Brian Anderson in his Brora Golf Club professional's shop (Robin Wilson picture).

BRORA PRO BRIAN ANDERSON HONOURED
BY PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS ASSOCIATION

By ROBIN WILSON
Having turned professional at the tender age of 15, Brian Anderson, now professional at Brora Golf Club, progressed to winning the West of Scotland Professional Championship of 1973. But it was for his teaching and administrative abilities that Brian made an indelible mark on the game. So much so that at age 61 he has just recently been honoured by his fellow professionals and given Honorary Membership of the Professional Golfers Association.
The honour, not given lightly, equating almost to a hall of fame for professionals, took him by complete surprise and from his Brora shop he commented “I am surprised and delighted to be accorded such a prestigious status by my fellow professionals. I was named a Sunderland Golf Professional of the year in 1999 for contribution and service to the game but this is really something special.”
In the Scottish Region there are only six others who have received similar standing.
On leaving Lossiemouth High School in 1962 he began his apprenticeship as a professional golfer and club maker with the Moray Professional, James Mackenzie.
His club making apprenticeship was completed in St Andrews with Tom Morris Club Makers and the Swilken Golf Company. Then came his first post as a fully qualified professional at the Scotscraig club in Tayport.
Helensburgh beckoned in 1969 where as the club's first modern day professional he remained until 1986, leaving with honorary club membership bestowed, for his move to Dalmahoy where he eventually rose to the position of Director of Golf at the Marriot Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club. From 1989 to 2001 he was responsible for developing Dalmahoy into one of Scotland's leading golf hotel resorts, staging many major championships including the inaugural Solheim Cup in Europe in 1992 , five Scottish professional championships, two Scottish Women's Opens and three Scottish Senior championships.
But before the move to Dalmahoy his teaching and administrative capabilities were already recognised. While at Helensburgh the present Walker Cup captain and former player Colin Dalgleish, was a noted protege.
In 1974 Anderson joined the West of Scotland PGA Committee and was elected Captain in 1976. A position on the Scottish PGA soon followed as did its captaincy where he had responsibility for the development of the emerging Tartan Tour and the appointment of Sandy Jones as its then full time secretary. His knowledge of golf administration and rules of golf (he is a qualified PGA Referee) were not confined to Scotland.
The Professional Golfers Association soon had him serving on the Ryder Cup Committee where he officiated at Kiawah Island, The Belfry, Oak Hill, Valderrama, and Brookline.
Brian stepped back from club golf at Dalmahoy in 2001 to develop his off-course skills even further when appointed Golf Coach Education Manager for Scotland to put in place a team of coaches and tutors to undertake the Scottish Executive's initiative to have all under nine year old children in Scotland introduced to golf.
Launched with great success, Brian then decided to step down and retire to the south of France but the call of golf and daily involvement was too much for him. Golf Professional to the Brora Golf Week for the past 27 years, when offered a summer post in Brora in 2006 he jumped at it and now he is back where he started at the grass roots, serving the need of members and visitors.