Barclay Howard

{{short description|Scottish golfer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox golfer | name = Barclay Howard | image = | imagesize =  | caption = | fullname = Donald Barclay Howard | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1953|1|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland | death_date = {{death date and age|2008|5|19|1953|1|27|df=y}} | death_place = Johnstone, Scotland | height = | weight = | nationality = {{SCO}} | residence = | spouse = {{marriage|Alexandra Lawson Brennan|1972|1980|reason=div}} | partner = | children = 3 | college = | status = Amateur | yearpro = | retired = | majorwins =  | masters = DNP | usopen = DNP | open = T60: 1997 | pga = DNP | wghofid =  | wghofyear =  | award1 = | year1 = | award2 = | year2 = | awardssection =  }} '''Donald Barclay Howard''' (27 January 1953 – 19 May 2008) was a Scottish amateur golfer. He was regarded as one of the finest golfers of his time and considered a folk-hero. He has had a lifetime relationship with Cochrane Castle Golf Club in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

==Life== Howard was born in Glasgow. He was married when he was 19, the marriage to Alexandra Lawson Brennan produced two daughters – Linda (b. 1972) and Lorraine (b. 1976).

Howard first joined Clydesdale Bank and later switched to Rolls-Royce, where he was made redundant in 1993. After that he became a full-time amateur golfer, that and his previous success on the golf course led him to a job in customer relations with club-maker John Letters.

Howard was a self-confessed alcoholic, leading to international exclusion in 1984. After having suffered and defeated leukemia, he died of pneumonia in 2008.

Howard was a lifelong friend of Sam Torrance, who became a successful professional golfer.

==Sporting career== Howard can probably be best described as a true amateur. Working a regular work week and playing golf in his spare time. He might have been a top professional. He was a leading figure in Scottish and British amateur golf. Over the years he has won more than a hundred amateur tournaments.

Howard played on the Great Britain and Ireland team in the Walker Cup twice, winning in 1995 at Royal Portcawl. He has also played on the GB&I team in the Eisenhower Trophy in 1996. He was the low amateur in the 1997 Open Championship.

In his latter years, Howard was a leading figure in the Scottish Golf Union.

==Autobiography== Howard published an autobiography (with Jonathan Russell) in 2001 called "Out of the rough"<ref>Out of the Rough: Booze, Birdies and a Driving Ambition, {{ISBN|978-1-84018-511-9}}, Hard cover, 192 pages, Mainstream Publishing Company</ref> (not to be confused with Laura Baugh's book called "Out of the Rough" or John Daly's: "My life in and out of the rough") where he describes his personal battles (against alcohol) and his inner demons.

==Amateur wins== ''this list is incomplete'' *1994 St Andrews Links Trophy *1996 St Andrews Links Trophy *1997 Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship

==Team appearances== '''Amateur''' *St Andrews Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1980 (winners), 1994 (winners), 1996 (winners) *Walker Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1995 (winners), 1997 *Eisenhower Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1996 *European Amateur Team Championship (representing Scotland): 1995 (winners), 1997

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090309084118/http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/obituaries/display.var.2285203.0.barclay_howard.php Obituary] in The Herald *[http://www.cochranecastle.com/ Cochrane Castle Golf Club website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Barclay}} Category:Scottish male golfers Category:Amateur golfers Category:Golfers from Glasgow Category:1953 births Category:2008 deaths Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen