In the Auld Grey Toun, Jim Farmer, who has passed away suddenly at the age of 76, was, quite simply, Mr Golf.
As much a part of the St Andrews furniture as the Swilcan Bridge or the Royal & Ancient clubhouse, Farmer was so steeped in the game, he would just about have to wring himself through a mangle on a regular basis. His shop, Jim Farmer Golf, on Market Street was an institution.
“I was born in St Andrews and lived five miles away, so it was maybe going to be difficult for me not to have played golf,” said Farmer, who would succeed the celebrated John Panton as the honorary professional at the Royal & Ancient.
Across a variety of golfing fronts, Farmer was a mighty figure. “His contribution to the PGA and the world of golf was in keeping with his physique,” said Robert Maxfield, the chief executive of the Professional Golfers’ Association.
“He was a big man and his influence for good in so many areas of the game – as a player, coach and administrator – was immense.”
It could, of course, have been all very different. Golf, ultimately, defined him but another ba’ game also stirred Farmer’s senses and wrestled with his attentions and affections as a young ‘un.
A keen footballer and canny centre-half, Farmer was snapped up by Heart of Midlothian as a 17-year-old. He got £500 for signing on and wasted no time in spending it.
“I bought my own car for £99, and I felt wealthy, especially as I was still at school,” he once said in a chinwag with my golf writing colleague, Martin Dempster of The Scotsman.
A knee injury thwarted his ambitions at Tynecastle, but football’s loss was the dimpled ball game’s gain. Farmer took a job as a salesman with whisky distiller, Haig, and was actively encouraged to get out and play golf. There were some good bosses in those days.
Within a year, Farmer had represented Scotland as an amateur and had shared the honours at the Lytham Trophy. He made his Open debut, fittingly, in his own backyard of St Andrews in 1970 before turning pro in 1971 and embarking on a rich, varied and fulfilling career.
As a coach and mentor to generations of amateurs and professionals, Farmer’s pearls of wisdom were much sought after and generously shared.
“As an avid golfer, I’d try to get to Jim as he was the best in the business,” reflected fellow St Andrean, David Scott, the general manager at Dumbarnie Links and the incoming captain of the PGA, whose father was Farmer’s old English teacher.
“He was the national coach, and he was an exceptional player himself. You migrate to someone who can play, and Jim could certainly do that. He was the go-to man and was always keen to help young players and established players alike.
“I was actually out the other day on the golf course with my seven-year-old granddaughter and was teaching her the same basics that Jim had taught me. His methods stood the test of time
“Jim had been such an inspiration to hundreds if not thousands of golfers. He was a huge person in golf, both locally and internationally. His passing will leave a huge void.”
A prolific winner on the domestic scene, Farmer played in six Opens and made the cut in the 1977 Duel in the Sun showpiece at Turnberry.
He won the Glenmuir Club Professionals’ title in 1983, represented GB&I four times in the PGA Cup and captained the team to a first win in the Ryder Cup-style tussle for 21 years at the K-Club in 2005.
Farmer’s expertise, experience and unbridled energy and enthusiasm also extended to the big screen.
For the production of the 2016 film, Tommy’s Honour, which documented the life and times of Old and Young Tom Morris, Farmer was brought on board to act as a golf supervisor to the leading actors, Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden. Lights, camera, nice smooth swing action?
Well, eventually. Mullan and Lowden, you see, were not golfers. “Jim spent a lot of the first couple of lessons either laughing or ducking for his life,” Lowden noted of those initial swipes and thrashes with the hickories.
Under Farmer’s shrewd, diligent tutelage, however, the two stars of the show were equipped with the necessary prowess to carry their roles off.
Mr Golf had worked his magic again.
