Hall of Fame
I would be most grateful to receive from members any contributions that they may have to add to this page.Some very famous names have belonged to this Society and it would be fitting to see their stories here.
Fred Daly MBE. 18th November 1990.
Fred Daly won the Open Championship in 1947 and, had it not been for the Second World War, would undoubtedly have won more honours. As it is he is the only Irishman, so far, to have won the Open. He was brought up on links golf, born at Portrush in 1911 where his father, an artisan member, gave him a set of cut down clubs at the the age of three. His first professional post was assistant at Mahee Island in 1927. He became full professional here the following year and paid tribute to what he learned from the course. "Coming from links golf at Portrush, I needed parkland experience and it was at Mahee that I gained my confidence to vary my game to suit any terrain." It was here he perfected his lofted cut-up, "There came a stage when I could pop ball after ball into a hole halfway up one of the trees on the course". It was while he was attached to the Balmoral club that his best championship performances came. In difficult conditions at Hoylake in 1947, Daly opened with rounds of 73 and 70 but then shot a 78 on the morning of the final day. His final round in the afternoon (none of this namby pamby one round a day stuff then) was a 72 and, with the weather deteriorating, he was back in with a shout. One by one the challengers fell away until Frank Stranahan needed to hole his second on the last to force a play-off. He very nearly did, his ball coming to rest a few inches from the hole but victory was Daly's. Those who muttered that he had been lucky might consider his record in the subsequent Open championships: 2nd in 1948, the year of Cotton's third triumph; third in 1950 and 1952; and 4th in 1951. He was also played in all four Ryder cups from 1947 until 1953. Between 1936 and 1958 he was Ulster Professional Champion 11 times and won the Irish Open in 1946. In 1947, 1958 and 1962 he was British PGA matchplay champion.
Brum Henderson CBE. 29th July 2005.
It is with great sadness that the Society has to report the death of long-time member Brum Henderson. While many of us have played interesting games of golf with Brum, I have to say I always found him to be very good company. My fondest memory of him was how he came to the Society’s assistance in 1986 when we wanted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Fred Daly’s, our then president, winning of The Open at Royal Liverpool. Brum sponsored the event and organised a camera crew to film it. We even brought Harry Bradshaw over from Portmarnock for the event. Fred and the Brad had prepared for the 1946 Open that year by playing in a number of tournaments in Britain, finishing up with the Greater Manchester Open, from which they travelled to Royal Liverpool together. For our commemorative visit, the Hoylake council played its part in granting Fred honorary life membership. Would anyone who was there forget the occasion?
by John Devine.
Vice-President Jack Magowan. Founding Father. 8th April 2009.
Northern Ireland sports journalism has lost one of its acknowledge master craftsmen with the death, after a short illness, yesterday of Jack Magowan, distinguished former Belfast Telegraph boxing and golf correspondent. He was 79.
Tributes, fulsome and admiring, have poured in from sporting officials and personalities throughout the UK and correspondents covering the US Masters at Augusta National, Georgia. They all revealed not only the deep affection in which he was held but recognised his professional expertise, his passion and conviction for sport
Jack Magowan was the ultimate all-round journalist with a capacity to write entertainingly in a Damon Runyonesque lets-publish-and-be damned style, and he also possessed the technological ability to design and edit award winning pages.
He was unquestionably the most accomplished Irish boxing writer of his generation — acerbic, fearless yet fair in his criticism, be they amateur or professional, competitor or official.
He began his newspaper career as a copy boy on the now defunct Northern Whig, nursery for so many who reached the heights in all branches of the local, national and international media. He joined the Belfast Telegraph in November 1950 to become an integral part of an accomplished team that developed a comprehensive world-wide coverage after the sporting stagnation of the Second World War years. As the sports editor I found Jack was an ideal man to have in your corner until his retirement in September 1991, although he continued to produce outstanding columns. “Retirement is not on my radar screen,” he said.
