Who's who: Ken Brown

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Ken Brown

  • Name:

    Kenneth John Brown
  • Country:

    Scotland
  • Born:

    Jan 9, 1957 in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Harpenden Common GC
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, golf writer and TV commentator.
  • Turned Pro:

    1974

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1977, '79, '83, '85, '87). Multiple wins on the European Tour (4), PGA Tour (1) and winner of the Kenya Open (1983). Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE (2019).

Golf course design

Aldwickbury Park GC; Harpenden Common GC (9-holes).

Did you know?

Brown was born in England to Scottish parents ( ... he is not related to the famous post-war Scottish professional Eric Brown). Ken Brown enjoyed a successful career as a European Tour professional, winning four times on the Tour and representing Europe (GB&I in 1977) in five Ryder Cups.

After retiring from tournament golf in 1992 Brown briefly turned his hand to golf course design before taking up a career as a golf writer and TV & radio commentator. On the BBC, his insightful commentary and practical on-course demonstrations have complemented the more ebulient style of lead-presenter Peter Alliss.

Top tournaments won by Ken Brown

1987
America
Green Island CC
266 (-14)
$72,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Brown, Ken

Venue

Green Island CC

Score

266 (-14)

Prize money

$72,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Southern Open (Oct 1-4). Second-placed Larry Mize (USA), Mike Hulbert (USA) and David Frost (RSA) finished 7 shots behind 30-year-old Ken Brown (Scot), who recorded his first and only win on the PGA Tour. [Green Island CC, Columbus, Georgia].

1985
Europe
277 (-3)
£21,660
Four-Stars

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Ken

Score

277 (-3)

Prize money

£21,660

Title sponsor

Four-Stars

Played as the Four Stars National Pro-Celebrity (May 30-Jun 2). Second-placed Gordon Brand Jr (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Brown (Scot), who recorded the last of his four European Tour wins. [Combination of holes from High & West courses, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].

1984
Europe
266 (-14)
£13,330
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Ken

Score

266 (-14)

Prize money

£13,330

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Glasgow Open (Jun 28-Jul 1; formerly the Glagow Golf Classic). Second-placed Sam Torrance (Scot) finished 11 shots behind Brown (Scot). [Haggs Castle GC, Glasgow, Scotland].

1983
Europe
274 (-14)
£13,330
KLM

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Ken

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

£13,330

Title sponsor

KLM

Played as the KLM Dutch Open (Aug 4-6). Second-placed José Maria Cañizares (Esp) and Vaughan Somers (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Brown (Scot), who posted his second European Tour win. [Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands].

1983
Africa
274 (-10)
B&H

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Brown, Ken

Score

274 (-10)

Prize money

Title sponsor

B&H

Played as the Benson & Hedges Kenya Open. Won by Brown (Scot). [Muthaiga GC, Nairobi, Kenya].

1978
Europe
281 (-7)
£10,000
Carroll & Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Brown, Ken

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

£10,000

Title sponsor

Carroll & Co.

Played as Carroll's Irish Open. Second-placed Seve Ballesteros (Esp) and John O'Leary (Ire) finished 1 shot behind Brown (Scot). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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