SAM COULTER - Maybole's grand old man of golf passes away

Sam Coulter, the grand old man of Ayrshire junior golf, and to many in local golfing circles simply ‘Mr Maybole, passed away on Sunday 22^nd March 2015, at the age of 92.

Over many years, particularly in the 1970’s and 1980’s Sam’s contribution both within his club and throughout Ayrshire in general was a significant one.

Sam always had an interest in the development of junior golf and under his stewardship the Maybole junior club enjoyed their most successful years, winning the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship in 1970 and being runners up the following year.

Sam was still very much involved in the administration and development of the junior section when Maybole enjoyed further success by winning the Ayrshire Junior Golf League again in 1982, 1983 and 1986 and being runners up in 1988, 1990 and 1991.

As well as his commitment to the club juniors, which resulted in many fine players emerging from Maybole, Sam also served his club in various capacities including Secretary, Treasurer, Captain in 1959 and latterly as Honorary President.

Despite his huge commitment to the Maybole club, Sam also found time to serve the wider county, through The Ayrshire Junior Golf League, serving at various times as Vice Chairman, Chairman and Assistant Secretary, as well as assisting in the activities of The league in so many other, unheralded, ways.

It was for his efforts on behalf of the AJGL and the Maybole juniors that Sam was elected an Honorary member of The Ayrshire Junior Golf League in 1980.

In 2010 the wider Maybole community showed their appreciation of Sam’s contribution to Maybole, presentling him with the Matt Dunnachie Award which is presented on an annual basis to recognise people who have worked away in the background for organisations in the town of Maybole, in recognition of his dedication in involving, and mentoring, youngsters over many decades in the game of golf and his outstanding contribution to the lives of many.

A member of Maybole Golf Club for over 65 years, Sam still enjoyed playing golf regularly until fairly recently and was a regular attender at the Ayrshire Junior Golf League Annual Dinner, where he enjoyed meeting up with old friends and fellow Honorary members.

Sam, who was pre deceased by his wife Elizabeth in recent years and is survived by his daughter Una, will be very much missed but fondly remembered by many friends, Maybole Golf Club 

members past and present and also his many golfing friends throughout the county of Ayrshire. 

All at the Ayrshire Golf Association extend sincere sympathy to Una and the wider family at this sad time.

Sam’s funeral will be held on Friday 27 March at 3.30 p.m. at Masonhill Crematorium in Ayr.