His knowledge of boxing was unsurpassed, his research and archival facilities the envy of competitors. A member of the British Boxing Writers Association he had a special friendship with Reg Gutteridge, ITV commentator and for years the London Evening News boxing writer, and Harry Carpenter of the BBC, both of whom accepted his ability to “read” fights.
One of his sports writing heroes was the American Paul Gallico, a supreme wordsmith, and he repeatedly quoted his comment: “You talk of the golden age I was writing about. It is a golden age now. Cassius Clay is every bit as colourful as Dempsey; Lee Trevino could upstage Walter Hagen. It is one of the tragedies that the golden age we so rarely recognise is the one that we’re actually living through.”
Golf, his other addiction, held him in total esteem — so much so he was made an honorary member of many Northern Ireland clubs. He covered more than 30 Open championships, Ryder Cups, United States and European tournaments and, unlike others, he walked round the course to get “the feel”, as he called it, instead of sitting in the media centre collecting data and the interviews.
He was a founder member of the Belfast Press Golf Society of which there are now only two original survivors — Denis O’Hara and Bill Clark — and was a member of the Irish Golf Writers Association.
Behind his straight-from-the-hip approach there was a genuine warmth and friendliness, never a mercenary streak, a feeling for his fellow humans and a generosity in helping causes or those who might have hit hard times.
His life revolved around his family and his devotion to them was remarkable. Every morning for years he would rise at dawn and take his son Simon, a graduate of Edinburgh University, to Campbell College pool as he trained for the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.
Sincere sympathy is extended from all in Northern Ireland sport to his wife Betty, Simon and daughter Jane. We have all lost a wonderful colleague and sport a true friend.
A man missed by all who knew him Northern Ireland Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke has paid tribute to former Belfast Telegraph golf correspondent Jack Magowan.
Clarke was speaking at the launch of the Magners North of Ireland amateur championship yesterday at Royal Portrush, an event Jack covered for the Telegraph for many, many years.
“I was deeply saddened to hear of Jack’s passing,” he said.“He was a very good man who knew the game inside out and knew what he was writing about.
“Everyone connected to the game here will be sad to hear this news.”
Ivor McCandless, chairman of the Ulster Branch of the GUI, said: “Jack was a great friend to the game of golf and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.”
Well-known Belfast-born golf and boxing writer Jack Magowan has died suddenly at the age of 79.
Jack began work as a sports journalist in the Belfast Telegraph in 1950 and covered mainly boxing, swimming and golf before retiring in 1991.
A member of the Clandeboye and Belvoir Park golf clubs, Jack continued to pen articles and approached them with his usual quirky and well-informed style.
Jack covered numerous Majors and Ryder Cup events as golf correspondent.
He also followed with relish the boxing careers of many of Ulster's best fighters including Freddie Gilroy, John Caldwell, Barry McGuigan, Dave McAuley, Hugh Russell and Wayne McCullough with a few of his own literary punches thrown in for good measure.
Jack also covered numerous Olympic and Commonwealth Games for the Belfast Telegraph where he was known as an excellent journalist and sub-editor who could turn his hand to any sport.
Jack was also personally responsible for the former Ireland's Saturday Night sports edition of the Belfast Telegraph newspaper when it was in its heyday three decades ago.
He was also a founding member of the Belfast Press Golf Society and former chairman of the Irish Golf Writers. His witty metaphors and similes will be missed.
Jack is survived by his wife Betty, son Simon and daughter Jane.
John McAviney. 19th December 2009.
It is with a genuine and deep sense of regret and a very weary heart, that
I have to inform you of the sad passing of our friend, colleague and former
Captain John McAviney.
John had been ill for some time and bore the problems and setbacks that
went with it in his own gutsy style with a fortitude and optimism that was
astonishing to all. Even this year as he was ill in The Mater Hospital
Dublin, he confided that he hoped to get to along to Carton House to support
the Inter-Pro team as he thought it unlikely he would be fit to play.
John was Captain of the society in 1994 - yes, it is that long ago - and
in his own words "had a fantastic year, it has been an honour and a pleasure
to be Captain of this society that is 'well got' everywhere we go.Throughout
the whole year the friendship and camaraderie I had was brilliant."
