PETER J. BOND - Ayrshire saddened by passing of Irvine Ravenspark professional

Golfers throughout Ayrshire were stunned and saddened to learn of the untimely passing of PGA Professional Peter Bond on Saturday the 16th of May at the age of 73, just weeks after he retired from his position as club professional at Irvine Ravenspark Golf Club where he had worked for forty five years.

Peter's connection with the Irvine Ravenspark club spanned a period of sixty years, since he started playing at the club as a fourteen year old schoolboy, and his period as professional at the club will stand as one of the longest period of service to one club in recent times.

His skill in the game saw him qualify as a PGA professional at the same time as fellow Ayrshireman Sam Torrance,  just four years after taking the game up, and he went on to play in many European Tour and Scottish Tour events in the 1970's and 1980's, before eventually retiring from competitive golf in 1994 after which his full time was dedicated to his club job at Irvine Ravenspark where he became a much liked and respected fixture at the course where he coached, supported and inspired countless members over the decades, and provided the foundation for many good amateur, and some professional, careers in the game. 

In 2016 Peter combined his love for golf and his passtime of writing poetry to produce a delightful book entitled Ayrshire Golf Chapter & Verse, which provides a poetic and informative guide to good course management for golfers, covering some of the most memorable holes and courses in Ayrshire.

Peter announced his retirement at the end of March 2026 but sadly was not spared to enjoy a long retirement, passing away less than two weeks after the members of the Irvine Ravenspark Club officially maked his retirement with a farewell ceremony within the clubhouse on the 3rd of May.

Peter will be very muched missed at Irvine Ravenspark and within the wider Ayrshire golfing fraternity, and beyond, and sincere condolences are extended from all at The Ayrshire Golf Association to Peter's family and close friends at this very sad time.

In Peter's published book he did of course cover his own club at Irvine Ravenspark, and concluded his hole by hole assesment of how to play the course with a couple of lines which may prompt a smile from friends when remembering Peter.   

'Then into the Nineteenth where each stroke you'll recall,

And when taking refreshment reflect, you cant win them all".