The golfing world has been saddened by the death of respected golf writer and historian Dale Concannon at the age of 61.
A former PGA professional, who competed up until 1984 and taught the game in England, Germany, USA and France, Dale passed away on June 4 after losing his battle with a brain tumour.
Close friend and fellow golf writer Alistair Tait said: "Dale was a constant presence in the press rooms over the years and enjoyed a long relationship with many golf writers, players and officials.
"Many Association of Golf Writers' members considered Dale a close friend. Although he was never an AGW member, he was a valued member of the golf writing fraternity."
After turning his hand to journalism, Dale became one of the game’s foremost authorities on golf antiques and collectibles.
He had a passion for collecting old clubs, books, artefacts and memorabilia. He wrote extensively on the subject for various golf magazines, including Golf Monthly and Golf World.
He penned many books, including a biography of Sir Nick Faldo entitled Driven: The Definitive Biography of Nick Faldo. He also penned Golfing Bygones, Golf: The Early Days, From Tee to Green, The Round of My Life, Golf: A Photographic History and Wise Words for Golfers.
"First and foremost, Dale was a lovely man and I always enjoyed spending time in his company in a media centre," said Martin Dempster, chairman of the Association of Golf Writers.
"The news of his passing is very sad indeed, though his name will live on in golf through the superb publications bearing his name."
As an expert in this field, Dale also served as chief consultant for the Golf & Old Golf Images Photographic Archives, one of the finest collections of pre-1980 imagery in private hands.
He was also a valuation expert for rare and unusual golf memorabilia, boasting a worldwide clientele.
"The golf world lost one of its family in Dale Concannon," said Paul McGinley, the 2014 Ryder Cup-winning captain. "As a trained PGA Professional and player himself, he used this perspective to write well on the game and, among other things, summed up Nick Faldo's career with the aptly-titled biography he wrote on his career, 'Driven'.
"He illustrated his unique love of all things golf and his passion for our game by building up a private archive of golfing memorabilia and photos unlikely to be matched anywhere in the world.
"He was always a friendly face, well known and respected, not just among his peers in the media but with the often-prickly and sometimes difficult group, us players on tour.
"RIP Dale and thank you for the efforts and love you showed the game and people in it. Those efforts will always live on through your excellent books and publications."
Dale is survived by his wife Laura, his father Austin and brother Karl.
