Room at Brora Golf Club named in honour of Peter Thomson
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BRAID Society president and honorary member of Brora Golf Club, Australian Peter Thomson CBE, officially opened a room in the Brora clubhouse in tribute to his worldwide fame.
The ceremony took place before he handed over the cups and prizes at the James Braid Open competition at Brora.
Peter has been five-time Open champion and ambassador of Brora golf course over many years.
Now in his 88th year, he donated many pictures and memorabilia to the club of his golfing triumphs since he turned professional after winning the Australian Open as an amateur in 1949.
He is one of only five professional golfers to have won the Open Championship five times – his successes followed James Braid by the year 1910, Harry Vardon a year later and J H Taylor by 1913.
Thomson recorded his victories in an 11-year spell between 1954 and 1965.
His last win in 1965 was considered by many as his best, because it came when the dominance of power was switching to American players.
The fifth five-time Open winner was Tom Watson, who took his titles in a spell from 1975 to 1983.
Peter Thomson wrote to the members of Brora Golf Club to mark the club’s 125 years:
“A very happy 125th anniversary year.
“When James Braid first set eyes on the land that is now Brora Golf Club he must have felt the same elation I did, many years later, when I first saw what he had designed on this precious piece of links land.
“I came to Brora with my wife Mary, to see what Steven Toon of the Braid Society had recommended to me as one of Scotland’s unsung gems.
“We arrived on a very cool and cloudy day and after quietly paying our green fees, the two of us set off on our first adventure of this place that I came very swiftly to recognise as a great course, and to love playing, with its many subtleties and surprises.
“To be sharing it with the local sheep and cattle that day only added to our enjoyment and appreciation of the natural environment.
“Over the ensuing years it has been a joy to introduce many of our friends to Brora, and I have had the pleasure of being able to spread the word of its many charms a little wider through the golfing community.
“Our visits all these years have been wonderful, and both Mary and I thank everyone who have made us so welcome. I cherish my membership of Brora Golf Club and thank you sincerely for the honour you pay me.
“A trip to Scotland would never be completely fulfilling without a visit to Brora. We wish we could have been present at your celebratory dinner, but being present at the James Braid weekend more than made up for that.”
