David Haslam (1930-2025)

David Haslam was described as a larger-than-life character who crammed a kaleidoscope of rich experiences into his 70-plus years of PGA Membership, including playing golf with the Aga Khan for three years running during Ascot Week. He was also a Ryder Cup referee and served the Association on its General Committee and as West Region chairman.  

Born in 1930, David was elected to PGA Membership in 1947 and worked as an assistant to Arthur Lees at Sunningdale before succeeding Harry Twine as head professional at Ashford Manor Golf Club, Middlesex, in 1953.

While there he laid the foundations for what turned out to be a lifetime of service to the PGA by serving on the South Region’s committee. Meanwhile, on the course, he played a host of exhibition matches with stars from the world of golf including Peter Alliss, Harry Weetman, and Bobby Locke, as well as celebrities from stage and screen such as comedian Al Read, playwright Terence Rattigan, and actor Mervyn Johns. In addition, he coached the latter’s daughter, the actress Glynis Johns.

He was also a regular competitor in PGA tournaments and the round of 69 he posted at Ashford Manor in 1954 remains the club’s record for a professional.

“He was a very good player and won the Middlesex PGA Championship,” recalled Colin Clingan, a PGA Master Professional and former tutor who played regularly in a fourball with David, Geoff Cotton and Alasdair Barr. “He was also very competitive – he could throw a five-iron farther than most people!

“And he was a larger-than-life character with a love for dressing flamboyantly. He used to go to the Open Championship every year and buy his wardrobe for the next 12 months. Apparently one year he bought 20 pairs of slacks and 20 shirts and 20 sweaters and didn't have a matching outfit in the lot.”

“That would be him,” confirmed Caroline Churchley, David’s eldest daughter. “He’d always buy the brightest colours, pink trousers, whatever, just to get seen so he could get people to talk to him and try and sell them something.”

“People would say if ever you went into Dad’s golf shop you would always come out with something even if you had not intended buying anything,” added Janet Fevrier, Caroline’s sister. “If it was raining it could be a new umbrella or the latest waterproofs. He was a born salesman.”

Caroline and Janet, along with their brothers, Andrew and John, grew up in Wiltshire when in 1956 David and his wife, Gillian, whom he had met while at Ashford Manor, was appointed head professional at what was then Swindon Golf Club but is now known as Ogbourne Downs.

Exhibition matches and committee work, which included a decade as PGA’s West Region chairman and secretary, continued during the 16 years he was at the club. Likewise, membership of the PGA’s General Committee from 1961 to 1975 as well as the Ryder Cup Committee.

He also officiated in two Ryder Cup matches. He was referee when Tony Jacklin and Neil Coles halved their fourballs match with Lee Trevino and Miller Barber at Royal Birkdale in 1969. Then, two years later at Old Warson Country Club in St Louis, Missouri, he was referee when Peter Townsend and Harry Bannerman were beaten 2&1 by Jack Nicklaus and Gene Littler in their fourball encounter and the singles match in which Gardner Dickinson defeated Bannerman by the same margin.

David moved to Manchester Golf Club two years later and Ian Bolt, his assistant at Swindon who became a European Tour player went with him.

“I was his first assistant back in 1969 and lived with him for about seven years as part of the family,” Bolt explained. “He was really like a second father to me because he took me on as an apprentice and guided me all the way through.

“He was a brilliant coach and got me to qualify and play in the Open Championship in 1974; six years earlier I was playing off six. That is something that will always stay with me. And playing on the European Tour was really something for someone like me, and it was something that would have been much more difficult without my mentors David Haslam and Ken Knox.

“David was also an excellent player. He was Wiltshire PGA champion five or six times and was a great ball striker. By his own admission, putting would have been his Achilles heel. He always used to look at me when I holed a lot of putts, as I used to, and he’d say how did you do that? But he was a great ball striker and a lovely player.

“And he was a character - they don't make them like that anymore. There will never be another one like him.”

In addition to his role as head professional at Manchester, David was PGA North region secretary until 1975 when he returned to Middlesex to become head professional at Fulwell Golf Club. Inevitably he became involved with PGA events as well as those pertaining to the club during his 20 years there, not least making the arrangements via his extensive list of contacts for Thames TV to cover the newly formed East region’s first corporate golf day in April 1987.

David was made an Honorary PGA Member in 1996 following his retirement in the previous year and continued to play until failing health took its toll.

He is survived by Gillian, his wife of 70 years, children Andrew, Caroline, Janet and John, and 12 grandchildren. The PGA extends heartfelt condolences to them on their loss.

*David’s funeral will be held at midday on Tuesday, 22nd July at the Vale Crematorium, Worcestershire, WR10 2QR. It will be followed by a reception at the nearby Vale Golf Club, WR10 2LZ.