He was able to embellish his tournament CV 12 months later with a second victory, this time in the Dutch Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club when he prevailed in another play-off, defeating Spain’s Angel Gallardo and Bob Shaw of Australia.
An outstanding player, John continued to play and tied 35th with Kel Nagle and Doug Sanders in what was the first European Tour event held in Sweden, the Scandinavian Enterprise Open at Royal Drottningholm Golf Club in 1973.
His time away playing afforded his fellow Yorkshireman and PGA Professional, Tony Rattue, the chance to take over the club duties at Sigtuna. Rattue was there for two years and has no doubt the experience was pivotal in him being appointed head pro at the prestigious St George’s Hill Golf Club, Surrey, on his return to England in 1971.
Rattue served the club for four decades during which time Simon Hubbard, the head of the PGA’s Training Programme, worked for him and, thanks to his encouragement and support, spent three years with John in Sweden.
He was able to embellish his tournament CV 12 months later with a second victory, this time in the Dutch Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club when he prevailed in another play-off, defeating Spain’s Angel Gallardo and Bob Shaw of Australia.
An outstanding player, John continued to play and tied 35th with Kel Nagle and Doug Sanders in what was the first European Tour event held in Sweden, the Scandinavian Enterprise Open at Royal Drottningholm Golf Club in 1973.
His time away playing afforded his fellow Yorkshireman and PGA Professional, Tony Rattue, the chance to take over the club duties at Sigtuna. Rattue was there for two years and has no doubt the experience was pivotal in him being appointed head pro at the prestigious St George’s Hill Golf Club, Surrey, on his return to England in 1971.
Rattue served the club for four decades during which time Simon Hubbard, the head of the PGA’s Training Programme, worked for him and, thanks to his encouragement and support, spent three years with John in Sweden.
He was able to embellish his tournament CV 12 months later with a second victory, this time in the Dutch Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club when he prevailed in another play-off, defeating Spain’s Angel Gallardo and Bob Shaw of Australia.
An outstanding player, John continued to play and tied 35th with Kel Nagle and Doug Sanders in what was the first European Tour event held in Sweden, the Scandinavian Enterprise Open at Royal Drottningholm Golf Club in 1973.
His time away playing afforded his fellow Yorkshireman and PGA Professional, Tony Rattue, the chance to take over the club duties at Sigtuna. Rattue was there for two years and has no doubt the experience was pivotal in him being appointed head pro at the prestigious St George’s Hill Golf Club, Surrey, on his return to England in 1971.
Rattue served the club for four decades during which time Simon Hubbard, the head of the PGA’s Training Programme, worked for him and, thanks to his encouragement and support, spent three years with John in Sweden.
“I was an assistant at St Georges Hill, working for Tony Rattue, who had worked with John in Sweden,” Hubbard recalled.
“I don’t know if it’s still the case, but in Sweden they all had to do national service in the 1980s and when John’s assistant pro was called up, he contacted Tony to see if he knew anyone who would like to fill the gap. Tony recommended me and that’s how I got to know John.
“John was at Ullna Golf and Country Club, and I went out there in 1989 and was with him for three years. During that time, he became and has remained the most influential person on my career, from the way he coached people to helping me improve my own golfing ability.”
John was similarly influential on a broader scale – the development of the game in Sweden which, in addition to becoming hugely popular in the country and now boasts more than 400 clubs, has subsequently produced major champions including Annika Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson.
He played his part in the game’s increasing popularity not only as director of golf at Ullna Golf and Country Club and subsequent roles at Fågelbro Golf and Country Club, and Arlandastad GolfKlubb, but also as president of the PGA of Sweden.
He was in post for 19 years until 1997 and, along with Christer Lindberg and Karl-Axel Lunell, were key contributors in its development.
During his time in the role, the PGA of Sweden co-operated with the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF) and, among several initiatives, reached an agreement in 1983 that resulted in ‘Open Golf’.
John with his positive, charismatic personality, high skills and strong will, was an important driving force in Swedish golf and the PGA for many years. The loss is already great.
- Johan Hampf, the PGA of Sweden CEO
“John succeeded in uniting the entire Swedish PGA corps that this agreement was the way to success,” explained Johan Hampf, the PGA of Sweden CEO.
“With hindsight, we know that this decision was truly ground-breaking. For example, the Swedish Golf Tour was started for both ladies and gentlemen, with SGF and PGA as equal owners via Svenska Golftourerna AB.
“John with his positive, charismatic personality, high skills and strong will, was an important driving force in Swedish golf and the PGA for many years. The loss is already great.”
John later became the PGA of Sweden’s first honorary chairman and on the Swedish Golf Museum's website he is described as: “The talented PGA pro personified. A good teacher, good player, who had a wonderful sense of humor (sic) and opened many doors for the PGA and Swedish golf.”
John was pre-deceased by his first wife, Doris, with whom he had two children, Anna-Lena and John, and is survived by Gudrun, his second wife, their son Michael, and her three children, Magnus, Maritha, and Malin. The PGA extends heartfelt condolences to them on their loss.
