Eric Green (pictured left – photo courtesy of Kent Golf Union), a stalwart of Kent golf and the English Golf Union, and a lifelong golf administrator, has received the annual Gerald Micklem Award.
The award, which was introduced in 1990, is presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to further the interests of amateur golf in England. Green joins an illustrious list of former winners including Sir Michael Bonallack, Dr David Marsh, Peter McEvoy and last year’s recipient Bill Murray.
"This is absolutely marvellous," he said from his south London home. "I had no idea about it and it came right out of the blue. But it is a tremendous honour particularly when you see who have been recipients of the trophy. I also knew Gerald Micklem and had great respect for him"
His only disappointment was that he was unable to travel to Woodhall Spa to collect the award at the EGU’s annual meeting because he is recovering from double by-pass surgery. "I’d love to have gone but it was just not possible," he added.
Green, who will turn 80 on 7th March, has served the Kent County Union for the past 30 years. A modest player by his own admission, he joined Eltham Warren Golf Club in 1958, was soon elected to the committee, was club treasurer for a number of years and elected captain in 1972. He is an Honorary Life Member and next year will celebrate 50 years at the club.
He joined the Kent committee in 1978 and quickly became Colts Manager then chaired the finance committee in 1980 for five years. He is still a committee member.
After becoming involved in the South East Group representing Kent, Green’s involvement with the EGU began in 1984. He served on the Championship Committee and is still a member of the Tournament Panel.
In those early days, Green did some refereeing and worked on scoreboards. He recalls his first EGU duty with great pleasure.
"It was at Seaton Carew and George Logan drove me out to my duty point in his Rolls Royce," he said. "However, it was quickly pointed out that that was not the usual way the EGU operated."
Green was elected to the Finance Committee in 1985 and served under seven different chairmen. He was chairman himself for five years from 1990. In recent times he has been involved on the radio communication side at championships.
He also recalls with pleasure accompanying Colin Edwards and Warren Bennett to Australia in 1994 for the centenary Australian Amateur Championship which Bennett won, while they also took the team title.
Born in Sidcup, Green had always lived in south London. Beside his membership of Eltham Warren, Green is also a member of Royal Blackheath and an honorary member of Sidcup and Romney Warren Golf Clubs.
Contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500