Michael Bonallack

Regarded by many as Europe's finest amateur golfer, Bonallack won the British Amateur Championship five times between 1951 and 1970. He also won the English Amateur Championship title five times and was a four-time English stroke-play champion.  Twice the leading amateur in the British Open (1968, '71), Bonallack played in nine Walker Cup matches for Britain and on seven World Amateur teams.

Bonallack's lifelong love affair with golf and service to the game continued past his championship years.  In 1983, he became Secretary (in effect, chief executive) of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, with the USGA the rules-making body in the world of golf.  Bonallack retired from his R&A position in 2000, the same year he was elected Captain of the R&A.  He then joined the European Tour as a lead consultant.  Also active in golf course architecture, Bonallack's leading role in British golf included service as Chairman of the PGA of Great Britain and the Golf Foundation and President of the English Golf Union.  Michael Bonallack was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998, one of three golfers in the world to receive this distinction, and previously was awarded an Order of the British Empire for his service to golf. Today, Bonallack is a director of the European Tour and serves on the Captains Club at the Memorial Tournament.

Bonallack has received a large number of awards throughout his career including the Bob Jones Award for sportsmanship (1972), the Donald Ross Award (1991), and the Ambassador of Golf Award (1995).  He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.

Bonallack was born December 31, 1934, in Essex, England.