Peter Benka accepts EGU Presidency for 2008
Peter Benka, a Walker Cup player and former England international,
has accepted the nomination to become President Elect of the
English Golf Union for the year 2007 with a view to becoming
its President in 2008.
Peter played in the 1969 Walker Cup match in Milwaukee and
claimed a singles victory over Steve Melnyk. Although GB&I
lost narrowly 10-8, he lost only one of his four matches.
His England record is also impressive with only seven defeats
in 29 matches between 1967 and 1970.
Reacting to his invitation, Peter said: “I’m
very honoured to be asked. It was a pleasant surprise. I’ve
had a lot of enjoyment from golf and English golf in particular
over the years and it will be a privilege to follow many of
the great and the good of the English game.”
Born in London in 1946, Peter was educated at Charterhouse
and started his working life in the City. He is now retired
from stockbroking having been a partner in the firm of Laing
& Cruickshank, and later a Director of Credit Lyonnais
Securities.
He started the game at an early age at Addington Golf Club.
A winner of the British Youths Championship in 1967 and ‘68,
he also won the Surrey County Championship twice (1967 and
‘68) and represented the county between 1965 and 1984.
He was capped at England Boy and Youth level then became a
full international. He was a member of England's winning side
in the European Mens’ Team Championship in 1969 and,
as well as the Walker Cup, represented Great Britain &
Ireland in the St Andrews Trophy in 1970.
His lowest handicap was plus-one but he now plays social
golf off five at Walton Heath and West Sussex Golf Clubs.
Peter’s life as a golf administrator began in 1972
when he became Captain of Surrey, serving on the County Committee
for 25 years. He is currently a Vice President.
His work with the EGU began in 1981 on the Executive and
Finance Committees and later on the Championship Committee.
However, the playing side of the game was never far away and
he became an England selector in 1993, taking over as chairman
the following year until 1998. His first captain was Peter
McEvoy and later Malcolm Lewis.
In 1997, Peter was elected to the R&A’s Selection
Committee, taking over as chairman in 1999 until 2002. Again
he had McEvoy as captain and later Garth McGimpsey. Peter
currently chairs the R&A’s Amateur Status Committee
and serves on the General Committee and is due to step down
in September 2007.
He was also President of the Public Schools Golfing Society,
1999-2001.
Peter, 60, is married to Pam (nee Tredinnick) who has a distinguished
playing career of her own. She was a Curtis Cup player in
1966 and ‘68, and England international, and was Curtis
Cup captain in 2002. She is currently Ladies Captain at West
Sussex Golf Club. They have a son, Mark, and a daughter, Clare.
“I’m really looking forward to 2008,” he
added. “I shall garnish as much information as I can
in the meantime and if it is spreading the word on what the
EGU is all about around the country that is a role I’m
happy to undertake.”
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