Sandy Sinclair

SANDY Sinclair was one of the backbones of Scottish amateur golf. After a distinguished playing career he became a most active administrator, serving on numerous amateur committees at St Andrews, was an eminent president of the Scottish Gold Union from 1976 to 1978 and a captain of the Royal and Ancient. He served both Scottish and European golf over many years and can lay claim to being one of the few (very few, it is thought) members of the R & A who won all six medals of the club.

His first major success at national level came in 1950 when he won the West of Scotland Amateur Championship and was selected to play for Scotland in the home internationals. He was the amateur champion of Lanarkshire on three occasions (1952, 1959 and 1961) and Glasgow amateur champion in 1961.

He continued to be selected for his country, and after his competitive playing days (at the highest level) acted as an inspiring non-playing captain in both 1966 and 1967.

Although himself never selected for the Walker Cup, Sinclair had the considerable distinction, in 1957, of beating two of the most noted Walker Cup golfers of the decade at the Amateur Championship held that year at Formby. In an early round he beat that fine golfer John Beharrell - who was the holder of the title - and then Arthur Perowne. Sinclair was unable to capitalise on these impressive victories and was defeated in the last 16.

He never lost his zeal for the game and continued to compete in the Scottish Seniors’ Championship for many years. He won the title in 1979 and 1984.

As an administrator, Sinclair’s knowledge and love of the game and the respect in which he was held at all levels ensured that he brought to the many R & A committees on which he sat a sense of informed wisdom. That, combined with his unerring courtesy and ability to lighten a tense situation with a suitable golfing yarn, made him an ideal chairman. From 1969 to 1975 he served as chairman of the selection committee and was also in the Seventies chairman of the amateur committee.

During his tenure (1976-78) as president of the Scottish Golf Union he paid regular visits to many courses throughout Scotland and proved a most able and amusing after-dinner speaker. From 1981 to 1983 he was president of the European Golf Association. It was on surrendering that office that he was made an OBE.

But it was at St Andrews that Sinclair was probably happiest. He was a passionate admirer of the Old Course and proudly upheld its traditions and customs. He was always keen to preserve its place in the history of the game. He was the club’s much respected captain (1988-89) and added a footnote to its glorious history himself.

Sinclair, by being captain, was awarded the Queen Adelaide Medal when he performed the ceremony of driving himself in off the first tee. But over the years he also won the other medals of the Club: the Bombay, the Gold and Silver Cross, the George Glennie and the Royal. He was a regular - and determined - competitor in the club’s other competitions.

In his professional life, he retired in 1985 as an executive director of the Glasgow-based insurance brokers the Stenhouse Group.

Retirement enabled him to devote yet more time to golf and the other clubs of which he was a member. These included honorary membership of West Kilbride, Drumpellier, Bothwell Castle and Royal Troon.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, and their three children.