Jim Long service details

A service of celebration and thanksgiving for Jim Long will take place this Friday (January 9) at St Michael & All Angels Church, Hughenden, High Wycombe HP14 4LA at 1pm.

Jim, who was the director of golf pro relations at Golfbreaks.com, passed away on Christmas Eve after a short battle with cancer. He is survived by wife Ann and three children.

The 65-year-old enjoyed a wide-ranging career in golf which began when he played for the English Golf youth team as an amateur.

He progressed to the professional ranks and played four years on tour in Europe and Africa including an appearance in the PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Jim branched out into golf tourism founding Longshot Golf Holidays and his achievements including organising more than 150 pro-am tournaments around the world in America, Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong, South Africa, Mexico (Acapulco), UAE (Dubai) and Thailand.

His expertise and knowledge led to consultancy roles with TWA, TrustHouse Forte Hotels, Dom Pedro Hotels Portugal, Golf Rules Dictionary and Sand Martins Golf Club.

More recently Jim was a familiar figure with Golfbreaks.com and instrumental in helping fellow PGA pros develop golf tuition breaks and visits overseas with the Windsor-based company which is a PGA Partner and sponsors the PGA Fourball Championship.

The service at St Michael & All Angels Church will be followed by light refreshments in Naphill Village Hall HP14 4SD.

Family flowers only but donations to Iain Rennie Hospice at Home (www.renniegrove.org) or Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) if you would like.

There will be a book available at Naphill Village Hall for anyone who wishes to write their memories of Jim.