A vote of thanks to John was proposed at the AGM in 1994 by Norman Stockton
who said he had brought honour to the society and in his 15 month Captaincy
he'd had to endure many difficulties such as abusive heckling from Des Magee
and others. He felt John had dealt admirably with such people and he was
generally a good person- for a Southerner!!
I note from records that John had also hosted his Captain's Day at Clones
and picked, organised and led the PGS team that entered the Multiple
Sclerosis charity at Tandragee the same year.
The following years AGM also contained another gem when John declared,
during a discussion on the old chestnut 'when's the grub'- "Ah'm starving,
I could eat a horse's arse through a wicker chair". He is also mentioned in
despatches for his performance at the Inter-Pro competition at Cork in 1991
where he was the clear individual winner with 44 points, this was the year that, ably assisted by Ivan McMichael and Cyril Troy in second and third places, we won the competition.
I am sorry that I cannot write more on John and would be grateful for
anything that members wish to contribute, the records do not show when John
joined the PGS but he was around at the AGM in October of 1991 where he
signed those in attendance. Indeed the first outing that I can see his name
at was Kirkistown on January 13th 1992. He finished as overall runner up
with 34 points. After that his name appears frequently on the winners
rostrum as it does against quite a few of the trophy winners.
Being a recent (5 years) member of the Press Golf Society, I have not known
John as well as most of you would have , when he was a regular face at the
Society outings. I did get to meet the long talked about and legendary John
at Portnoo last year and he certainly was the larger than life character
that I had heard about and a genuinely nice guy with a wicked sense of
humour.
He had a good two days at Portnoo when the sun shone and all was well with
the world, if not the golf. He teamed up with his old friends Deric
Henderson, Ivan McMichael and Cyril Troy and indeed that unholy quartet
adorned the front cover of this years fixture list. He told me he had a
great time and asked for me to send on the pictures that I had taken of
himself and his pals at Portnoo, which I did.
I also played nine holes with John, Frank Johnston and Peter Russell at
Knock last year at George Hamilton's Captains day and had an enjoyable time
before John confided that he felt tired and was going to set off home. That
was the last time that we saw him.
I will be writing to the family on your behalf and I will update you with
details of the funeral as soon as I get them. A death notice has been placed
in the Monday edition of the Irish News on your behalf.
Spare a few thoughts and prayers this festive season for John as he would
have done for you, another passes away of whom we will not see the like of
again.
Rest in Peace................... MGM (Secretary PGS).
Hi George,
I texted John a couple of months ago - which I did once or twice
since he became ill, occasionally he would answer and this time he did not.
I told him that recently I had been in Cork and had passed Harbour Point Golf Club.
I told him that every minute of the second day of the Inter-Pro competition in which I was captain came back that day. I remember standing anxiously by the 18th green awaiting the last couple of cards. Ulster were in the lead but by nothing comfortable. John was, I think, the last but one to come down the 18th in the singles.
He hit his second shot to the heart of the green. As he came up on to the green my quizical glance at him to ascertain how he was doing was met with a smile and a double flash of four fingers...... Forty-four points.
Ulster had won the cup for the second time and by a record margin, then. I can remember eveything about it except the year. The only time previously that Ulster had won was when Brendan McCann had captained the team.
John Devine.
JACK DUDDY, SOCIETY VICE-PRESIDENT. 26th July 2010.
Jack Duddy, who has died at the age of 90, was one of the founding fathers of the Press Golf Society more than 40 years ago and went on to donate trophies to the society and become one of its most respected vice-presidents.
Jack had been the Gallaher PR manager in Northern Ireland and, at the start of the Troubles, was a prime mover in bringing top-class golfers here for the Gallaher Ulster Open.
The tournament was held at Shandon Park from 1965-70, and Malone in 1971. It was something of a benefit for three-time winner Christy O'Connor, and another player to shine was our esteemed president, Norman Drew.
Norman says: "It wasn't easy getting the pros to come to Northern Ireland because of the Troubles, but Jack's persuasiveness and friendly manner achieved the feat.
