Words cannot express the profound shock and sadness felt among the members of Cowglen Golf Club at the news of the sudden passing of Past Captain Stephen Machin.
Stephen, who was 57, passed away in the early hours of Monday the 19th of June following a heart attack.
A member of Cowglen for over 35 years having joined in 1987, Stephen started playing golf at Linn Park as a 10-year-old before joining Blairbeth Golf Club as a junior member where he would win Junior and Club Championships as well as back-to-back Lanarkshire Boys Championships.
Stephen played at the very highest level of the amateur game, including numerous British Amateur Championships, Lytham and St Andrew Links Trophies and Final Qualifying for the Open Championship to name but a few.
A Glasgow Strokeplay Champion in 1987 and twice a Glasgow Matchplay champion with back-to-back victories in 2011 & 12, Stephen was also a multiple winner of 36-hole Scratch events including 3 Jackson Cup wins in a row at Blairbeth Golf Club.
He represented the Cowglen Brand Putter League team from 1987 and was a member of our 6 winning teams during this period including as the team manager while securing victory last year following a 15 year gap.
Individually, he won the leagues prestigious Presidents Cup in 2019.
Stephen was also a stalwart of Glasgow County teams playing in both the 10 and 6-man teams for over 30 years.
Although play in our own Club Championship was limited, he was twice a Champion, once again back-to-back, and Club Stroke Play Champion in both 2009 & 2012.
Stephen also held the course record at the club having shot 64 in 2008.
In recent years Stephen also held membership at Royal Troon Golf Club and won the Club Championship there for the 2nd time last year having first tasted success four years earlier.
Remarkably, and an indication of his consistency, this most recent win would take the span of his title wins into the 5th consecutive decade!
Off the course, Stephen immersed himself in the running of the club and served on council for some 13 years before Captaining the club in 2012.
Stephen was also heavily involved with the Glasgow Golf Union as the county team manager for many years before taking on the office of President last October. In doing so, he became only the 4th Cowglen member in the club’s history to hold this position.
An incredibly competitive and talented golfer whose graceful swing, rhythm and consistency was the envy of everyone who played with him he never stopped working to improve, and his passion, love and appetite for the game, as well as helping others with theirs, was insatiable.
He played in the true spirit of the game, gracious in both victory and defeat and will be sorely missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have known him both on and off the course.
Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathy are with his family and friends at this saddest of times