Brian Sparks (1951 - 2022)
14/02/2022
“Whether you think golf is easy or golf is difficult - you will be right! The choice is yours!!” - Brian Sparks.
The PGA is saddened to learn of the news that Member Brian Sparks has passed away following a long-running battle with cancer.
Sparks passed away peacefully in his sister’s arms in St Albans, Hertfordshire, on 4th February, 2022, where she had nursed him with love and care throughout his final months.
Amazingly last year, Brian and his brother, Philip Sparks celebrated a combined 100 years as golf professionals.
A long-standing family relationship with East Berks Golf Club saw Brian start out as an Assistant Professional under Roger Mace in 1966 while Brian represented the club on the Tour for three years.
He went on to become Head Professional at Barton on Sea, Staverton Park and Stoneham Golf Clubs before moving to France in 1987 to become Head Coach at Sully sur Loire, Chateau des Sept Tours, Sable Solesmes and then General Manager at Les Bordes.
A return to the UK in 2001 saw Brian become General Manager at The Lambourne Club, before joining his brother in coaching at Philip’s own golf course and driving range at Manston in Kent in 2006. Canterbury Golf Club became Brian’s final home for his pioneering golf coaching.
Brian wrote a book called ‘Positive Impact Golf’ in 2010 which has sold some 20,000 copies worldwide and is also printed in Korean and Danish.
He tried his hand at social media too, creating The Easiest Swing in Golf, a five-minute YouTube video which shows how traditional coaching has made golf too difficult. Brian offers an easier solution, with the clip having attracted an impressive 683,000 views. Brian went on to personally train the ‘Easiest Swing’ in seven countries and his following has been growing greatly in the autumn of his career.
Reflecting on his brother’s career, Philip said: “I know this sad news will have an impact on so many golfers around the world who benefitted from Brian’s inspirational work on developing a better way for golfers to be able to improve their game in the easiest way possible.
“He was passionate to not take us into the technical abyss that so many golf teachers have fallen into in recent years. Brian’s unwavering belief was that if you could reduce tension and technical thought and realign players beliefs (in areas where they were maybe out of kilter), their swings would flourish as would their entire game.
“He also passionately believed that a positive attitude and one that accepted the mistakes that occur frequently in this game, would carry players to a higher level. As his brother, I saw this happen time and time again with players who would find they had an ability within them that they never knew existed.”
Brian was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system, in 1977 when he was just 26. He underwent pioneering new radiotherapy treatment for six months, but he always felt blessed the disease did not return until he was 62, when they discovered he had Thyroid cancer.
Despite being told he might have six months to two years, Brian survived in relatively good health for eight-and-a-half years, beating the odds several times throughout his life and fighting his way to his 71st year.
PGA Member and Canterbury Golf Club’s General Manager, Roger Hyder, added: “I couldn’t believe our luck when Brian approached Canterbury to ask if he could base his academy at our driving range. For professionals of my generation, Brian was a bit of a trailblazer and younger professionals would learn a lot from looking at how Brian constantly evolved as a PGA Professional over the years.
“In recent times, he experienced tremendous success with his “Easiest Swing” concept, so much so, that he travelled the world teaching other professionals the concept. Brian was a lovely man, a model professional and I shall miss greatly our chats on the swing and golfing life in general.”
Brian requested there are no flowers sent for his funeral, but gifts to the charity below are made instead to: Rennie Grove Hospice Care, a local charity who helped with all Brian’s needs in his final weeks. CLICK HERE to find out more about the charity.
Brian’s funeral will be at Easthampstead Park Crematorium, Wokingham, Berkshire on 24th February, 2022 at 1.00pm. This will be followed by a ‘celebration of Brian’s life’ at East Berks Golf Club at 2.30pm - dress code will be ‘happy clothes’.
