A Memorial Service for John Panton OBE will be held in Pitlochry on Friday September 4th in the Pitlochry Festival Theatre Perthshire Scotland at 1:45 p.m. for 2p.m
John Panton MBE, who was the oldest surviving Ryder Cup player and one of the game’s most distinguished and respected ambassadors, has died aged 92.
One of golf’s most popular and respected professionals throughout an illustrious career, he was accorded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour in 2004 in recognition of his enormous contribution to the game.
Panton represented Great Britain and Ireland in three Ryder Cup Matches – in 1951, 1953 and 1961 – and played 12 times for Scotland in the World Cup. Among his career highlights were victories in the British Match Play Championship in 1956 and, in 1967, he beat Sam Snead 3 and 2 in the final of the World Seniors Championship at Wallasey.
He was the leading British player in The 1956 Open Championship, when he finished fifth, and continued to play at the highest level into his 50s. His performance in The 1970 Open Championship at St Andrews stood out when, aged 53, he shot the lowest round of the final day in gale force winds to finish tied ninth behind Jack Nicklaus.
Born in Pitlochry, Perthshire, in 1916 Panton turned professional in 1935 at the age of 19. Away from tournament golf he was a committed and much respected club professional, based at Glenbervie Golf Club for almost 30 years before retiring in 1984.
In 1988 he was made Honorary Professional to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club following the death of Laurie Aucherlonie, a position he held for 17 years until his retirement in 2006. Soon after he accepted an invitation to become and Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
He also won the Scottish Professional Championship on eight occasions.
In his later years he moved to Sunningdale to be with his daughter Cathy – herself an accomplished professional – and son-in-law Phil and had very close links to Sunningdale Golf Club which he visited regularly. He would have loved to have been at the Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard this week but for his failing health.
Neil Coles, Chairman of The European Tour Board of Directors, paid tribute when he said: “He was the last of that generation. I played with John in my first Ryder Cup in 1961 so I have a lot of very fond memories of him. He was a very nice man, a quiet man but very well respected throughout the game. He was a tremendous iron player in his time and a very good senior player. He won the British Seniors a few times and would have loved to have been at Sunningdale this week. He will be sadly missed.”
John Jacobs, the founding father of The European Tour, was another very close friend of John Panton. “I was very fond of John, in spite of the fact he beat me three times on the last green!” he said. “He was always too good for me, but I stilled loved that man. John was a dear man, and a fantastic iron player.”
Peter Dawson, Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said: “John Panton was a magnificent golfer, a model professional and a true gentleman. Although he lived a very full life, it is sad to see him go and our thoughts are very much with his family. He will be sorely missed.”
Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the Professional Golfers Association, said: “John Panton to me, personally, and to the PGA, was a very special person. In 1983 we established our first Scottish regional office at Glenbervie Golf Club where John was an absolute legend. His help and assistance there were instrumental in that move. He was such a supporter of the PGA and he was one of the greatest players Scotland has ever produced. The dignity in which he conducted his business was a credit to him and a lesson to all. He will be sadly missed by everyone involved in the game to which he has given so much.”
Sam Torrance, speaking moments after completing a five under par 65 in the second round of the Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard at Sunningdale, said: "He was a dear friend. I knew him all my golfing life and my thoughts go to Cathy, his daughter. He was a wonderful man, a gentleman of the game. He gave a lot of inspiration to a lot of Scottish golfers."
John Chillas, who followed John Panton as head professional at Glenbervie Golf Club, said: “He was a tremendously well respected person who will be sadly missed. He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself but was extremely well liked at Glenbervie.”
The funeral of the late John Panton will be held on Tuesday 4 August at 11.15 a.m at Easthampstead Park Crematorium.
The full address of the Crematorium is South Road, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3DW.
Family flowers only, donations, if desired, to be made to the PGA Benevolent Fund. The family plan to organise a Memorial Service, in Scotland, at a later date.
