Golf. “He was the chairman and manager when I was captain of Welsh Boys in that period, putting together a new coaching system that would lift Welsh golf – and even driving the minibus from Wales to Woburn to make sure that group of boys got top level coaching.
“Even the 2002 team which won the Home Internationals owed its success to everything Ian helped put in place. We changed how Welsh golf was organised and put a coaching structure in place.
“He was a wonderful person, a shrewd and intelligent man. Everybody respected him as well as liked him, he was very pleasant all the time and extremely helpful in offering his experience.
“Andy Morgan was a huge driver of all that, he got me involved and Ian was also a major part.”
The Welsh Golfing Union went on to become part of Wales Golf, after merging with the Welsh Ladies Golf Union in 2007, and Hughes was President in 1996 and 1997.
Hughes was heavily involved in junior golf in Glamorgan and also with handicapping on the national stage through involvement with governing body CONGU, the Confederation of National Golf Unions.
Andy Morgan was the Golf Union of Wales President in the Centenary Year of 1995, handing over to Hughes. “Ian did a lot of work with junior golf through Glamorgan and handicapping through CONGU, which was very important in how British amateur golf was run,” said Morgan. “He was a champion of junior golf for both Glamorgan and Wales. He was not a low handicapper himself, but he was a very good administrator which is what made him so good for CONGU.
“They controlled handicapping at that stage and he was a key member on one of the committees. He succeeded me as President and I was lucky enough to do a lot of travelling with Ian to various golf events in America and Canada as representatives of the Welsh Golfing Union.
“The Royal Canadian Golf Association had their centenary in Montreal around the same time as the Welsh centenary, while we were also able to go to the Masters together.”
Hughes joined Royal Porthcawl in 1965 and was made an honorary life member in 2021 in recognition for this work at the club and in Welsh golf. He also joined Radyr Golf Club in the 1970s. He was a selector for Wales Boys from 1986 until he became President in 1996.
He was Chairman of Welsh Boys from 1992-1994 and joined the Council of CONGU in 1988 at a time when they ran handicapping, before that role was taken over by The R&A. He was Chairman of the European Boys Team Championships when they were held in Conwy in 1993, organising the event.
After finishing his time as Welsh Golfing Union President in 1997 he remained involved in junior golf in Glamorgan, as well as Senior Golf with Glamorgan and Wales.
Everyone in Wales Golf passes on condolences and best wishes to the family and friends of Ian Hughes, but the achievements he helped to bring about will remain in the record books.
