Baberton honour Murray and Brand with memberships

Ralph Brand during his Rangers days. Picture: SNS

Murray, whose dad, Jimmy, was the Baberton pro at one time, cut his golfing teeth at the Juniper Green club, where he returned last year to open a new clubhouse.

He is only the fifth recipient of honorary membership at Baberton in recent years after Joan Marshall, Fiona de Vries, Paul Ferrier and Alan Jollie.

“Ewen’s connection with Baberton, through his own membership and his father’s years as professional, is very substantial,” said club captain Brian Chrystal.

“Ewen kindly made time last year to open our new clubhouse and it gave him an opportunity to pick up his acquaintance with old partners and opponents.

“His warmth and real interest in how the place had changed since he last saw it made the day even more of a pleasure. Ewen’s acceptance of his honorary membership was gracious and amusing, as one would expect of him.”

Marshall and de Vries received their honours for a combination of playing performances and services to ladies golf; Ferrier got his for a fine amateur career that included winning the Scottish Boys and reaching the semi-finals in the Amateur Championship while Jollie has been heavily involved in the new clubhouse.

Brand, who made more than 200 appearances for Rangers and won nine Scotland caps, has been a Baberton member for 50 years and also had his life membership ruber-stamped by members at the club’s annual general meeting. “Ralph is a real gentleman in every sense and we were delighted to see him receive his life membership,” added Chrystal. “Ralph is in our ‘stable’ of former professional footballers along with Jimmy Murray – ‘Ruby’ to all who know him – Jim Brown and David Clunie.”

Still providing sterling service to the ladies’ game, Marshall is currently an SLGA vice presidents while her daughter, Karen, is the Scotland captain for the Women’s Home Internationals.