"He was an absolute gentleman and will be fondly remembered by many people in golf here and further afield."
Jack, who was a member of the Malone and Royal County Down clubs, was also a great supporter of amateur golf and attended several Walker Cup matches at home and in the United States.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Jack's son, Barry, daughter-in-law Sandra and grandsons Fraser and Raymond.
Des Magee
CECIL McCAUSLAND. 13th April 2011.
Cecil McCausland was born in Belfast on 15th March 1930. The son of a professional soldier from Beragh, County Tyrone, his early years were spent living in parts of the world such as India, Egypt and Hong King. These early experiences of rich cultural diversity laid the foundations for his future life and his interest in culture history and his talent for a good picture.
On his return to Northern Ireland the family lived in Tyrone before moving to the Shore Road in Belfast. Cecil’s involvement in the Scouting movement led to his involvement with the Patricia Mulholland Irish dancing and a passion for dance which was to last throughout his life.
As part of the Belfast Folk Dance Society and Patricia Mulholland’s Irish Ballet, he was a leading dancer and took part in international Folk Dancing teams.
His photographic talent was recognised when he started work in the Northern Whig in his twenties. Learning his journalistic craft he joined the Newsletter as a photojournalist but by his late twenties he had become part of the editorial team as a Picture Editor until his retirement in 1995.
This time-frame spanned the period of the Northern Ireland “troubles” which Cecil, supported by his team of photographers including Bob Hamilton, Randal Mulligan, Eddie Harvey and Trevor Dickson chronicled the story of the conflict through their photographs often risking their lives a to bring a story to the public. Cecil was commended for his bravery in driving cars away from the firebombed Newsletter building and was photographed on the roof of the building with a hosepipe trying to put out the fire before the fire brigade arrived.
Cecil also enjoyed opportunities within the Newsletter to seek out stories on the cultural history of Northern Ireland. One of his reminiscences was travelling with a reporter in Fermanagh and discovering the ancient art of Mumming was thriving in the region.
Despite offers of employment from Fleet Street where his talents were widely coveted, he was committed to the Northern Ireland media. His talent and the pivotal role he played within the media was recognised in 1996 by the National Union of Journalists when they bestowed him with an Honorary Life membership.
Throughout his life Cecil balanced his career as a “Newspaperman” with his commitment to looking after his family and his other interests. Cecil met his wife Elma through his love of Scottish Country Dancing and together they began a life partnership.
Following his retirement in 1995 Cecil wasted no time in enjoying his new leisure time travelling across the world to Japan, Australia, America and Canada and through his love of Scottish Dancing, making new friends wherever he went.
His “home” time was committed to his family - his children Fiona and Andrew and his grandchildren Scott, Andrew, Alan, Matthew and Bethany, of whom he was intensely proud.
Cecil was diagnosed in 2010 with leukaemia and despite initially responding well to treatment he died suddenly on 13 April 2011 in the City Hospital, Belfast. The funeral service for Cecil will be held at 10 am at Roselawn Crematoriam on Tuesday 19th April 2011.
By his daughter, Fiona McCausland
Bill Clark... Founding Father. January 2013
George,
Happy New Year to you and all the Society members.
Sorry to hear of Bill Clark's passing.
Fortunately, I retained some thoughts from Billy a number of years ago on the founding of the Belfast Press Golf Society. I think the initial name was - Belfast Sports Journalists' Golf Society.
Because of a very limited number of players, the name was later changed to resurrect an old-time Belfast Press Golf Society of the 1950's - when newspaper men played against Law Society members.
As you will gather from Bill's remarks, he came to Belfast from Scotland to work for DC Thomson on the Irish edition of the Weekly News, and later moved to the Sunday Mirror in Belfast.
Adam Coates also came in from the Highlands, and took his place in the Weekly News, before he too moved on - to the Daily Mail Belfast office in Bridge Street - which was headed up by Ted Scanlon.
Anyhow, as you will read below, Bill was never a Captain of the Belfast Press Golf society, but was a founder member.
