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Ian Pattinson recently took over as the new Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club. Following his appointment, St. Andrews welcomed him with a cannon shot during a drive-in ceremony.
On Friday, September 20, the traditional driving-in ceremony for the new Captain of The R&A took place on the first tee of the Old Course of St Andrews. Pattinson's teed off with a drive at 8 a.m. local time as a cannon fired alongside the tee.
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The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd, including former club captains. Pattinson was accompanied by Mike Lowe, who served as his caddie. Caddying for the first time in St. Andrews, Lowe said it was an honor to return the ball. He received a gold sovereign bearing the head of King Charles III.
"Ian is a lovely man," he said, as per R&A. "He congratulated me and told me all about how special the medal is. I wished him well for his Captaincy and the season ahead."
"Honored and privileged" - Ian Pattinson on becoming the Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club
Following the drive-in ceremony, Pattinson reflected on becoming the captain of R&A.
"I am honored and privileged to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and to be an ambassador for both the Club and The R&A as it carries out its responsibilities to the sport around the world," he said.
He added that it was 'humbling' to witness so many people attending the ceremony and he was grateful to all of them.
"I was very happy and relieved to hit a decent drive," he added.
Ian Pattinson's father, Reg, participated in the Open Championship twice and also won the first-ever Senior Amateur Championship in 1969. Pattinson himself captained the Cambridge University Golf Club. He became a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1989 and has held various positions for the last 35 years.
Ian Pattinson also served as Chairman of the Rules of Golf and the Equipment Standards Committees, and Chairman of the World Handicap Board. He was Chairman of the General Committee and Chairman of the R&A Group boards from 2018 to 2022.
While Pattinson is a golfer with a 4.1 handicap, his wife, Jan, is also an avid golfer and has served as Lady Captain of Royal Worlington & Newmarket twice.
