Johnny Johnson, who has passed away at the age of 90, exhibited an enviable variety of golf-related talents during his 70 years as a PGA Member, not least as a coach, player and course designer.
Born in England’s north east, Johnny grew up in Seaton Carew, a seaside resort in County Durham, and lived in a house that had a serendipitous location given how his life played out. It was opposite Seaton Carew Golf Club, which is where Johnny learned the game and, having left school at the age of 14, took the first steps on what became a lifelong career when he was taken on as an assistant in the pro shop.
He followed up at the age of 16 by heading across the North Sea to Norway and working as an assistant professional at Oslo Golf Club. Johnny was elected to PGA membership in 1952, the same year his career had to be put on hold due to National Service, a standardised form of peacetime conscription that saw him serve with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Egypt.
He returned for a short spell in Oslo on demobilisation and then worked at Birstall Golf Club, Leicestershire, before becoming one of the youngest head professionals in the country when he joined Gorleston Golf Club, Norfolk, at the age of 21.
Johnny met and married Brenda during his time at Gorleston and in 1959 the couple moved to the north west where they started a family. Johnny initially worked at Haydock Park Golf Club, Lancashire, before moving to Arcot Hall Golf Club, Northumberland. However, the lure of a return to East Anglia prompted the growing family to relocate there in 1963 when Johnny was appointed head professional at Rushmere Golf Club, Ipswich.
He had already demonstrated his prowess as a player while at Gorleston by winning the Suffolk Open Championship in 1959 and he followed up with further victories in 1967 and 77. He also won the Suffolk PGA Championship three times - in 1969, 71 and 73 - but his most notable achievements on the course came in the Open Championship. Having earned his place in final qualifying for the tournament on 20 occasions, he produced his best performance at Royal Troon in 1962 when he finished 36th.
In addition to his role at Rushmere, and in keeping with his mission to grow the game and open it up to people who did not have access to golf clubs, Johnny founded Ipswich Golf Range. Initially he combined the two roles but in 1979 opted to concentrate on the range and worked there full-time for 11 years before moving to Halesworth Golf Club.
Originally known as St Helena, and a new venture, Johnny played a part in the design of the course as he did Seckford, the club he served for three years prior to his retirement in 1999.
Johnny had also designed the Constable course at Stoke by Nayland near Colchester by then and combined this skill with playing on the fledgling European Seniors Tour. He was also one of the most in-demand and respected coaches in East Anglia with pupils ranging from beginners to elite level golfers along with his three daughters, Rachel, Carole and Jennifer.
He was made a PGA Honorary Member in 2014 and was a member of Woodbridge Golf Club following his retirement, playing regularly until the advancing years took their toll.
Johnny, who was pre-deceased by Brenda, is survived by Rachel, Carole and Jennifer. The PGA expresses heartfelt condolences to them on their loss.
*Johhny’s funeral will be held at midday on Thursday January 9, 2025, at Seven Hills Crematorium, Felixstowe Road, Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0FG.
