Ewen Murray Awarded Honorary Life Membership At Walton Heath

The Sky Sports commentator was the Surrey club's former Assistant Professional and Tournament Professional

Ewen Murray Awarded Honorary Life Membership At Walton Heath
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Sky Sports commentator was the Surrey club's former Assistant Professional and Tournament Professional

Ewen Murray Awarded Honorary Life Membership At Walton Heath

Ewen Murray, whose career in golf has spanned almost five decades, initially as a professional and latterly as the highly respected commentator for Sky Sports, has been elected an Honorary Life Member of Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey.

The award recognises Murray’s outstanding contribution to golf, and Walton Heath in particular, during a lifetime devoted to the game both on and off the golf course.

Edinburgh-born Murray served Walton Heath with considerable distinction for 16 years, firstly as Assistant Professional then as Tournament Professional before switching careers in the 1990s by joining Sky Sports.

Since picking up the microphone, 64-year-old Murray’s velvet tones, delivered in that rich Scottish burr, have been an integral part of Sky’s global golf coverage, which has included every Ryder Cup since 1995. Most recently, he commentated on the Sky Sports British Masters, won by Eddie Pepperell, at Walton Heath last October.

Murray was elected unanimously at the Club’s AGM last weekend, and Walton Heath Chairman, Dr Alastair Wells, spoke on behalf of the membership, saying: “Ewen is incredibly well regarded all over the world as one of the most authoritative voices in sports commentary. His deep knowledge and love for the game permeates across the airwaves, and his commentaries are always laced with humour and warmth.”

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He added: “Most importantly, Ewen is highly regarded by our membership, having spent 16 years here, firstly as an Assistant Professional under the tutelage of Harry Busson and then as a Tournament Professional playing on the European Tour.

“Since arriving from Scotland in 1973 to take up his post, Ewen has been a staunch supporter of our Golf Club. He is a great ambassador for Walton Heath and talks warmly about his time with the Club. We know Walton Heath remains very close to his heart and we look forward to welcoming Ewen back as a distinguished Honorary Life Member.”

Ewen Murray and Bruce Critchley during the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic (Credit: Andrew Redington /Allsport)

Murray turned professional in 1971, having won the World Junior Championship that year along with the Scottish Boys match play and stroke play titles. Son of the highly regarded Baberton professional, Jimmy Murray, he joined Walton Heath as Assistant Pro on April 22, 1973, becoming Tournament Professional four years later.

During his playing career, he won three times – the Northern Open (1977), the Zambia Open (1980) and the Nigerian Open (1984) – while he finished tied 31st and tied 36th respectively in The Open Championships at Royal Troon in 1973 and St Andrews in 1984.

After losing his playing rights on the European Tour in 1989, Murray turned his attention to broadcasting, travelling the world as part of the excellent Sky Golf team, delivering his commentaries on the biggest tournaments on the planet.

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Murray, who lives in West Chiltington in West Sussex with his wife, Nicky, said: “I spent a quarter of my life at Walton Heath and the Club still feels very much like home. I love the place dearly and it is obviously a great honour to be made an Honorary Life Member. I would like to thank everyone at Walton Heath for recognising me in this way and I feel very proud and humble.”

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He added: “The two courses speak for themselves, but it is the Members who make a great Golf Club and in that respect, Walton Heath has no equal. Over the years, I have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the membership and it was a very sad day when I left in 1989, having lost my playing rights on the European Tour.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work for two great institutions in Walton Heath Golf Club and Sky Sports. I can’t play much these days due to a bad back, but I look forward to visiting the Club as often as possible to enjoy being one of the Members rather than one of the staff this time around!”

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV