The R&A’s Executive Director of Golf Development and Amateur Championships, Duncan Weir, has been presented the 2019 CPG Special Recognition Award for his dedication to the development of golf around the world and his support of, and involvement with, both the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] and Ryder Cup European Development Trust, as a trustee since its formation in 2004.
Weir was presented with the award at the 2019 CPG Annual Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort. The Scotsman now joins the exclusive list of previous winners including Theodore Vassilakis, Mustafa Koç, 2017 winner, Samuel Ryder, and last year’s winner, Renton Laidlaw.
Upon receiving the news of his award, Weir said: “It is a great honour to receive this award in recognition of the support I have given on behalf of The R&A to the CPG’s work, central to which, is the raising of coaching standards globally.
“We see playing standards improve year on year, across every championship and international match we run, and our relationship with the CPG has been critical in seeing this improvement take place.”
In a career extending over 35 years with The R&A, Weir’s first memory of golf, quite aptly, was being taken by his father to their flagship event – The Open Championship. That would set a recurring scene, as he then went on to work for The R&A during the 1985 Amateur Championship and 1985 Open Championship when it was held at Royal St. George’s. To date, he has had involvement with 36 Open Championships across his entire career.
From 1985, Weir worked in the Rules, Championships and Development departments until 1999, when he was appointed as The R&A’s first Director of Golf Development. In his current role as Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Championships, Weir oversees a portfolio of nearly 30 amateur championships and international matches and golf development work in over 80 countries around the world.
His relationship with the CPG first came about as part of his work delivering The R&A’s golf development visits overseas. Since then, he has overseen the mass development of golf through increased golfing activity, improved standards of play and emerging countries joining the global golf community.
“Legacy is a big word, but I would hope people across the golfing community recognise the passion I have for my work,” added Weir.
“I would hope that some of today’s professionals, who competed in our national championships and international teams over the years, would say that I helped them in small ways to reach where they are today.”
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