FORMER Tavistock Golf Club secretary Basil Steer, who was one of the most popular and well-known figures in the amateur game, collapsed and died yesterday (Wednesday) after attending a meeting of the English Golf Union heaquarters at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire.
Mr Steer, 70, was secretary of Tavistock for 31 years and was club vice president at the time of his death. He lived at Grenofen with his wife Lois. He also leaves a son and two grandchildren.
Before his introduction to golf, he played amateur football in local leagues in Devon and Cornwall. But once he had picked up a golf club, Mr Steer soon became a scratch player and went on to win most of the major amateur competitions in the South West.
After joining the golf club in 1956, he went on to become captain twice before taking over as secretary.
He was a former president of the EGU and this year took over as president of the Devon Golf Union — the only honour he had not held in his long and illustrious career in golf.
One of the most satisfying roles he took on was as a Walker Cup selector culminating in the victory over the United States at Royal Porthcawl in 1995.
During his life, Mr Steer was unstinting in his help to junior golf throughout Devon and the South West with two winners of the English Amateur Championship coming from former Devon juniors in
Tavistock GC secretary Michael O'Dowd, paying tribute to Mr Steer, said: 'We are all devastated and he will be missed greatly. He dedicated his life to amateur golf.'