Tributes to former Belfry CEO

Brian Cash, the former chief executive of The Belfry who oversaw three Ryder Cups in his role, died on Saturday February 20 of a suspected stroke, aged 87. He passed away in The Algarve Portugal, where he had lived with his wife Margaret since 2013.

As CEO of The Belfry during the first three Ryder Cups held at the Warwickshire venue – the 1985, 1989 and 1993 matches – he played a significant role in their successes.

As head of the logistics at the hotel, as well as food and beverage, Brian liaised with the then-tournament director George O’Grady, who later served as The European Tour’s chief executive from 2005-2015, on myriad facets of the operation including the tented village and the press centre. 

Brian was first appointed CEO of The Belfry in 1976, charged primarily with overseeing the refurbishment of the existing hotel and the construction of two golf courses. He had previously been manager of several hotels including The Angel in Cardiff and The Piccadilly in Manchester. 

The new complex at The Belfry opened in April 1977, and the PGA transferred its headquarters there from The Oval that same year. The two golf courses there were designed by renowned architects Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss, including the Brabazon Course upon which courses subsequent Ryder Cup matches were played in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002. 

Brian retired in 1995 and he and wife Margaret lived in France for a number of years before moving to The Algarve.

The funeral took place at Our Lady of Fatima (Central Algarve) Church in Pereiras on Thursday 25 February 2016. A memorial service will take at a local church near The Belfry on a date to be confirmed. 

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: "Brian was someone who introduced me to The Belfry in my early days and always had a smile on his face, was always very welcoming and was a major player in creating The Belfry that we enjoy today.

“He was also a member at Little Aston Golf Club and again I met him there and he was always the same - very welcoming and positive with a host of good stories. From that point of view he will certainly be missed by many people and we send our deepest sympathies to his family.”

George O'Grady said: "Brian Cash was a pioneer in championing the Belfry’s rich history of tournament golf and support of the European Tour. From the first Hennessy Cup in 1978, through nine English Opens, with the inaugural Championship in 1979 - won by Severiano Ballesteros - and culminating in three Ryder Cup Matches, Brian was a constant and popular leader at the Belfry. 

“He was a welcoming friend to so many European Tour professionals and Ryder Cup teams on both sides of the Atlantic and, together with his colleague Alan Hunter formed a formidable team. His resounding enthusiasm, infectious humour, and larger than life personality will be sorely missed by all of us and especially Margaret and his family, to whom we extend our condolences.”

Peter Alliss, renowned BBC golf commentator and course designer, added: “David Thomas and I had the pleasure of working with Brian Cash when he was the manager of the Belfry. It was the mid 1970’s and Brian left the Midland Hotel in Manchester to run this exciting new golf and hotel development just outside Birmingham.

“He was a larger than life character, generous almost to a fault, fun to be with and very much a part of the Belfry’s development. He also played a large part in organising the Ryder Cup matches that were played so successfully at the Belfry. A master of his trade, a lovely man, I shall miss him.”