About
Despite his success, Bonallack remained an amateur throughout his career and is the only person to have been both Secretary and Captain of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Sir Michael Bonallack was one of the most influential figures in British and international golf, known both for his extraordinary amateur golfing prowess and his administrative leadership. Born in Chigwell, Essex in 1934, Bonallack won five Amateur Championships and dominated the English amateur scene during the 1960s. A nine-time participant in the Walker Cup, he captained the victorious 1971 team at St Andrews, ending a 38-year drought for Great Britain and Ireland. Beyond his playing success, he served as Chairman of the European Tour, President of the English Golf Union, and became Secretary of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews from 1983 to 1999, helping guide the game into the modern era. Knighted in 1998 and inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000, Bonallack also lent his expertise to golf course design and has the prestigious Bonallack Trophy named in his honor. His lifetime contributions shaped both the amateur and professional game in profound ways.
