Charles Kingsley

Charles Kingsley is remembered for the enormous contribution he made to the administration of golf in South Africa over a period of almost 50 years. On his death in 1947 the tribute to him in the Cape Argus ended with the words: "Golf owes Charles Kingsley a very great debt indeed."

He was one of the prime movers in the formation of the SA Golf Union in 1910 and served on the Union in various capacities from 1925 through to 1939. He was a Member of Executive in 1925 and 26; Vice-President in 1927 and 28; Member of Executive in 1930, 31 and 32; President in 1934 and 35; and then again Member of Executive in 1938 and 39. He attended his first national tournament in 1897 and went on to serve on the organising committee of the annual National Tournament - the Amateur and Open - no less than 30 times..

He was instrumental in the formation of the Western Province Golf Union, was elected the first president of the Union in 1910 and remained in office right through to 1936 - no less than 26 years.

He had a particular interest in the history of the game and was one of the first to recognise and promote the concept of a golf museum in South Africa.