He was, however, the 1989 Club Captain at Helen's Bay GC. A tidy player, he participated in Ulster Cup team matches for Helen's Bay.
Here is his story . .
Bill Clark: "The first meeting was at Knock. It was in the old clubhouse. We met in a wee room where you could look out onto the the 17th teebox and 17th fairway.
We were all up at Knock, covering the Ulster PGA championship. I'm pretty sure among the players in the tournament were Fred Daly and Norman Drew.
During the Championship, the working press gathered in the Clubhouse, had a chat and those interested who played golf decided to start a Golf Society.
We had the late Gerry McGuigan appointed secretary/treasurer. Gerry was great, and may have been the instigator in securing some sponsorship backing later on. I remember Gerry getting in the region of £50 from some firm.
Gerry was also very involved after that in getting the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association up and running.
In the Press Society we managed to get small financial backing for prizes.
In the beginning, as far as I can recall, the members were Gerry McGuigan, Jack Milligan, Eoin McQuillan, myself, Jack Magowan, and Denis O'Hara.
In those days it was was confined purely to sports journalists.
Gerry always did the organising. I think our very first competition was matchplay. We did a draw. I didn't remember who I played. Because the number was so small we opened the door later on, probably the following year, to sports photographers such as Eddie Harvey.
I have one very happy memory of playing in a Belfast Press Golf Sociey outing, when I shot my best ever round of golf. I don't recall the year. I played in an outing at Ardglass for the good score. I was so delighted when my handicap was cut to (12) twelve, which I proudly held onto for about a fortnight.
I am now a sporting 21 at Helen's Bay, where I was Captain in 1989.
I was never Captain of the Press Society. I was unable to make many outings, because I was travelling a lot in those days, over to England and back - because of work commitments with the Sunday Mirror.
I'll take a guess at trying to name the year the Society was launched. I was first employed by DC Thomson in the Weekly News. I joined the Sunday Mirror in 1965 and I would say the Society started in the summer of 1967, the year I covered my first Open Championship when the Argentinian Roberto De Vicenzo won it at Hoylake. "
Here are my own (DO'H) thoughts: "Eddie Harvey of the News Letter was the first of the sports photographers to be invited to join . . . then Brendan McCann (Irish Independent), Eddie Dineen (Freelance/ Irish News) and Davy Anderson of the Belfast Telegraph. Later on, Cecil McCausland, Chief Photographer of the News Letter, was invited in.
The ranks swelled when the Committee agreed to expand the Belfast Press Golf Society. The gates opened to include news journalists who were interested in joining. The additions included Norman Stockton, Pat Carvill, Dan Kinney, Jack Kelly, David Capper.
Then added to the Society numbers were journalists such as David Sloan, Ivan McMichael, George McAvoy, Leslie Daws, Neil Johnston, Ray Managh, and John Devine.
Billy Clark guessed the Society started in 1967, but wasn't sure. I am the same, as memory retention is diabolical.
However, my guess is the Society was launched in 1968 - a little over a year before the foundation of NI Belfast Football Writers' Association. I was also a founder member there. I was the first left-hander in the Press Society, followed by Brendan McCann.
Denis O'Hara.
BILL CLARK:
a tribute by
Malcolm Brodie
Bill Clark, former Sunday Mirror staff sports correspondent in Northern Ireland, has died after a prolonged illness, borne with great courage. He was 79.
A Scot, – he came from Dunfermline, Fife – he began his distinguished career in D C Thomson, Dundee, as a young apprentice and office boy.
This world-renowned organisation, who produced many outstanding journalists, sent him to Belfast as the correspondent for the Weekly News and the Sunday Post. He became integrated quickly into the Ulster scene, earning a reputation as “quite an operator”, who set the standard on many occasions.
He was an excellent investigative newspaperman, had the ability to write short, crisp sentences, producing fascinating stories. He had the touch of the common man and many of his contributions over the years earned him coveted awards.
