John Black obituary

PGA stalwart member John Black, who enjoyed a wide-ranging career in golf that began at Royal Lytham (above) and took him all over the world, has died at the age of 73.

Scotland, Europe and Africa were just some of the places where his coaching and club pro skills were in demand while another highlight was refereeing at the 1973 Ryder Cup.

Nottingham-based in his retirement, John was born in Yeovil, Somerset, and was a proud PGA Member for more than 50 years during which he was made an Honorary Member in 2009 following his retirement a year earlier.

His first assistant’s post was in 1958 to Eddie Musty at Royal Lytham & St Annes and through to 1966 he also had stints at St Annes Old Links, Wollaton Park and Sand Moor in Leeds where he was playing professional.

Sweden’s Visby Golfklubb marked his first foray overseas while in the late 60s he spent two years in Liberia at the Lamco-Nimba Golf Club.

At the end of that decade he joined Moray Golf Club where he stayed for five years until moving to Grangemouth Municipal Golf Club in Falkirk from 1974-1986 where he was also course manager.

Further positions came at Tandragee in Northern Ireland, Maestag in Wales with his career ending in Aberdeenshire at Turriff and Fyvie Golf Courses.

Through the 70s and 80s he served on a number of PGA Scottish committees and was captain of the Scottish PGA Region in 1983.

In addition he was an accomplished player winning the North of Scotland Alliance Championship in 1972 plus numerous other Alliance meetings.

He also coached several talented players including 1984 Scottish PGA champion Iain Young, Gary Harvey and Stephen Rosie while he also coached the Royal Naval Golf Team and the Fleet Air Arm Golf Team.

John was also a regular on golf instruction weeks with the likes of Dai Rees, Jesse Valentine, Harry Bannerman and Peter Tupling at St Andrews, Nairn and Royal Deeside.

Hobbies included restoring old golf clubs and collecting golf memorabilia and he was also a PGA instructor in club repairs.

He passed away on May 31 with his family surrounding him including his son Jonathan who said: “My dad enjoyed his life as a golf professional. He met many wonderful people during his career and always had a story to tell.

“He was a long term member of the PGA, over 50 years! He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.”

The funeral will be held Bramcote Cemetery, Serenity Chapel, Nottingham, NG93GJ at 1.15pm on Friday, July 1.

** No flowers to family but donations welcome to Air Ambulance and or Rainbow Children's Hospice.