The R&A is saddened to learn of the passing of Sandy Jones, aged 75.
A former Chief Executive of the PGA, having started as the Scottish Region secretary in 1980, he served the organisation for 25 years between 1991 and 2016, during which time it ran initiatives which contributed to the development of the sport through professional education programmes and qualifications.
Under Jones’ tenure, many qualified PGA Professionals were also involved in providing young people with tips and advice through The R&A SwingZone at The Open each year, while he was regularly involved in the Golf Forum, hosted in St Andrews biannually, where golf bodies from Great Britain and Ireland convened to discuss development of the sport.
Jones was also a chairman of the Ryder Cup Trust, where he played an important role in the event’s expansion and establishing the charitable arm to enable revenues to be reinvested in golf.
Important role in golf
He was a former president of the Golf Foundation and, in 2006, he became a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Sandy played an important role in the development of golf throughout Great Britain and Ireland over many years, introducing qualifications and education programmes that are the bedrock for PGA Professionals in providing coaching and instruction for people at all levels of the sport.
“He was an extremely popular and well-known figure throughout golf. He will be missed by all of us at The R&A and our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this very sad time.”
