Barclay Howard
Encyclopedia
D. Barclay Howard was a Scottish
amateur golf
er. He was regarded as one of the finest golfers of his time and considered a folk-hero. He has had a lifetime relationship with Cochrane Castle Golf Club in Johnstone
, Renfrewshire
.
. He was married when he was 19, the marriage produced one daughter.
Howard first joined Clydesdale Bank
and later switched to Rolls Royce
, where he was made redundant in 2003. After that he became a full-time amateur golfer, that and his previous success on the golf course led him to a job in customer relations with club-maker John Letters.
Howard was a self-confessed alcoholic, leading to international exclusion in 1984. After having suffered and defeated leukemia
, he died of pneumonia
in 2008.
Howard was a life long friend of Sam Torrance
, who became a successful professional golfer.
Howard played on the Great Britain and Ireland team in the Walker Cup
twice, winning in 1995 at Royal Portcawl
. He has also played on the GB&I team in the Eisenhower Trophy
in 1996.
In his latter years, Howard was a leading figure in the Scottish Golf Union
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
amateur golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. He was regarded as one of the finest golfers of his time and considered a folk-hero. He has had a lifetime relationship with Cochrane Castle Golf Club in Johnstone
Johnstone
Johnstone is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire and larger historic county of the same name in the west central Lowlands of Scotland.The town lies three miles west of neighbouring Paisley and twelve miles west of the centre of the city of Glasgow...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
.
Life
Howard was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He was married when he was 19, the marriage produced one daughter.
Howard first joined Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...
and later switched to Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
, where he was made redundant in 2003. After that he became a full-time amateur golfer, that and his previous success on the golf course led him to a job in customer relations with club-maker John Letters.
Howard was a self-confessed alcoholic, leading to international exclusion in 1984. After having suffered and defeated leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, he died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in 2008.
Howard was a life long friend of Sam Torrance
Sam Torrance
Sam Torrance OBE is a Scottish professional golfer and sports commentator. He was one of the leading players on the European Tour from the mid 1970s to the late 1990s, with 21 Tour wins. Torrance was a member of European Ryder Cup teams on eight occasions, from 1981 to 1995 consecutively; he was...
, who became a successful professional golfer.
Sporting career
Howard can probably be best described as a true amateur. Working a regular work week and playing golf in his spare time. He might have been a top professional. He was a leading figure in Scottish and British amateur golf. Over the years he has won more than a hundred amateur tournaments.Howard played on the Great Britain and Ireland team in the Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
twice, winning in 1995 at Royal Portcawl
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club is a golf club located to the north of Porthcawl and bordering the Bristol Channel, in Wales.The club has hosted many prestigious tournaments including The Amateur Championship on six occasions, the Walker Cup in 1995, the Curtis Cup in 1964, the British Masters in 1961,...
. He has also played on the GB&I team in the Eisenhower Trophy
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
in 1996.
In his latter years, Howard was a leading figure in the Scottish Golf Union
Scottish Golf Union
The Scottish Golf Union , established in 1920 and based in St Andrews, Fife, is the governing body for amateur golf in Scotland. It is affiliated to The R&A, which is also based at St Andrews, and is responsible for administering the Rules of Golf, as laid down by The R&A, at national level...
.
Autobiography
Howard published an autobiography (with Jonathan Russell) in 2001 called "Out of the rough" (not to be confused with Laura Baugh's book called "Out of the Rough" or John Daly's: "My life in and out of the rough") where he describes his personal battles (against alcohol) and his inner demons.Amateur wins
this list is incomplete- 1994 St Andrews Links TrophySt Andrews Links TrophyThe St Andrews Links Trophy is an international amateur golf tournament contested on the St Andrews Links in Scotland. It has been played annually since 1989....
- 1996 St Andrews Links TrophySt Andrews Links TrophyThe St Andrews Links Trophy is an international amateur golf tournament contested on the St Andrews Links in Scotland. It has been played annually since 1989....
- 1997 Scottish Amateur Strokeplay
Team appearances
Amateur- Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1995 (winners), 19971997 Walker CupThe 1997 Walker Cup, the 36th Walker Cup Match, was played on August 9 and 10, 1997, at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York. The event was won by the United States 18 to 6.-Format:... - Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1996
External links
- http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/obituaries/display.var.2285203.0.barclay_howard.phpObituary in The HeraldThe Herald (Glasgow)The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
] - Cochrane Castle Golf Club website