Tributes paid to Turnberry legend George Brown

TRIBUTES have been paid to long-serving Turnberry course manager George Brown after his death following a short illness at the age of 78.

Brown, who started out as a greenkeeper at Prince’s in Kent, near his home at Deal, moved to the Ayrshire resort in 1986 and oversaw three Opens before retiring in 2009.

“George was a unique character who for me will always be synonymous with Turnberry,” ssid former general manager Stewart Selbie. “He absolutely loved Turnberry and will go down in the history of the resort as a very special and important part of it.”

Stephen Walker, director of sales and marketing, described Brown as a “true gentleman”, adding: “As well as being a legendary keeper of the greens, it was George’s personality and particularly his humour that made him the larger than life character he was.

“Equally comfortable in a Saturday morning fourball with his cronies as playing golf with royalty, world leaders or A list celebrities, George made everybody laugh.”

Ricky Hall, Turnberry’s director of golf, worked with Brown for ten years. He said: “There is hardly a day that his name isn’t mentioned at Turnberry. George was an incredible custodian of our fine links, with a great relationship and true understanding of mother nature.”