‘Clubman leaves a void that will be impossible to fill’
IN golfing circles, Danny Jones had a well-deserved reputation for embodying the spirit of the sport in the Valleys.
He died last month after losing his battle with cancer. But his name will live on in memorials at Mountain Ash Golf Club, where he was the muchrespected and loved steward.
Danny, 53, joined the Mountain Ash club as a junior member, with his brother Lorne, in the early ’80s.
Many days and nights of practice made him a very skilled player in a very quick time and, in 1986, he won the Club Championship.
Danny represented the first team for many years. He was an extremely skilful player and reached a handicap of 1 in his prime.
Many will know the story of Danny being stuck in a tricky situation in a bunker in a team game.
Danny solved the problem by pulling his daughter Alice’s junior club from the bottom of his bag!
Over the years, Danny built a reputation as one of the best ‘tourers’ known to man.
It was a reputation built on famous trips to Lostwithiel, Cornwall.
During these trips, Saturday afternoon was time for Kangaroo Court, when touring players would face the Judge – Danny – dressed in full judicial attire. In the ‘mock court,’ a guilty verdict was the only verdict!
In 2016, Danny returned to the club with his wife Sharon as the steward and catering manager, to the delight of the membership.
It was his dream job and he always said that he was glad to be back ‘home.’
His humour was perfect for the role. After a month, you’d think he had worked there for the last 20 years.
A spokesman for Mountain Ash Golf Club said: “He was a character who could light up a room with laughter in seconds. He was extremely proud of the club, a true clubman and his void will be impossible to fill.
“Danny had a massive circle of friends in and outside of Mountain Ash Golf Club.”
Danny also worked with Pontypridd Golf Club. Phil Rowsell said in a tribute on Facebook: “Such sad news! Danny was a great man, full of character. During his short time with us down Pontypridd
Golf Club he was a breath of fresh air, brilliant with the members and became a favourite almost instantly. Golf in the Valleys is what it is because of people like Danny!”
When Danny came back ‘home’ to the Mountain Ash club as the Steward in 2016 he wanted his own competition, called the Steward’s Cup. It was an open event, gross score competition so that the low handicap players could battle it out to win a £100 cash prize for first place donated by Danny.
The club has now changed the name of the competition to the Danny Jones Steward’s Cup.
A crowdfunding JustGiving page has also been set up to create a lasting memorial to Danny at Mountain Ash Golf Club.
So far, the JustGiving page has raised £1,700. You can find it at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dannymemorial
Danny is survived by his wife Sharon and family.