The EGA family is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Michael Bonallack and expresses its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Sir Michael was one of the most decorated amateur players in the history of the game, winning The Amateur Championship and English Amateur Championship five times each and the Brabazon Trophy four times. He also represented Great Britain & Ireland in an impressive nine Walker Cup teams and helped England to the European Amateur Team Championship title on three occasions.
Sir Michael also made enormous contributions to the game off-course, including 16 years as Secretary of The R&A, six years as Chairman of the European Tour, President of the English Golf Union, Honorary President of the PGAs of Europe, and Chair of the Official World Golf Rankings amongst many other roles.
Michael received an OBE for services to golf in 1968 and was knighted in 1998. He was made an Honorary Doctorate from the University of St Andrews and was inducted in the Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
Despite his declining health, Sir Michael was keen to attend the opening ceremony of the recent Walker Cup where he received a standing ovation by his fellow Walker Cup players, past and present.
Sir Michael’s memory will long live on in the minds of all those who knew him, and in the form of the Bonallack Trophy, a biennial match between the best male amateur players from Europe (EGA) and Asia-Pacific (APGC), which is named after him.
Images: ©The R&A