It is with much sadness that Golf Australia advises of the passing of respected golf administrator Ian McInnes. Ian passed away on 27 July 2020.

Dr McInnes made a significant contribution to the South Australian golf industry and was acknowledged at the 2016 South Australian Golf Industry Awards Night with an award that recognised his lifelong achievements.

He made an outstanding contribution to golf at a local, regional and state level for more than half a century.

After graduating from the University of Adelaide in 1957, he moved to Loxton the following year to establish a dental practice and joined the Loxton Golf Club.

He was elected to the club committee in the early 1960s and, in the following 30 years, served as its president, captain and secretary, with his knowledge and experience becoming widely regarded around South Australia.

He was chair of Loxton's course committee for many years, including the period when grass greens were developed on the course to replace the sandscrapes. That major improvement to the course was carried out by club members, with Dr McInnes leading many working bees required in such an undertaking.

In addition, he organised and participated in hundreds of other working bees for course maintenance and development projects, as well as spending a great deal of time at the course on his own, attending to a variety of tasks.

He also selected and planted hundreds of trees and shrubs around the course, with great attention to colour and species, adding to the visual appeal for members and visiting golfers.

He had a passion for the course and has self-funded many of the tree planting and beautification projects.

Dr McInnes was his club's junior development officer for many years and, as a level one coach, spent countless hours coaching juniors and adults on the basics of a golf swing. Many golfers owe him for their start in the game.

Beyond club level, he was president of the Riverland Golf Association in 1979 and 1980 and then became district secretary in 1982, holding that office for 18 years.

In 1982 he was appointed as a SAGA councillor representing the Riverland and SE Golf regions. With more than 25 years’ service, Dr McInnes was the longest-serving member of the SAGA council.

He managed the country men’s state team for more than 15 years and officiated in the annual country week tournament for more than 20 years. He also co-ordinated several Country Junior Championships and country junior team events played in the Riverland.

Ian received a variety of awards recognising his long record of community service, including being awarded:

• Riverland Citizen of the Year Award in 1982

• Loxton Citizen of the Year Award in 1989

• Loxton Centenary Award for service to the community in 2007

• Australian Sports Medal for services to golf in 2000

• An OAM for service to golf and to the community of Loxton in 2007

Despite the demands imposed by his vocation, Dr McInnes was able to make an outstanding and ongoing contribution to golf in South Australia at all levels and will be sorely missed.