Deserved retirement for McPhee as McPherson takes over tournament reins at PGA in Scotland

30/04/2024

As a long serving, valued and highly knowledgeable tournament official and director with The PGA, Glen McPhee’s retirement means there are some sizeable shoes to fill. Step forward Mark McPherson.

Under the tutelage of McPhee, who served the association with great devotion and diligence for almost a quarter of a century, McPherson has learned from one of the best during his own four-year stint with The PGA in Scotland.

With the kind of forensic attention to detail you’d get in an episode of Quincy, McPhee’s meticulous approach to his duties was one of his enduring characteristics.

Those attributes have rubbed off on McPherson and the Glasgow man, who takes over the tournament director reins on May 1, will look to carry on McPhee’s sterling work while putting his own stamp on PGA in Scotland events.

“Glen was a great man to learn from,” said McPherson, whose first year with The PGA back in 2020 was largely wiped out by the onset of the Covid pandemic.

“He would get me to do the course set up, handling rulings, pace of play management, all the tournament operations. It was a good learning experience. His attention to detail was probably his biggest strength.

“He was very precise and wanted everything done in a certain way. He was very thorough and that meant nothing got missed out. That characteristic was one of the best things I’ve learned from him.

“There’s a lot that goes into the smooth running of a tournament and you have to make sure all the details, whether it’s the terms of the competition or local rules, are all precise.

“Hopefully I can take what I’ve learned from Glen and keep the smooth running of our events going while continuing to build on what we have. The tournament scene has changed over the years we need to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of our members.”

McPhee’s retirement brings the curtain down on a rich, varied and fulfilling career with The PGA. Away from the day-to-day duties in Scotland, his experience and professionalism was rewarded with a refereeing role at last year’s USPGA Championship.

McPhee served The PGA with enthusiasm, energy and attentiveness while his affable nature ensured that he would become a great friend to many in the wider golfing family.

“Glen was a big presence and always wanted to make sure things were done properly,” added McPherson. “He’ll be a big miss.”

David Longmuir, manager of the PGA in Scotland, also paid tribute to McPhee’s longevity and endeavours.

He said: “I would like to thank Glen for 24 years of outstanding service to The PGA. He has been a stalwart of The PGA for all these years and I, along with so many members, have benefitted greatly from his advice, knowledge and friendship.”