PAUL FISHER ACCEPTS EGU PRESIDENCY FOR 2004
Paul Fisher, a long-serving golf administrator from Gloucestershire, has accepted the nomination to become President Elect of the English Golf Union for the year 2003 with a view to becoming its President in 2004.
Although cricket was his first love, golf has been a major part of Paul’s life for well over 30 years, if not longer, and he has served the Gloucestershire Union, Minchinhampton Golf Club, CONGU and the EGU with distinction over that period.
Born in Minchinhampton 69 years ago, Paul began playing golf as a youngster with hickory shafted clubs on Minchinhampton Common. However, cricket was his first choice and throughout his school days at Wycliffe College he developed into a good class batsman. After school he played for Stroud Cricket Club and the Gloucester Gypsies
He was called up for National Service with the Gloucestershire Regiment, the Glorious Gloucesters, and at the end of his two years passed his exams for a regular commission and staying on with the regiment as a lieutenant, served in Kenya during the Mau Mau troubles in the mid-Fifties.
On returning to Britain, Paul took up an instructional post at Plymouth and it was while he was there that the golf bug truly bit. He joined Looe Bin Down Golf Club and was taken under the wing of the club professional, Doug Colgan. ‘He taught me a lot and my handicap came down from 16 to 2 in a year,’ says Paul. ‘But I think he had an ulterior motive as I used to partner him in various Alliance meetings of which he would win many.’
In 1959, Paul resigned his commission to join the family textile business in Gloucester and after a while was responsible for developing the soft furnishings side, opening stores in Bristol, Bath and Swindon. He was Managing Director and Chairman of the company until the business was wound up in 1988 after which he became secretary/manager of Gerrards Cross Golf Club for ten years until his retirement.
However, his work on the administrative side of golf goes back to the Sixties. ‘I have been heavily involved with Minchinhampton Golf Club in fact since I was in short trousers,’ he adds. He was Captain in 1963, Chairman during the early 1980’s and has been chairman of the Greens Committee.
Paul also played a key role in the development and construction of the present newer courses at the club, which were built some two miles from the original layout on common land. He has served on the executive committee of the Gloucestershire Golf Union since 1965 and was its President in 1970 when the county was crowned English champions at Moor Park.
He has represented the county on the EGU Council since 1978, while his work with the English Golf Union has been long and varied. He is in his second spell with the EGU Championship Committee, having served from 1979-’88 and from 1996 to the present day, having been its chairman from 1985-’88.
Paul also served on the Executive Committee from 1982-’88 and was re-elected last year, has been on the Standard Scratch and Handicap Committee since 1985 and its chairman for the past six years.
He has been on the Executive Committee of the Council of National Golf Unions since 1998 and was its chairman last year and a member of CONGU’s Standard Scratch and Handicap Committee since 1997.
Europe has also featured high on Paul’s long list of appointments. He served on the European Golf Association’s Championship Committee from 1998-2001 and still represents the EGU on the EGA.
A member of the R&A since 1990, Paul referees in top amateur events such as the St Andrews Trophy and Home Internationals as well as many EGU tournaments. He is currently President of the South West Counties Association.
In recent times he has been closely involved with course rating, the EGU having introduced a system recognised by CONGU as an alternative to the USGA method and now used in England.
On the playing side, Paul represented Gloucestershire with a handicap of one for nearly ten years, but never managed to win the county championship although he still holds the course record at Minchinhampton Old Course. His current handicap is eight.
Referring to his nomination, Paul says: ‘Something like this always comes as a shock and while it is a big responsibility, I look forward to it immensely. It is a great honour for my county, my club and my family. The EGU has been an integral part of my life since 1978, rather like the regiment was. I am fortunate to have been chosen.’
Paul is married to Ann, has three children, four stepchildren, and 11 grandchildren.
He is believed to be the first president-elect to come from Gloucestershire.
For further information please contact:
Neil Hayward
Assistant Secretary
English Golf Union
T: 01526 354500