Sandy Jones awarded honorary degree

at Birmingham University

PGA chief executive Scots-born Sandy Jones has been awarded an honorary degree by Birmingham University in recognition of his services to golf.
The degree comes almost four decades after he left Coatbridge High School with nine O' and three A'levels and then turned down the offers of places at Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities.
Jones received the honour today at the same time as the latest crop of the University's Applied Golf Management Studies undergraduates - many of whom will go onto become PGA professionals.
Also celebrating were PGA Academy duo David Colclough and Jonathan Wright who were awarded Masters Degrees.
"I was mindful of the financial sacrifices my parents would have to make if I spent another three years in full-time education and decided to earn a living," explained Jones.
"To be awarded a degree now is great honour, especially as its for my work in golf and from Birmingham University, which has close links with the PGA."
Instead of going to university, Jones opted to train as a structural engineer and also became a member of the nearby Mount Ellen Golf Club, a membership he maintains to this day, albeit in an honorary capacity.
It was his work there as a committee member, which began during his twenties, that helped him make a rapid ascent of the golfing ladder; a rise that saw him appointed president of the Lanarkshire Golf Association in 1978 at the age of 32, the youngest ever to hold such a position in Scotland.
His burgeoning reputation for excellence off the course as well as on it (thanks to a handicap of two) was matched by his progress at work, especially in the brave new world of computers as a systems analyst.
All of which made him perfect to assume the role of The Professional Golfers' Association's Scottish region secretary in 1980. The region was one of the seven in Great Britain and Ireland under the auspices of the PGA.
Fast forward 11 years and Jones was given responsibility for all seven of them as chief executive, a job that includes looking after the business interests and training of The Association's 7,500-plus professionals who coach the sport, as well as playing a large part in the running of one of the world's biggest sporting events, The Ryder Cup.
His influence and responsibilities did not stop there, however. In 1994 Jones was appointed chairman of The PGA of Europe, the organisation that comprises the PGAs of 30 European countries.