Ray Ellis to step down

10:53am Wednesday 27th February 2008

Ray Ellis, who has been an administrator with the PGA for 23 years and West Region secretary since 1992, is taking early retirement this year.

He will continue his association in a part-time role until he reaches the age of 65 in February 2011.

The PGA are now interviewing his successor. Mr Ellis will remain as an adviser until June. Then in August he starts a two-day-a-week role maintaining contact with the regional professionals under the member-visitor programme travelling to the other PGA regions.

He said: "I always said I would like to retire at 60. I haven't quite achieved that but I am delighted with the opportunity to maintain an interest in what I have enjoyed doing for so long."

Norman Fletcher, PGA director of regions and external affairs, said: "Ray has been a very professional and loyal member of the PGA for more than 23 years.

"Although he is stepping down as regional secretary, he will be still be involved with our PGA member visitation programme which reflects how much he is valued as part of the PGA team."

Born at Exminster, he has been a prominent member of the Devon sporting scene almost all his working life after leaving Hele's School and Exeter University where he gained a degree in geology.

After working as a geo chemist analysing rocks, he later became a partner in Western Cine Services, an audio-visual company, until he sold out in 1985 to buy a trophy shop, Margaret's Trophies, in Exeter.

His involvement in professional sport began in 1970 when he became Exeter City Football Club's advertising manager. He was later promoted to commercial manager and worked with a succession of football managers including John Newman, Jim Iley, Colin Appleton and Brian Godfrey.

But his interest in golf - as a leading member of Exeter Golf and Country Club playing of a handicap of eight - lured him to the PGA after 15 years with the football club.

He initially helped regional secretary Bill Morton as the starter-driver on a part-time basis in 1985, making his debut at the Cornish Festival. He worked for three months in the Exeter office from January 1986 until he was appointed a full-time tournament controller by Colin Snape, the PGA executive director.

Six years later he became regional secretary in the Midlands, based at King's Norton Golf Club, but he returned to Exeter on November 1 that year to succeed Mr Morton.

He said: "I had enjoyed a really good year in the Midlands and then tremendous success back in the west during the 1990s.

"That coincided with the newer golf clubs springing up. They wanted to become championship courses and we benefited by that. We had special relationships in particular with Woodbury Park, Bowood in Wiltshire, The Wiltshire, Vale of Glamorgan and Dartmouth."

He feels that the golfing world has altered in recent years. "The role of the club professional has changed dramatically," he said. "He cannot spare as much time to play now because of club commitments.

"Although there are just as many people playing golf, they don't necessarily belong to clubs and prefer to play social and corporate golf."

"The PGA is still respected throughout the world of golf and I have been privileged to have been a part of it for 23 years. And I am fortunate to still be maintaining an interest."

Ray and Linda Ellis, who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last year, will now be able to spend more time with their daughters Sonya and Trina and their four grandchildren.