Whitburn Golf Club receives a poignant Christmas card from late golfing legend Peter Alliss
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Peter Alliss signed the card, which simply reads “chins up”, and mailed it shortly before he passed away on Saturday, December 5, aged 89.
Alliss has sent Whitburn Golf Club a Christmas card every year since 1979 when he was made a life member after accepting an invitation to open their new clubhouse.
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Hide AdThe course, which overlooks Marsden Bay, made a smart move to get the golfing legend to open the clubhouse – sending his wife Jackie a bouquet of flowers with a letter asking her to persuade Peter to do the honours.
Ian McConnell, the club treasurer, says the “voice of golf” will be remembered fondly by everyone connected to the club.
Mr McConnell said: “I thought the label on the envelope looked familiar and when I opened it, it was signed by Peter with the message 'chins up!'
"Many of our members will remember him with affection and the honour he did us when he opened our new clubhouse."
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Hide AdAlliss was among the finest players of his generation, winning 21 professional tournaments – including three British PGA championships.
Following his broadcasting debut in 1961, he was the BBC’s chief golf commentator by 1978 – he even covered the Masters in November from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic and his own failing health.
The director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater, said: “Peter was the voice of golf. He was an absolute master of his craft with a unique ability to capture a moment with a magical turn of phrase that no one else could match.”