Tributes have been paid to long-serving Turnberry course manager George Brown after his death following a short illness at the age of 78.
Brown, who started out as a greenkeeper at Prince’s, near his home in the Kent town of Deal, moved to the Ayrshire resort in 1986 and oversaw three Open Championships before retiring in 2009.
Leading the tributes was former European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady, who said: “This is a sad day for our sport that George Brown has left us so young.
“George was one of an elite group of greenkeepers who has left a lasting legacy in his constant search for perfection in his profession. George has given enormous support and advice to the European Tour and been a superb supporter of the game.”
His words were echoed by former Turnberry’s General Manager Stewart Selbie, who said: “George was a unique character who for me will always be synonymous with Turnberry.
“He absolutely loved Turnberry and will go down in the history of the resort as a very special and important part of it.”
Stephen Walker, Turnberry’s Director of Sales and Marketing, described Brown as a “true gentleman”, adding: “As well as being a legendary keeper of the greens, it was George’s personality and particularly his humour that made him the larger than life character he was.
“Equally comfortable in a Saturday morning fourball with his cronies as playing golf with royalty, world leaders or A-list celebrities, George made everybody laugh.”
Ricky Hall, Turnberry’s Director of Golf, worked with Brown for ten years. He said: “There is hardly a day that his name isn’t mentioned at Turnberry. George was an incredible custodian of our fine links, with a great relationship and true understanding of mother nature.”
A cremation service will be held at Barhan Crematorium, near Canterbury, at 15.20 on Friday October 2, followed by a funeral reception at Prince’s Golf Club, in Sandwich.
Reproduced with kind permission of The Scotsman newspaper.
