Peter Benka, a Walker Cup player and former England international, has accepted the nomination to become President Elect of the English Golf Union for the year 2007 with a view to becoming its President in 2008.
Peter played in the 1969 Walker Cup match in Milwaukee and claimed a singles victory over Steve Melnyk. Although GB&I lost narrowly 10-8, he lost only one of his four matches.
His England record is also impressive with only seven defeats in 29 matches between 1967 and 1970.
Reacting to his invitation, Peter said: "I’m very honoured to be asked. It was a pleasant surprise. I’ve had a lot of enjoyment from golf and English golf in particular over the years and it will be a privilege to follow many of the great and the good of the English game."
Born in London in 1946, Peter was educated at Charterhouse and started his working life in the City. He is now retired from stockbroking having been a partner in the firm of Laing & Cruickshank, and later a Director of Credit Lyonnais Securities.
He started the game at an early age at Addington Golf Club. A winner of the British Youths Championship in 1967 and ’68, he also won the Surrey County Championship twice (1967 and ’68) and represented the county between 1965 and 1984. He was capped at England Boy and Youth level then became a full international. He was a member of England’s winning side in the European Mens’ Team Championship in 1969 and, as well as the Walker Cup, represented Great Britain & Ireland in the St Andrews Trophy in 1970.
His lowest handicap was plus-one but he now plays social golf off five at Walton Heath and West Sussex Golf Clubs.
Peter’s life as a golf administrator began in 1972 when he became Captain of Surrey, serving on the County Committee for 25 years. He is currently a Vice President.
His work with the EGU began in 1981 on the Executive and Finance Committees and later on the Championship Committee. However, the playing side of the game was never far away and he became an England selector in 1993, taking over as chairman the following year until 1998. His first captain was Peter McEvoy and later Malcolm Lewis.
In 1997, Peter was elected to the R&A’s Selection Committee, taking over as chairman in 1999 until 2002. Again he had McEvoy as captain and later Garth McGimpsey. Peter currently chairs the R&A’s Amateur Status Committee and serves on the General Committee and is due to step down in September 2007.
He was also President of the Public Schools Golfing Society, 1999-2001.
Peter, 60, is married to Pam (nee Tredinnick) who has a distinguished playing career of her own. She was a Curtis Cup player in 1966 and ’68, and England international, and was Curtis Cup captain in 2002. She is currently Ladies Captain at West Sussex Golf Club. They have a son, Mark, and a daughter, Clare.
"I’m really looking forward to 2008," he added. "I shall garnish as much information as I can in the meantime and if it is spreading the word on what the EGU is all about around the country that is a role I’m happy to undertake."
Contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500
