MITCHELL PLATTS (66) RETIRES AS EUROPEAN 

TOUR DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS 

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Mitchell Platts, the European Tour’s Director of Corporate Affairs and PR for the past two decades, has announced his retirement from The European Tour.
Before joining The European Tour in 1993, the 66 year old, pictured, was  the golf correspondent of The Times newspaper in London, a position which allowed him access to not only the top players in the world, but also the game’s leading administrators.
He put both these traits to full use during his time at Wentworth, utilising the professionalism of his writing alongside his ability to forge relationships not only with the media, but also with many people involved in the golfing and sponsorship industries.
He has written a number of golf books including the celebrated ‘Illustrated History of Golf’ which was published in September 2000; a 256 page look at the history of his beloved sport, from its beginnings in the 15th century to today, paying special focus on American golf legends such as Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
Naturally, there was a European flavour to much of Platts’ writing too and he produced several books in association with Sir Nick Faldo including ‘The Rough With The Smooth’ which was published in 1980 and which charted the fledgling professional career of the man who would go on to become Britain’s greatest golfer.
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, paid tribute to Platts, saying: “Mitchell has had an outstanding career with The European Tour ever since he was persuaded to leave The Times newspaper 22 years ago. He leaves a legacy of books, articles, writing, commitment, and friendship, that has helped enormously the growth and success of the Tour. We wish him and his wife Hillie all the very best for his retirement.”
O’Grady’s predecessor Ken Schofield, who recruited Mitchell during his tenure as Executive Director of The European Tour, added: "The recruitment in 1992 of Mitchell Platts as Director of Communications and Public Relations from The Times of London was one of a number of vitally important appointments by The PGA European Tour.  
"Platts was a member of a peer-group of English-language writers, whom at a period of print ascendancy, had reported the rise of The European Tour and its champion members virtually from the outset in the early 1970s. 
"Mitchell's unique talent was such that he could immediately reflect and articulate the Tour's direction and position in the emerging sporting world.  His contribution was immense and together with Mark Wilson's original inspiration built a Communications Department that today remains the envy of every mainstream sport."