Billy Lynch (Royal Meath)

Billy Lynch joined Royal Meath in early 1990s and soon he was Club Chairman and Greenkeeper. Billy was elected Chairman of Meath County Board in 1995. He graduated to Leinster Council as President between 1998 and 1999 having been provincial Vice President in 1997.

Always supportive of the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland Officers, Billy was first elected to the NEC at the Longford Arms Hotel Convention in December 1998. Initially National Registrar for the 1999 and 2000 playing seasons, Billy later served as Vice President between 2001 and 2003 and as a very influential National President from 2004 to 2006.

He succeeded the late Myles McMorrow as P.P.U.I. Vice President in 2001 and again as President three years later.

A prominent businessman, Billy enhanced the National Executive during his ten-year tenure. A driven man who achieved much in life, he was one of the most proactive and influential holders of the high office of National President, popular with administrators, sponsors and players alike.

Following Billy’s election as County Chairman, Meath Pitch and Putt immediately boomed in 1996 under his astute leadership. Meath won the Gent's Inter-County championship for the second time that year. Ironically, Billy Lynch hailed from Cobh and his Meath squad was chased home at Collinstown by the representatives of his native county, Cork!

Billy was an enthusiastic supporter of international Pitch and Putt development. He leapt to the rescue of the Championship Committee in August 1995 when he agreed to host the international against Australia in Royal Meath, at short notice. He journeyed to Australia for the historic international at Queanbeyan in the autumn of 1996 and also made the trip to Spain a year later. Billy led the Irish delegation at the 2002 away match against Catalonia in SantCebria. Billy travelled many hundreds of miles to attend all the P.P.U.I. national and international events and was involved in the production of some excellent videos. The videos were superbly crafted by Billy and his great friend Sean Breen.

Credited with contributing hugely to the organisationof Ireland hosting of the 2003 European Championship, Billy's extensive contacts around the country meant he remained in constant close contact with the top players. He was a popular choice as non-playing captain and manager of the Ireland team that won the 2003 European Team championship at McDonagh.

At the beginning of 1998, a Sponsorship Sub-Committee was set-up by then P.P.U.I. President, Mervyn Cooney to examine the Union's sponsorship policy. Billy was a member of the Sub-Committee and his input was invaluable. In addition to his own hugelysuccessful painting and decorating company sponsoring the National Ladies Strokeplay championship, his business contacts produced a number of new sponsorship leads. Billy’s business acumen proved hugely beneficial in generating sponsorship opportunities for Pitch and Putt.

Billy was really proud of his wife Mary’s achievements as a proficient Pitch and Putt player and as an efficient Secretary of Royal Meath as he was of his son Liam representing Meath as a juvenile and being a member of the Royal Meath team that finished second in the National Club Tournament at Fernhill in 1998.

One of the main achievements during Billy’s term of office as President was the implementation of the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland’s first Strategic Plan.

He co-chaired, with another great palMervyn Cooney,the National Coaching Training and DevelopmentSub-Committee under the first Strategic Plan.

The large attendance at National Conventionacclaimed Billy as he took his leave of the NEC in February 2007.

Royal Meath was like a second home to Billy. Any spare time that he got he liked to wanderdown to the course and have a puff on his pipe! The club and the course were his pride and joy. He worked tirelessly and mentored sagely to enshrine Royal Meath as one of Pitch and Putt’s premier clubs.

Billy may have left the official national stage in 2007 but he continued to astutely influence theworld of Pitch and Putt from the wings.

He was confirmed Patron of Pitch and Putt Ireland in 2006 and entered the sport’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ardheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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