An abiding memory of Dr Billy O'Sullivan, who died at the weekend aged 89, was of a media day back in 1969 to launch the new Killeen Course at Killarney. We were enticed by a champagne breakfast and then forced to endure a cross-country tramp over ploughed fields.
Like a general marshalling his troops, Dr Billy O's booming voice ensured there were no stragglers, even among those of us who had opted for a breakfast more liquid than sustaining. In the event, there was no resisting the good doctor, who had a way of getting things done.
Indeed it was typical of the man that he succeeded in getting a surprisingly large turnout, from both sides of the Irish Sea. And all our names were duly placed in a champagne bottle - empty, naturally - and buried in what is now the 10th green.
The Killeen course was his pride and joy, even down to the controversial 17th hole which some critics have since referred to as Dr Billy O's folly. But his contribution to Irish golf extended way beyond his beloved Killarney.
He happened to be president of the GUI in 1960 when he was chairman of the organising committee for the staging of the Canada Cup at Portmarnock. It also meant that he became a member of the International Golf Association's match committee, along with such luminaries as Frank Pace Jnr, Fred Corcoran and his Irish colleague, Willie Gill.
In a contribution to the tournament programme, Dr Billy O wrote: "Ireland has a small golfing population, about 200 clubs, the majority of them with nine-hole courses. What we lack in numbers we make up in enthusiasm."
Nobody characterised the enthusiasm of Irish golf better than the man himself. He was described by my predecessor as golf correspondent of this newspaper, Paul MacWeeney, as "a great golfer of truly natural talent. He got every ounce of his considerable weight into his long game and with his wide, arced swing, was a hitter of almost legendary power.
"Only with the putter in his hands did he look slightly awkward, for he gripped the club unusually far down the shaft, but on his day he could roll them in from anywhere.
"Both as player and official, and that rare breed of the two at the same time, he had been one of the leading figures in the development of the game in Ireland for the last 30 years."
Having persuaded the GUI to bring the Irish Amateur Open Championship to Killarney in 1949, he proceeded to win the event on his home sod. This was his finest achievement as a player, though he participated in 31 singles and 31 foursomes matches for Ireland, achieving an overall success rate of higher than 50 per cent.
Honoured with the captaincy of Killarney on three occasions - 1941, 1949 and 1969 - he still maintained close links with the Dooks Club, where he set the course record of 65 in 1963 and served both as president and captain.
My condolences to his wife, Phyllis, and children Norrie, Billy, Miriam, Simon and Sally.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
