Advertisement

Golf pro Graham Burroughs retiring after nearly half a century at Boyce Hill

Happy retirement - Graham Burroughs <i>(Image: Boyce Hill Golf Club)</i>
Happy retirement - Graham Burroughs (Image: Boyce Hill Golf Club)

GOLF pro Graham Burroughs, who has been the PGA professional at Boyce Hill Golf Club in Benfleet for 49 years, is all set for his retirement next month when his colleague will give him a fond farewell.

Graham started out in around 1958 as a golf cadet at a time when there were no electric trolleys or buggies.

Through hard work and talent he worked his way up and has been a PGA professional for nearly half a century.

Boyce Hill golfers, past and present, colleagues and family will hold a celebratory golf day on April 6, to thank Graham and help raise money for his charity Saving Faces.

Echo: Happy retirement - Graham on the golf course
Echo: Happy retirement - Graham on the golf course

Happy retirement - Graham on the golf course (Image: Boyce Hill Golf Course)

Scott Clark, the golf club’s general manager, said: “Having been a PGA professional for nearly 30 years myself, as a young assistant Graham was a professional that we all aspired to be as both a player and a professional.

“He has dedicated his life to the game and his working life to the Club. I am proud and honoured to have had the opportunity to work with such a great professional.”

In the late 1950s Graham started as a Boyce Hill GC cadet and his prowess took him in to the professional ranks playing throughout Europe and in Africa.

He played golf with all the top professionals at that time plus celebrities such as Henry Cooper, Jimmy Tarbuck and Lord Lucan, the British peer who disappeared after being suspected of murder.

In the 1970s at Boyce Hill, Graham hosted the Evening Echo Pro-Am tournaments, with all the top names of that time appearing, including in 1976 and then unknown 19 year old Spanish man, Seve Ballesteros, who that same year became known to the world by coming second in The Open to American, Johnny Miller.

Echo: 49 years of hard work - Graham in the golf shop
Echo: 49 years of hard work - Graham in the golf shop

49 years of hard work - Graham in the golf shop (Image: Boyce Hill Golf Club)

Graham’s tour career continued but eventually he focused on developing his pro shop at Boyce Hill providing lessons, advice and equipment and became known by golfers throughout Essex.

The golf shop at Boyce Hill will now be in the hands of long standing colleague, Mike Goodwin who will continue the legacy.

For more information log on to www.boycehillgolfclub.co.uk.