Walter McLeod

Amateur golfer and businessman

Born: 10 February, 1915, at Bridge of Weir.
Died: 11 September, 2008, in Glasgow, aged 93.

WALTER McLeod was a noted amateur golfer in the pre and post-war years. He was a popular member of the R&A, Royal Troon and, his first club, Old Ranfurly. In 1984 he was appointed honorary president of the Renfrewshire Golf Union and was president of Royal Troon from 2004-07. He was an accomplished player – especially round the green – and a determined competitor.

In his youth McLeod won many prestigious competitions, but his devotion for the game never faltered. At the age of 82 he scored 74 on Troon, just a few years after winning the Silver Cross and Bombay Medal on the Old Course at St Andrews. Then in 2005, at 90, McLeod celebrated the centenary of the Ranfurly Castle course by playing the first and the 18th holes with three other notable members including his brother Kenneth, with Walter's daughter as caddy. The club's official history notes: "The years fell off them and they were in the sunshine of their youth. Walter pondered long and hard about his approach … changed clubs … and fired a long iron straight to the pin."

Walter Stewart McLeod was born in Bridge of Weir, where he was to live all his life. He attended Glasgow High School, then joined the family textile agency, Walter CS McGlashan & McLeod Bros, where he continued to work until he was 70.

During the Second World War McLeod served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve initially, on the destroyer HMS Firedrake. When it was badly bombed in the Mediterranean, he was transferred to HMS Nelson and returned to Britain.

He then took his commission, rose to the rank of lieutenant-commander and served for two years with Combined Operations, which worked from Dundonald in Ayrshire.

Its headquarters were, conveniently, at the clubhouse of Troon golf course.

Still in his twenties McLeod won several amateur championships. These included, in the 1930s, the Irish Amateur Open Championship Stroke Competition, the Tennant Cup, the Newlands Trophy and the Edward Trophy. Some of these he re-won after the war, when he was also the Glasgow district amateur champion and the Renfrewshire amateur champion.

He represented Scotland eight times (then a record) and in 1958 and 1959 was an encouraging non-playing captain of Scotland in the home internationals.

McLeod remained close to golf throughout his life and helped improve many aspects of the game by serving on various committees at a senior level. For many years McLeod was a selector of the Scottish national Walker Cup teams.

He was a popular and respected figure at Old Ranfurly, and club champion there on five occasions – and three times champion of Ranfurly Castle.

He was an enthusiast for all aspects of the game and enjoyed the company and camaraderie of fellow players.

He had been a member of the Thirty-Two Club for half a century. The club was formed in 1932 with a membership of just 32, all keen golfers from the west of Scotland. Their standard varied but their enthusiasm for the game was never in doubt.

McLeod joined just after the war and was a major figure in its playing and social activities: he was appointed club president and carried out his duties with typical energy.

One enduring tradition of the club was that McLeod said grace before dinners. His favourite – and so appropriate for the assembled company – was: "Lord, grant us the strength to drive and putt so straight and true that we may never have the need to call you through."

McLeod until recently was often seen on the practice ground at Ranfurly Castle. He was once asked why, at his age, he still needed to practise. "I go up to practise my faults. I can't hit the ball far enough now and golf is not a pleasurable game if you can't get the ball away," he replied.

This fine sportsman and courteous gentleman was a respected figure in Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland, on the links and throughout the local community.

Walter McLeod married, in 1942, Margot Hood, who had also attended Ranfurly Castle School. She died in 1992, and he is survived by their two daughters.

ALASDAIR STEVEN