He devoted decades of his life to the game he loved and was a familiar face to some of the globe’s greatest stars.
But Royal Dornoch Golf Club has confirmed it has lost one of its longest-serving members and driving forces with the death of club president Dennis Bethune.
Mr Bethune, 80, forged an association with the world-famous club even as a teenager and it was a passion which only grew as time passed. He became a member in 1951 and was club captain from 1987 to 1989.
He rose to the role of president in 2009 and performed a typically active role in the club’s celebrations last year to mark 400 years of golf being played in Dornoch.
He is survived by his wife Rena, whom he married in 1962, and their three children.
His funeral was held yesterday at Dornoch Cathedral, followed by an event at the club. Donations in his memory will be given to the patients fund at Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie, where he was cared for recently.
Neil Hampton, Royal Dornoch’s general manager, said: “Dennis’s death has come as a shock to us all. He was a friend to everyone, whether he had met them before or not.
“Our thoughts and feelings are with his wife, Rena, and children Gary, Morven, Fiona, all of the family and his many, many friends all over the world.”
A former golf professional, who also spent some time at Elgin Golf Club, Mr Bethune participated in the 1962 Open Championship at Royal Troon and was as proud as punch about mixing with such stellar names.
During his time at Royal Dornoch, he hosted many famous golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, Sandy Lyle and Greg Norman, as well as Ben Crenshaw and HRH Prince Andrew, who both became honorary members of the club.
In 1981, he also acted as caddie to another honorary member, Tom Watson, when the legendary multi-major-winning American played the famous Championship Course and described it as “the most fun I ever had playing golf”.
The visit took place a year after Watson secured his third Open Championship, at Muirfield, in 1980. And, given their shared love of history, heritage and the sport’s traditions, it was hardly surprising these two redoubtable characters formed an instant rapport.
Mr Bethune was also heavily involved in the year-long series of events to mark the milestone of 400 years of golf being played in Dornoch, which included concerts, exhibitions, a gala dinner, a street party, the biggest gathering of Royal clubs ever assembled, as well as a new Royal Dornoch 400 tartan and a special whisky.
His son, Gary, followed in his footsteps as a champion golfer and has twice triumphed in the club’s prestigious Carnegie Shield.
There’s an understandable sense of loss around the course at the moment.
But those who knew him can reflect he’s now on a fairway to heaven.