Nineteen-year PGA Pro and Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club legend Graham Glew passed away last month at the age of 88.

Mr Glew was born in Berkshire in 1935, starting his golf career as an assistant at his prestigious home course of Wentworth Golf Club aged 15, and was instantly hooked on the game.

He passed the PGA certification tests for the first time to become golf pro at Wentworth before National service brought him to Taunton.

After returning to Berkshire for a few years he returned to Somerset and Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club and continued his golf mad career as member until the role of golf pro opened up and Mr Glew jumped at the opportunity.

He passed the PGA Pro certification for a second time, no mean feat given the rigorous testing for the title, and in 1975 began his 19-year career as Taunton and Pickeridge’s golf pro which lasted until his retirement in 1994.

During his near two-decade long tenure Mr Glew did much more than simply play his role as golf pro.

He was part of a group of players that completed a 5-mile hole through the Somerset countryside to raise money for St Margaret’s Hospice and break a world record, he raised more money for charity selling golf related books and poetry, and coached hundreds of players that came through the Taunton golf club.

Somerset County Gazette: The only thing that could trump Mr Glew's passion for golf was the love he had for his family The only thing that could trump Mr Glew's passion for golf was the love he had for his family (Image: Sue Wilmott)

After his retirement in ’94 Mr Glew continued his involvement with golf but this time as a historian and antique club collector where he travelled to golf courses across the country to help collect, collate, and restore important pieces of golfing history.

Throughout all his life though, no matter how large of a part golf played, Mr Glew never forgot the importance of those closest to him and often entwined his love for golf with the love he had for his family.

As if to illustrate this, one of Mr Glew’s many gifts to his four grandchildren were miniature wooden golf clubs, hand carved by himself as a symbol for his love for them and the game that they can now cherish forever.

Sue Wilmott, daughter of Mr Glew, paid tribute to her father. She said:

“It was a privilege for my and my sister to have him as our dad.

“He loved his job, golf was his absolute passion, and he was a very proud PGA Pro, but family was also his life.

“He doted on me and my sister and when we had our children, he made all four of his grandchildren miniature golf clubs.

“He was one of those people who would do anything for anyone, always there for anybody if they needed a hand.”