The Pitch and Putt world has been plunged into further mourning with the news that Johnny Campbell Senior has left us. May he rest in peace.

Though small in stature, Johnny had a massive impact on our sport through the sheer force of his engaging personality and the utter breadth of his playing achievements across the decades.

A familiar figure at all of the Co. Louth Pitch and Putt clubs over the years, Johnny made his Louth Inter-County debut in the 1970s and was part of the Wee County quintet that claimed second place nationally at Portmarnock in 1975.

Johnny’s lengthy and productive spell in the Louth colours was marked by two memorable national wins at Cloghogue in 1992 and at Seapoint ten years later.

Perhaps the most striking of Johnny’s many achievements was to win the National Matchplay championship at Lakewood in 1987, beating the great Mick Forrest 6&5 in the final, having eliminated holder Sean Harkins in the semi-finals.

Johnny was crowned 2011 All-Ireland Gent’s Over-55 Senior Grade Strokeplay champion with 97 at Cement, having been runner-up in the very first staging of that championship at Clare Road six years earlier.

Gifted with a hearty laugh and an infectious sense of humour, Johnny epitomised the best of company, on and off the course.

His wise counsel influenced many good players, none more so than his son Johnny Junior with whom he shared many successes, including a Leinster Inter-County championship victory at Cement when both Campbells were joined by Shane Redmond, Ian Donnelly, Sean Goggin  and Feichin Rath. Johnny Senior also helped Louth to provincial Inter-County glory at Cement in 2002.

Father and son also figured on the team that won the 1992 National Inter-County in a play-off at Cloghogue alongside Pat Greene, Jim Rafferty and the late Pat Smith.

A shrewd Pitch and Putt tactician, it would have appealed no end to Johnny that he became the first player to fill fourth place (and earn the newly introduced final exempt qualifying slot for the following year) at Collins when the National Strokeplay championship was played over 54 holes for the first time in twenty-five years in 1995.  

A National Matchplay semi-finalist in 1986 at the old R.G.S.C. course and in 1990 at Tullamore, Johnny was a prodigious performer on the Scratch Cup circuit, lifting multiple Cups in Louth and across Leinster.

Team Scratch Cups were another speciality, linking again profitably with Johnny Junior and players like Ian Donnelly.

A fearsome competitor, Johnny at all times played Pitch and Putt in an innate sporting fashion.

A fine pitcher and a clutch putter, Johnny was also blessed with a very effective chipping technique and won many Louth titles.

1986 Leinster Strokeplay runner-up to Derek Courtney at Cloghogue, Johnny was Irish Senior Open runner-up at Seapoint in 2018, emphasising his longevity as an elite Pitch and Putt player.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Johnny’s family, his many friends and to the Co. Louth Pitch and Putt community.

 

 

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