The Tasmanian golfing community is mourning the loss of Leonard Keith Rae who passed away on Tuesday 9 December, 2014.
Len had a long association with golf having been member of a number of clubs including Darwin, Grafton, Moss Vale, Riverside, Royal Hobart and Ulverstone.
In 1971 Len captured the title of Club Champion at the Darwin Golf Club and in the same year held the amateur course record. Len’s lowest handicap being that of scratch in 1973.
Over the years Len was also fortunate to represent Golf North West, the Northern Tasmanian Golf Association and the Southern Tasmanian Golf Union in Tasmania’s intrastate competition.
At committee level, Len served on the Board of the Riverside Golf Club for 14 years, two years as Captain and three as President. Len also spent periods of time on the committees of the Darwin and Ulverstone Golf Clubs.
Regionally, Len served as a Northern Tasmanian Golf Association Executive member from 1975-2001 and spent two years as President from 1980-1981.
A Tasmanian Golf Council Executive member from 1976-2001, Len attained the position of state President in 1984, a position he held for three years.
As was his dedication to the state’s elite golfers, Len was Manager of the Tasmanian Men’s Team from 1985-1990 and a State Selector for a decade from 1984.
On the national scene, Len served as an Executive member to the Australian Golf Union from 1995-2001, including holding the position of Australian Golf Union President in 1999.
During his time with the Australian Golf Union, Len served on a number committees including the Rules and Amateur Status Committee (1996-1999) and Australian Open Championship Committee (2000-2001).
Len also served a number of years as Captain/Manager of the Australian Men’s Team (1988-1989) and then as an Australian Selector from 1994-1996.
Len was bestowed with life membership of the Tasmanian Golf Council in 1999 and the Commonwealth Government awarded Len the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for his service to golf.
Len is survived by his wife Patricia Ann and their three daughters Maureen, Jennifer and Catherine.
A funeral service for Len will be held at the Funeral Chapel, 199 Brisbane Street, Launceston on Tuesday 16 December commencing at 10.30am.