Who's who: Michael Bonallack

  • 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: Michael Bonallack

  • Name:

    Michael Francis Bonallack
  • Country:

    England
  • Lived:

    [1934-2023]. Born on Dec 31, 1934 in Chigwell, Essex, England. Died on Sept 26, 2023 in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland (aged 88).
  • Original/Home Club:

    Chigwell GC and Thorpe Hall GC in Essex.
  • Occupation:

    Amateur golfer; businessman; Chairman European PGA; President English Golf Union, Secretary Royal & Ancient GC (1984-1999).
  • Turned Pro:

    n/a

Roll of Honour

British Amateur champion (1961, '65, '68, '69, '70). Walker Cup player (1957, '59, '61, '63, '65, '67, '69, '71, '73). Walker Cup captain (1969, '71). Donald Ross Award (1991, ASGCA). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000). Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE (1971), and a Knight Bachelor (1998), which carries the title "Sir."

Did you know?

Sir Michael Bonallack Kt OBE enjoyed a long and distinguished career as Britain's most decorated post-War amateur golfer and leading voice on the global golf scene. He also enjoyed a 16-year tenure as Secretary of the R&A (1983-1999). In 1999/2000 he became Captain of the R&A. He was knighted in the Queen's birthday honours list in June 1998.

Top tournaments won by Michael Bonallack

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Bonallack, Michael

Score

8 & 7

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (75th). Bonallack (Eng) won this title for the third straight year, beating Bill Hyndman (USA) 8 and 7 in the final. This was the last of Bonallack's five Amateur Championship wins. [Royal County Down GC, Newcastle, Co. Down, N. Ireland].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Bonallack, Michael

Score

3 & 2

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (74th). Bonallack (Eng) won this title for the second straight year, beating Bill Hyndman (USA) 3 and 2 in the final. This was the fourth of Bonallack's five Amateur Championship wins. [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Bonallack, Michael

Score

7 & 6

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (73rd). Bonallack (Eng) beat Joe Carr (Ire) 7 and 6 in the final. This was the third of Bonallack's five Amateur Championship wins. [Old Course, Royal Troon GC, Troon, Ayrshire].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Bonallack, Michael

Score

2 & 1

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (70th). Bonallack (Eng) beat Clive Clark (Eng) 2 and 1 in the final. This was the second of Bonallack's five Amateur Championship wins. [Royal Porthcawl GC, Mid Glamorgan, Wales].

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Bonallack, Michael

Score

6 & 4

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

R&A

The Amateur Championship (66th). Bonallack (Eng) beat James Walker (Scot) 6 and 4 in the final. This was the first of Bonallack's five Amateur Championship wins. [Ailsa course, Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire].

1952
Amateur
37th hole
amateur
R&A

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Bonallack, Michael

Venue

Formby

Score

37th hole

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

R&A

Played as the Boys Amateur Championship. Bonallack (Eng) beat Alec Shepperson (Eng) at the 37th hole in the final match. [Formby GC, Formby, Merseyside].

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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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