William Dawson’s lack of sea legs and gift for golf proved to be the fishing industry’s loss and the PGA’s gain. So much so that, as well as becoming a renowned coach during almost 70 years of membership, he continued to support the Association’s Benevolent Fund long after being made an Honorary Member and free from having to pay an annual subscription.
Born and raised in Tarbert, Argyle, on Scotland’s west coast, Bill, as he was known, was expected to follow the family tradition and work on the fishing trawlers. Life on the ocean, however, proved a recipe for sea sickness and Bill served an apprenticeship building boats as opposed to working on them.
It was a skill that stood him good stead when it came to repairing golf clubs after he turned professional in 1956 but not before he was obliged to complete two years of National Service. He was posted to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, England, and assigned to the catering corps. At that point any culinary skills he possessed had remained dormant, not so his aptitude for golf. Encouraged by his father to take up the game when he was growing up, Bill played off five when he first donned his kitchen whites. On demobilisation two years later, and thanks to numerous appearances in inter-service matches and participation in camp tournaments, his handicap was two. Furthermore, in addition to honing his golfing skills, Bill became friends with two assistant professionals, Barry Davies and Denis Bailey.
They encouraged him to turn pro and Bill, suitably inspired but mindful he had a trade to fall back on if his change of career did not work out, landed an assistant pro’s position at the East Berkshire Club in 1956. There were occasions, however, when he had strong misgivings about his decision.
“Assistants in those days were glorified slaves,” he told Bill Elliott, the renowned golf writer whose excellent book The Sporting Life – Golf includes a chapter devoted to Bill Dawson’s experiences as an assistant professional. “Certainly, it was the lowest paid apprenticeship in the country,” Bill Dawson continued. “My base wage, my retainer, was £2 and 10 shillings a week. The club professional’s attitude was that we were lucky to be learning the job and that we should dedicate our lives to it. It meant very long hours.”
Poor remuneration and long hours continued when Bill moved to Sunningdale but in Arthur Lees, the head professional, he had an excellent mentor. Lees, who represented Great Britain in four Ryder Cups, was a stickler for the game’s etiquette and traditions. He was also a hard taskmaster, baulking when Bill took four days off for a honeymoon after marrying Gladys, whom he had met while working at East Berkshire.
Nevertheless, Lees gave Bill a favourable reference when he applied for the head professional’s position at Littlestone Golf Club on the Kent coast in 1959.
“Arthur said Dad was a very good teacher, hard worker and applied aptitude,” recalled Lynn Dawson, Bill’s daughter. “He added that Dad would certainly do well and gave him a very good reference.”
Littlestone proved an ultra-traditional club and a microcosm of the public schools attended by many of its members. Thus, Bill was referred to as Dawson and only allowed in the clubhouse if invited by a member. But there was some glamour attached in the form of him coaching and becoming friendly with George Livranos, the son of a wealthy Greek ship owner whose daughter Christina married Aristotle Onassis.
Bill remained at Littlestone until 1963 when he moved inland to Wildernesse Golf Club near Sevenoaks, Kent. The difference between the clubs for Bill was akin to night and day. He was asked during his interview would he like to be addressed as Mr Dawson but settled for Bill; he was also allowed to dine in the clubhouse and ended up serving Wildernesse for the next 34 years prior to retiring in 2008.
In doing so, he established a reputation as a go-to coach for golfers of all abilities, including elite players such as European Tour winners Jamie Spence, Mike McLean and Paul Way.
Bill also played himself but not at a level he once aspired to. “He tried his hand to be a tournament pro when he was in his mid-20s,” added Lynn Dawson. “He tried to qualify for the 101st Open Championship but missed out by two shots, so he knew then he wasn’t going to be a tournament pro.”
He excelled at a local level, however. Renowned for playing straight down the middle, he won the PGA South Professional Championship a couple of times and rubbed shoulders with the stars of stage of screen in celebrity pro-ams that were popular in the 1970s.
“He played with the likes of Harry Secombe, Eric Sykes and Jimmy Tarbuck,” Lynn Dawson continued. “And he played in European Senior Tour events when they started. I remember caddying for him at Royal Lytham and St Annes and Arnold Palmer was in the group behind us.
“And there was another time when he was playing at The Belfry and hitting balls into the lake, practising. He heard a voice with a South African accent behind him say: ‘That’s a nice swing, sir.’ So, he turned round and saw it was Gary Player.”
Bill continued swinging a club to good effect following his retirement, playing at his beloved Wilderness well into his nineties, most recently until last summer when he was still posting scores lower that his age.
He was pre-deceased by Gladys and is survived by Lynn and John, his son. The PGA extends heartfelt condolences to them, his other family members and many friends on their loss.
*Bill’s funeral will held at Bluebell Cemetery & Crematorium, Old London Road, Halstead, Kent, TN14 7AE, on Monday March 30th at 3.00pm. It will be followed by a celebration of his life at Wildernesse Golf Club, Park Lane, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0JE. Those attending are advised that black or dark coloured attire is not essential but a smile in Bill’s memory is. Those unable to attend can watch the ceremony online at https://watch.obitus.com/login/ukm4ka; Username sizu4974; Password 775008.
Family flowers only but donations in Bill’s memory can be made in favour of the Professional Golfers’ Association Benevolent Fund via
https://www.justgiving.com/charity/pga-assn. Please can anyone planning to attend let Lynn Dawson know by March 23rd, either via a WhatsApp or text message to 07971086387 or emailing Lynn.32@hotmail.
