Golfer Max Faulkner remembered at Pitlochry

May 27 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

DURING a memorable exhibition match in the summer of 1959, Open champion golfer Max Faulkner wrote himself into Highland Perthshire folklore.

He was the man who tried, unsuccessfully, to leap across the burn which protects the 18th green at Pitlochry Golf Club.

When the 1951 Royal Portrush winner was challenged to attempt the leap of faith, he was adamant he’d only take it on if a large gallery donated money for his chosen charity.

When Max felt enough cash had been gathered-up, he made a long run-up and took off – only to land on the far bank and topple, off balance, back into the water, leaving his striking canary yellow outfit drenched.

Now, Pitlochry Golf are re-naming the closing 18th hole “Max’s Leap” in the Ryder Cup star’s honour.

And they have invited Max’s sons Guy and John to be their guests of honour at a ceremony teed-up for Sunday, June 5.

The event will conclude a busy weekend of celebrations, including the final rounds of the gents’ club championship and the Centenary Cup competition which sees all categories of members playing on the same day.

Several locals who were present at the ‘59 event are being invited to attend.

Pitlochry professional Mark Pirie said: “It promises to be a memorable weekend of golf. We are delighted Guy and John are making it to Pitlochry.

“They will get a chance to play the course and will be involved in the Sunday celebrations which will see the 18th re-named in their father’s honour.”

The club is keen to track down more golf fans who were in the gallery on the day Max came to grief in the burn.

The legendary exhibition match was played on August 15, 1959, with Max joined by Scots trio Eric Brown, John Panton and Jimmy Wilson.

They were playing in aid of The National Society for Cancer Relief, Max’s chosen charity.

Steven Carruthers, of Pitlochry Golf, said: “Imagine now getting to see a match at any club, let alone Pitlochry, featuring three Ryder Cup players for 12½p!”

Guy Faulkner recalled: “I attended the 1959 match with my mother and sister Hilary, who married Brian Barnes.

“All the exhibition matches were for Cancer Relief and my father was a fanatic as far as the charity was concerned.

“He would arrive early to meet the members, have lunch at the club, give a demonstration before the match, then hang around afterwards waiting for the members to sink plenty of glasses before starting the auction. Other pros just arrived for the golf , then buzzed off.

“It always used to make me laugh because, at the demo, dad would be slicing balls, hooking them, skying them and hitting low ones. Then on the first tee he was all in a muddle and could never hit one straight. It took him a couple of holes to settle down!”

Max Faulkner passed away in 2005 at the age of 88. He is one of just six British golfers to have won the Open in the post-war years. He upset the establishment with his colourful attire in an era when gentlemen golfers were meant to dress conservatively.