Tributes paid to former Scottish international Findlay Black following death at 91
Well-known Prestonfield member hailed as ‘great friend, mentor, coach and, most of all, a gentleman’
Tributes have been paid to Findlay Black, a well-known figure in Scottish golfing circles and especially so in Edinburgh, following his death at the age of 91.
Black cut his golfing teeth at Caldwell Golf Club in Glasgow, where he was a multiple club champion and held the course record at one point with a 67.
He was a trialist for the 1959 Walker Cup at Muirfield before missing out on joining compatriots Reid Jack and Dickson Smith in flying the Saltire on home soil.
Black moved through to the east of Scotland in 1961, joining Dalmahoy, where he won the club championship for a first time the following year. In 1962, he won a first Scotland cap against Scandinavia and played in the Men’s Home Internationals as well.
After joining Prestonfield, Black claimed the course record with a 67 in 1964 while appearances for Scotland became a regular occurrence around that time and he represented GB&I as well.
In 1972, after a spell battling with an injury, he became the first Scot since Ronnie Shade in 1966 to reach the last eight in the Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s.
He went on to become the Prestonfield club captain and president as well between 2009-2017. He also served on SGU Executive Committee before landing the Lothians Seniors’ Championship at Kilspindie in 1987.
“I first met Findlay in 1969/1970 playing in the Prestonfield Club Championship,” said clubmate and long-time friend Alistair Dun. “I was a Junior member out watching. He was keen to answer any questions I had on the golf swing. He was always available to give advice when I asked.
“He was my first foursomes partner representing the club in the Edinburgh Inter Club when I was 17 or 18. A great friend, mentor, coach and, most of all, a gentleman. A gentleman who always had time for the members of Prestonfield, especially if you wanted to talk about golf.”
A fellow Prestonfield member added: “It was a pleasure to spend any time in Findlay’s company. He also happened to be a quality golfer who represented club county and country with aplomb. A delight to listen to his stories from his playing days, which were plentiful and the world is definitely a poorer place without him.”
Black’s funeral will take place at noon on Thursday, 17 September at Mortonhall Crematorium Main Chapel.
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