The golf professional.
As the season draws to a close golf101 would like to take a moment to celebrate golf professionals up and down the country.
Specifically, we'd like to recognise Terry Marshall of Eastbourne Downs Golf Club.
He was 'let go' two days ago by the Club's new owners.
Golf101 is somewhat bothered by the situation but there's little dividend getting into that.
There'll be a lot of noise and posturing across the membership.
Understandable, the man was an institution.
But talking trash isn't what this blog is about.
Yeah, sure there's been the odd pop at LIV...
...more for comedic effect than anything else.
But no,
Terry parting ways with Eastbourne Downs is far too significant an event to warrant playing the fool.
Rather, here, we present golf101's own tribute.
A personal stab at a testimony, in verse, to 'our Terry'.
Those who know him, will have their own take, but will hopefully recognise something of the man in this homage.
So join us in celebrating Eastbourne Downs very own 'El Tel'
Efficient in word and deed
You weren’t a showman
There wasn’t a need
You knew your craft
You weren’t daft
One of a dying breed
Five decades a 'one club' man
If you canvass the members
Everyone is a fan
It will be strange
That you’re not on the range
Sort out your swing? Terry can
Quiet and shy
A stand up guy
How did you not go insane?
Thousands of hoursÂ
In sunshine or showersÂ
Repeating again and again
"Check alignment and grip
Then just let it rip"
"Trust me", there isn’t a catch
We’d all try our best
We’d try to investÂ
But few ever get to 'scratch'
It’s been an absolute pleasureÂ
Let’s look at the ledger
You’ve achieved what a handful will do
Top of your game
Revered by name
Loyal to the 'club with a view'
Humble and modest
Plaudits you’d protest
You’d rarely promote ‘I’
But you made things tick
Behind the scenes you were slick
The 'master', a golfing Jedi
So we’re gutted you’re gone
That your Downs race is run
We’ll miss you more than you know
Just be full of pride
It’s been a hell of a rideÂ
And now you get the chance to go slowÂ
Whatever it brings
We hope for good things
As things unfold on the back nine
But you can be sure
Your Downs legacy is secure
In its chronicles you’ll have your own line.
Best wishes old friend
Professional to the end
More than most will ever attain
Stay in touch we all say
And come back some day
In our hearts you’ll always remain
Terry Marshall was the Club Professional at Eastbourne Downs Golf Club from 1985-2024.
He was a friend, mentor and confident to thousands of golfers in that time.
That's a pretty cool legacy by anyone's standards.
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