Harry was interested in all
sports, especially soccer, but began playing golf at the relatively late
age of 14 but with natural talent he was playing off Scratch by his 17th
birthday. He played for the Scottish Boys’ International Team 1959.
After a very successful amateur career, culminating with winning the
Scottish Alliance Championship, a group of Aberdeen businessmen in 1965
offered to sponsor him on the Pro Tour and he grabbed the chance. He
was Scottish Pro Champion in 1967 and won once again in 1972 by 10 strokes
from a very strong field including BJ Gallacher, BW Barnes and Sam
Torrance.(If it had been boxing they would have stopped it!)
Having won the Northern Open three times and the Coca Cola Scottish Open
twice there were various successes in Scotland, too numerous to mention.
He reached the last day 5 times in The British Open, his best result
being tied 11th at Royal Birkdale in1971. That year he played so well
that he qualified, automatically, to play in the Ryder Cup against U.S.A
at Old Warson Country Club, St. Louis Missouri. Although the team lost,
as a rookie member of the team had a creditable performance having played
5 times, winning twice, losing twice and a halved match .The halved match
was against the legendary Arnold Palmer and one of the defeats, playing
alongside Peter Townsend against none other than Jack Nicklaus and Arnold
Palmer, Jack having holed a long raking putt on the last hole to win
1up.
Loved by the Press as very colourful and always ready with a quip and
always described as the "Cigar Smoking Bannerman"; especially
in America. Other major highlight at this time was an invitation to play
in US Masters Tournament where he finished tied 33rd. He was also lucky
enough to have partnered such luminaries as Henry Cotton, PW Thomson,
Gary Player, Sam Snead, Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf and Tony Jacklin
to name just a few. His playing career however was cut short with a severe
back injury. Fortunately he discovered a talent for coaching and has
gained an enviable reputation in this field, specialising in junior golf.
He spent 16 years in Germany where he coached mainly beginners and has
returned to the north-east and now lives in Banchory. But a Golf Pro
never really retires and he is still available for teaching at Aspire
Golf Centre at Blairs, writes periodically for the local press, and
with his unique sense of humour is much sought after as an after dinner
speaker. He was the first golfer to have reached such high international
level north of Dundee and since then likes to think he has encouraged
many more to follow suit.
He has many
golfing honours but is very proud to have been made an honorary member at various
clubs in Scotland, including Cruden Bay, Banchory, Murcar, Letham Grange, the
Sportsmen’s Club in Aberdeen and the Bon Accord Golf Club.
Throughout his life a supporter of Aberdeen Football Club and keen Bridge
player.
He is a keen Burns scholar and speaks German fluently and French not
so fluently! |