He was head-hunted by the Sunday Mirror, whose late sports editor Sam Leitch, another wonderful character, appointed him to look after Northern Ireland, a post he retained until his premature retirement some years ago. Such was his impact, the Mirror used him to ghost write stories of leading personalities from all parts of the globe. In fact, he spent much time in the United States and Australia telling the background story of many leading sporting controversies. Yet, he never forgot his Belfast roots and he always returned to live in Helen’s Bay where he was men’s captain of the local golf club and his wife Georgie occupied a similar position.
Adam Coates, another Scot, who succeeded him on the Weekly News and who later joined the Daily Mail and BBC, said: “He was the ultimate professional, a true friend and, above all else, was magic with that pen.”
As a companion he was first-class, particularly on tour. The banter between him and the Toner brothers, Paddy and Alex, was something special. Indeed, those safaris to far-off lands with people such as Cyril Hume, Jimmy Dubois, Jack Milligan, Matt Irwin, Billy Irwin and Brian Dempster certainly produced some wonderful nights.
It was a great era – a fun era. If only we could turn back the clock.
Bill, who is survived by his wife and daughters Verna and Jackie, will be cremated privately at Roselawn on Friday – a service for family members only. This will be followed by a celebration of his life on Friday at 3pm in Helen’s Bay Presbyterian Church.
Sympathy from all in football is extended to Georgie and the wide-ranging family circle in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
January 2013.
Colin Duncan. 9th March 2016.
Colin with Press Golf Society President Fred Daly.
A number of Northern Ireland's best-known reporters have paid emotional tributes to former Downtown Radio journalist Colin Duncan who has died suddenly in Belfast.
Sky TV correspondent David Blevins tweeted that Colin was "an absolutely brilliant journalist from whom I learned so much at Downtown".
Another former Downtown man, Mark Simpson, who is now with the BBC, echoed the sentiments as did South America-based journalist Gary Duffy, a former Ireland correspondent for the BBC
Mr Duffy said that Colin, who was in his late 50s, made everyone he worked with into better journalists.
Eamonn Mallie, who was a Downtown colleague of Colin's over many years, said: "The newsdesk sang when he was on duty."
Former Press Association editor Deric Henderson said: "Colin was hugely gifted and massively well-respected in the business."
Former UTV presenter Alison Fleming described Colin as "an incredible journalist" and the station's political correspondent Ken Reid said he was not only a fine reporter but also a decent human being.
Colin, who was from north Belfast, started his journalistic career with the Ballymena Observer newspaper.
I was one of Downtown Radio's duty editors in the late 1970s and it's fair to say that Colin didn't so much arrive at the station as explode like a whirlwind onto the reporting staff.
He wasn't the sort of journalist who would sit back and wait for editors to hand him an assignment.
Even on a quiet Sunday morning when many of us were battling hangovers from the night before and looking to put out bland, easily-compiled bulletins, Colin would be on his toes suggesting new stories to cover or pushing for fresh angles to be followed up.
There literally wasn't a dull moment with Colin. Or a dull news story.
It was no surprise that later on Colin made the natural progression from reporting the news to shaping it as a duty editor. He became a crucially important fixture with Downtown over a lengthy period before deciding to plough new furrows.
BBC Radio Foyle didn't quite know what hit it when Colin breezed into town. His individualistic flair was quickly spotted in Broadcasting House in Belfast where he was brought on board to add a heavyweight punch to the Talkback programme, though he didn't go the distance in the Beeb for a myriad of reasons.
Colin also had an all-too-short sojourn at UTV, shaking up the newsdesk with his own distinctive slant on how the stories of the day should be tackled, but his talents later took him to London where he was recruited by the Press Association.
He was perhaps the least likely glad-hander imaginable but Colin surprised us all by joining the public relations department of an English local government body before returning home to work for Hansard, helping to compile verbatim reports of proceedings in the Assembly.
Colin is survived by his son Ryan and daughter Carly and his funeral will be to Roselawn crematorium after a service at Melville's funeral parlour, York Road, Belfast, at 2.30pm next Wednesday - which by a strange irony is the 40th anniversary of Downtown Radio's first broadcast.
