Whatever the weather, a familiar sight at Clontarf GC over the years was that of the resident professional, tube of practice balls in hand, guiding a pupil towards a designated spot on the 17th or 18th fairway for a lesson.

Joe Craddock, one of the most loved and respected figures in the game, died late on Wednesday night after a long illness. He was 72.

Having moved from Foxrock to Clontarf in 1968 as a successor to Jack Quinn, he remained with the club until his retirement last September. His illustrious brother Tom, who was a Walker Cup player in 1967 and 1969, died after a lengthy illness in 1998, while another brother, Mick, was non-playing captain of the Irish international team.

Remarkably, Joe, Tom, Mick and another brother, Paddy, played competitive golf together only once as adults, in the Greystones Pro-Am of 1983. As youngsters, however, they were inseparable, with the other three looking to Joe for guidance.

The Craddocks were also interested in other sports. Joe was involved in soccer and Gaelic football and played for Malahide United and Baldoyle United.

The family have always been synonymous with Malahide GC, where Joe and Tom were on the greenkeeping staff. And after winning the British Greenkeepers' title in 1951, Joe took over the dual role of greenkeeper-professional at the club.

He played all four rounds of the British Open at St Andrews in 1955 but his best tournament performances were in finishing sixth behind Kel Nagle in the Irish Hospitals Tournament at Woodbrook in 1961 and beating Jimmy Martin to win the Moran Cup a year later.

Irish golf has not produced a more kindly man. Our sympathy is extended to his wife Carmel his children Josephine, John, Suzanne - married to golfer Philip Walton - Maria and Paul. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. DG