Lagonda Trophy founder and former golf course owner Clive Smith dies – Golf News

Clive Smith, a qualified accountant who ran a golf course development business in the south-east in the 1980s and 90s, has died aged 82 following a short illness.

A keen golfer, and a member of Camberley Heath, Walton Heath, Royal Porthcawl and Wentworth at various times in his life, Smith turned his hand to building golf courses after an early career spent working as an accountant for leading car manufacturers. Chrysler and Ford.

After turning his love of golf into a business, he converted the former racecourse at Hawthorn Hill in Maidenhead into the Bird Hills Golf Centre, a 9-hole course which opened in 1982 and is still in operation today, re-designing and building 18 holes. The course at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Frimley, Surrey, opened for play in 1992.

Smith also designed the 9-hole course at Windlemere Golf Club in Woking which opened in 1978 but closed in 2017.

PAYMENT AND PLAY POLICY

All three clubs were run on a pay-to-play basis and were designed to target the pay-per-day golf market. Being of a higher standard than most other public or municipal courses at the time, the goal of all Smith's facilities was to provide quality golf at an affordable price, which proved to be a winning formula, attracting many of those new to golf. develop a lifelong interest in the sport.

After 14 years of private ownership, Smith sold Pine Ridge to Crown Golf in 2007, and Bird Hills was sold to Japanese owners in 1992.

LAGONDA ​​TROPHY

Eager to promote beginner golf at all levels and bring in the next generation of future stars, Smith founded the Lagonda Trophy, an elite boys tournament open to players with a handicap of 1.4 or better. First played in 1975 at Camberley Heath Golf Club in Surrey, where Smith served as club captain, the winner's trophy was a miniature replica of the 1930s Lagonda Tourer sports car that was Smith's passion and joy.

The tournament was held in Camberley until 1989, after which it moved to Gog Magog Golf Club in Cambridgeshire, where it is still played today.

Past winners include a number of players who have achieved success in both the junior and professional game, including Peter McEvoy ('80), Russell Claydon ('88), David Gilford ('86), Lee Westwood ('92), Luke Donald (' 97), Gary Wolstenholme ('02), Andy Sullivan ('10), Kennie Ferrie ('98), Oliver Fisher ('04) and Dale Whitnell ('08)

This year's Lagonda Trophy – the 49th renewal – took place at Gog Magog on May 29-30 and was won by Brandon Skidmore of Cotswold Hills with a 72-hole score of 275.

SUCCESSFUL HORSE OWNER

As well as being a keen golfer, Smith was also a keen fan of horse racing and owned many of the leading National Hunt horses and trainers, including Martin Pipe, Jenny Pitman, David Elsworth and David Nicholls.

He had several Cheltenham winners, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Master Minded, and the legendary Kauto Star, who won 16 times over the fence, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice (2007 and 2009) and five King George VI Chases at Kempton.