Death of East Cape golfing legend at 85
THE golfing fraternity in the Eastern Cape is mourning the death of Brian “Mr Golf” Blenkinsop at the weekend.
Blenkinsop, 85, was a multi-talented sportsman who played first-class cricket and golf for Eastern Province and was very involved in administration.
“There was one simple rule that Brian was always guided by – that was that one must put back more than one takes,” former Eastern Province Golf Union president and friend Bill Smith said.
Blenkinsop was born in Port Elizabeth in 1931 and moved to East London in 1935.
He was schooled at Selborne and then Queen’s College for his final three years.
He was a prefect and it is said he was one of the finest fullbacks to ever represent rugby at Queen’s.
He married Fenneke de Kok in 1957. She was the match secretary of the Nomads Eastern Cape Golf Club for 30 years, before her death seven years ago.
Blenkinsop played rugby for Olympics and the Walmer Country Club and first league club cricket for Algoa and Union, representing EP in 1954.
But it is through golfing that he earned legend status. He joined the Walmer Country Club in 1950 and was active until his death.
His list of achievements included: Walmer Country Club committee member 1966-’86, Walmer Club ’66 champion and chairman in ’86, honorary life award, ’89, and representing the club at the Kelly Foursomes from ’65-2002.
He was also a founding committee member of the Nomads Eastern Cape club in ’71 and was its captain in ’79, before being awarded honorary status in ’92.
In 1990, Blenkinsop founded what is now the Senior Amateur Golf Association and was a member of the national executive representing Border, Southern Cape, Karoo and Eastern Province. He was awarded honorary life membership in 2004.
He played golf for Eastern Province from ’67-’76, was captain for the final three years, and represented EP Senior Amateur Golf from ’90-2001 and was captain from ’92-’98. He served on the EP Golf Union for six years. He was inducted into the Senior Golfers’ Society of Eastern Province in ’96 and worked on the committee continuously from ’98. He served as honorary secretary from 2004 until his death.
He was an honorary member of the Humewood Golf Club since 2009. In 2010, he served as president of the Senior Golfers Union of SA.
“From age 20, Brian had skin cancer. It became more serious about 20 years ago,” Smith said.
Blenkinsop is survived by his three daughters – Sharon, Diane and Janet – and five grandchildren.
His funeral will take place at the St Saviours Anglican Church in Villiers Road on Friday at noon.