Recognising the substantial impact on Belgian golf and his outstanding playing career, Flory Van Donck has posthumously been awarded with the CPG’s Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the CPG Annual Awards Supported By Rolex.

In his day Van Donck was known as one of the finest players in the world, winning over 60 tournaments, finishing second in The Open Championship twice, and flying the flag as a spearhead for the growth of golf in Belgium through both playing professionally and latterly as a coach.

The Award was presented to Van Donck’s daughter, Claudine Van Donck [pictured, below left], and granddaughter, Barbara Laets [pictured, below right] by CPG Chairman, Frank Kirsten, at the Royal Golf Club de Belgique.

“My father would have been very honoured with this recognition, but he was also a very humble man so would like have also been a bit shy about it,” said Claudine. “I remember he had many, many trophies in our attic wrapped in newspaper as he was too modest to show them.”

“We are proud that he had such an impact on Belgian golf and very happy that we can continue to remember him in this way,” adds Barbara. “The PGA of Belgium have operated a Memorial Pro-Am in his name since 2017 and it is a wonderful way of ensuring young professionals and golfers know about him and understanding his importance on the Belgian game. This award supports that, and we are very grateful to be able to celebrate him internationally.”

Van Donck is still regarded as Belgium’s greatest player and was widely considered Europe’s best due to his ability to win regularly in British events and win most of the national opens across the continent.

His collection of national opens included the Belgian, Dutch, Italian, French, German, Swiss, and Portuguese, and his most successful year in 1953 saw a total of seven victories that earned him the Harry Vardon Trophy.

His consistency and agility over long periods were evident with two second-place finishes at The Open Championship, at Hoylake to Peter Thompson and at Muirfield to Gary Player, and finishing inside the top 10 eight times in the 1950s. He represented Belgium in the Canada Cup (now the World Cup) on no less than 19 occasions and had the low individual score in the 1960 event to win the Individual World Championship ahead of Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer, and also won the Belgian National title an incredible 16 times.

Following his Canada Cup performance in 1960, Van Donck was awarded the Trophée National du Mérite Sportif, the highest honour Belgian sportsmen can receive in recognition of his achievements in the game, and has since had multiple items exhibited in British Golf Museum at St Andrews.

His coaching career also took him to other countries such as Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland and included a role as a golf coach to the Belgian Royal Family.

“The fact that he was a teaching pro was also very important to him,” added Laets. “When his international career stopped, he started teaching more, and I think passing on his knowledge was extremely valuable to him to share his experiences and continue his passion.”

Van Donck passed away in 1992, and the PGA of Belgium celebrates his life and successes through the Flory Van Donck Memorial Pro-Am that continues to this day.

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For more information on the CPG Annual Congress visit https://cp.golf/2022AnnualCongress.

With thanks to the CPG Annual Awards Partners – Rolex, the Ryder Cup European Development Trust [RCEDT], Aegean Airlines and Costa Navarino. 

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