"LETTER TO THE EDITOR"

From Bill Hogg.

I refer to Scottishgolfview.com's recent report in the obituary section and wish to convey my own recollections on the late Finlay Morris whom I recall died in a car crash on the way home from a tournament in Mere, Cheshire around 1970.
Finlay was a member of the 1962 Scottish boys' team which I captained in the annual match against England, held that year at Royal Mid-Surrey, when we were both also members of a British boys team in a match against the Rest of Europe, both matches played in advance of the British boys' championship at the above venue.
While Finlay did not win the British boys' title that year (won by the equally talented Peter Townsend who went on to be both a Walker and Ryder Cup player), Finlay’s abilities prevailed the following year when he won both the Scottish and British boys championships and then went on to became one of, if not, the youngest at that time to be capped for Scotland for the Home Internationals before turning professional.
I clearly recall Finlay standing out almost as a man amongst the rest of us boys, both in terms of his physique and technique and his ball striking seemed in a different class from his contemporaries.
I think I am right in saying that his father was steward at Cawder Golf Club and Finlay made full use of being based in such a ideal location for an up and coming golfer, especially in those days when even the most talented of players had to a large extent to learn the game on their own the hard way without the benefits which subsequent generations enjoy of intensive coaching and training.
Finlay developed a natural, very orthodox swing which I seem to remember used to remind me of Peter Alliss, then one of our best professionals and an example for any inspiring young player. Not only was his golf of the highest standard but he was of an extremely likeable and easy-going disposition and it was indeed very sad that he died at such a young age and in such tragic circumstances.
My memory of his fairly short career in the professional ranks is now somewhat hazy but I seem to recall that his prodigious early talents as a champion boy golfer were not really followed up by much success after he turned ‘pro' but maybe I am being unfair in that regard and happy to stand corrected by others who were closer to him at that time.
Suffice to say that he was a magnificent player of wonderful natural ability and a great loss to the game and it is only fitting that the memory of such a fine young man be kept alive in recognition of a unique talent for the game of golf.

W B Hogg
18 May 2009