Brian McGhee, a PGA Member for more than 50 years who began his career working for John Jacobs and helped in the rehabilitation of American servicemen who had fought in Vietnam, has passed away at the age of 81.
A proud Scotsman, Brian turned professional in 1963 and was elected to PGA Membership two years later. Meanwhile, Jacobs, a key figure in founding what has become the DP World Tour and a renowned coach, had set up several driving ranges and employed Brian at his Blackpool and Newcastle branches.
Brian followed up by heading for Germany and the Ramstein Air Base, the headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe. The huge base in the south-west of the country is home to more than 60,000 USA Air Force employees and civilian workers and boasts an 18-hole golf course. It was also a stopping off point for Air Force personnel returning home from the Vietnam War in the late 1960s and early 70s and, in addition to working in the pro shop, Brian played with and coached many of them.
Having sampled and enjoyed life in Germany, Brian then spent two years working at Hamburger Falkenstein, the country’s top-rated golf club, and another at Golf & Country Club de Bale Hagenthal which is in France close to where the Swiss, German and French borders meet.
By this time, Brian had met and married Maureen and with the arrival of two young children, the couple decided to return home to Scotland.
The move resulted in Brian joining Craigmillar Park Golf Club, Edinburgh, at the start of 1980 and serving it for 23 years before retiring in October 2003.
An accomplished and in-demand coach, Brian was a loyal supporter of the Golf Foundation and did much to encourage youngsters to play the game. Similarly, Brian was himself a keen golfer and played regularly until last September when the ill-effects of Prostate cancer proved overwhelming.
Brian is survived by Maureen, his son John and daughter Caroline. The PGA extends sincere condolences to them and Brian’s other family members and friends on their loss.
