Tributes have been paid to Jim Farmer, a PGA Master Professional and former captain of The Professional Golfers’ Association, who has died suddenly at the age of 76.
Farmer was known in his hometown of St Andrews as ‘Mr Golf’, although his reputation for excellence as a player, coach, businessman and administrator extended way beyond the confines of the Home of Golf.
He succeeded another luminary of Scottish golf, the late John Panton, as the Honorary Professional at Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and was honoured by St Andrews University in a ceremony alongside Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington. He also ran Jim Farmer Golf in the town’s Market Street for almost 20 years.
From a PGA perspective, he served on the Association’s board and was Captain from 2009-2011. As a player, he won the 1983 Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship and represented Great Britain and Ireland in four PGA Cups. Then as Captain at the K Club in 2005, he led the team to its first victory in 23 years.
“Jim’s contribution to the PGA and the world of golf was in keeping with his physique,” said PGA chief executive Robert Maxfield. “He was a big man and his influence for good in so many areas of the game – as a player, coach and administrator – was immense. Generous with his time, he was also a wonderful ambassador for the PGA and his loss is incalculable. Our thoughts are with Denise, his wife, and family at this desperately sad time.”
Born in St Andrews in 1948 and showing a keen interest in and talent for a variety of sports growing up, it was perhaps inevitable that Jim would become involved with golf at some stage of his life. Initially, however, a career in the game seemed unlikely as football took preference.
His prowess as a centre-half prompted Hearts to pay him £500 to sign on at the age of 17, but fate intervened in the form of a cruciate knee injury three years later. Although it signalled the end of his football career, the door to a golfing one opened when he joined Haig, the whisky distillers, working in the sales department.
Farmer had continued to play the game after training sessions with Hearts and his new employers, who engaged another titan of Scottish golf, Ronnie Shade, to promote its Vat 69 brand, encouraged his interest and talent by giving him leave to play in tournaments.
Within a year he had represented Scotland as an amateur and won the Lytham Trophy and Leven Gold Medal. He followed up by turning pro in 1971.
Farmer had made his debut in the Open Championship a year earlier, appropriately at St Andrews, and went on to compete in another five, including the 1977 tournament at Turnberry which culminated in the ‘Duel in the Sun’ involving Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. Having made the cut, Farmer went into the final round in 19th place, and was 15th after six holes but fell away to finish tied 52nd, three shots behind Tony Jacklin and as many ahead of Sir Nick Faldo.
Other regular adversaries included the likes of Neil Coles, Brian Huggett, Howard Clark and Tommy Horton and although Jim thrived on the newly created Tartan Tour, topping the money list seven seasons running, making a living on the fledgling European Tour proved difficult. Consequently, he became the head pro at Drumpellier and, inspired by working with and having lessons from John Jacobs, he established a reputation as a gifted coach.
He was appointed coach of Scotland’s boys and youth teams and played a key role in the development of Andrew Coltart, Gary Orr, Gordon Brand Jnr, Stephen McAllister and Stephen Gallacher. He also coached McAllister when he went on tour, likewise Adam Hunter, Ross Drummond and Paul Lawrie.
Away from the practice ground, pro shop, board room and tournament circuit, Farmer was appointed director of golf on two films, one directed by Jason Connery, the son of Sean.
All of which added up to a career as fulfilling as it was varied. Reflecting on it, he said: “I was born in St Andrews and lived five miles away, so it was maybe going to be difficult for me not to have played golf. But the journey it has taken me on, from Ryder Cups, being on the board of the PGA, being captain of the PGA.
My greatest thing was getting a St Andrews University award with Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Padraig Harrington and Johann Rupert. To have breakfast with Palmer and chat about his career while Watson’s swing was the one I talked to people about when I was national coach. Things like that you just wouldn’t dream about. Unbelievable, really.”