Ian Walton, our new Secretary

On September 26th, Roderick More announced that Ian Walton had been appointed by the Club to succeed Barry Morgan as Secretary of Liphook. Ian is aged 45 and is currently the General Manager of Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club. Before moving to golf club management early last year Ian enjoyed a successful 25 years with Barclays Bank working in the UK, Kenya and New York. He is a 5 handicap golfer

Ian was originally a keen club squash player; the years have caught up with him and he has retired from squash. He now jogs to keep in shape. He took up golf in his early 20’s and became a single-figure golfer within a couple of years; he currently plays off 5. His home club is Royal Winchester Golf Club.

He was a long term member of Saffron Walden Golf Club where he won the Cambridge Evening News Foursomes Handicap competition (a county inter-club winter knockout competition with a 36 hole medal final). He did this on two separate occasions with two different partners, a record for the event.

Other personal interests include fell walking, particularly in the ‘Lakes’ and sailing. He wants to learn to fly and after a brief attempt at paragliding (resulting in too many bruises), in 1998 he obtained a Private Pilot's License (since lapsed).

Ian Walton has been married to Karen for 21 years. They met when they both joined the staff of Barclays Plc in the late 70’s. They moved to Hampshire in 2003 following a three year spell living and working in Nairobi, Kenya. They live in the centre of Winchester. Karen works as sales consultant for a regional property developer whilst Ian at present commutes to Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club where he is currently the General Manager. He will continue at first to commute to Liphook from Winchester but in time he and Karen plan to relocate nearer to the golf club.

Karen from her time in Kenya is a very keen and competitive club and county bowler, both outdoors as well as indoors, the former being her favourite.

The Waltons have a second home on a David Frost signature golf course near Cape Town, South Africa and travel there twice a year to enjoy the sunshine, golf, food and especially the wine.

Ian previously worked for 25 years for Barclays Plc, reaching senior management level. His last position, in 2003, was based in London running an international sales team across Barclays, London and New York offices. His time in Barclays was primarily corporate banking, advising Medium and Large companies on lending, investment and day to day banking services. He was appointed to a senior role in Barclays Africa which involved Karen and him living in Nairobi, Kenya for 3 years from 1999, their first experience of Africa and one on which they look back on with affection.

After his successful career in the corporate sales environment he created the opportunity to have a managed ‘exit’ from Barclays to give him the chance to pursue a career change. As a keen golfer of over 20 years he wanted to get involved in the leisure scene and particularly golf. He realised that his skills in finance and general management were relevant to golf club management. At the time, Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club was looking for a new General Manaer and he was selected to manage the club through the final year of its Centenary preparations and into its 2005 Centenary celebrations.

“I am very excited and honoured to have the opportunity to take up the role as Secretary to Liphook Golf Club,” says Ian, “enabling me to broaden my golf club management experience. Liphook’s prestige and reputation are well known in Hampshire and beyond as evident by its rating within the top 100 UK golf courses. The warm welcome I received from the clubs officials during the selection process was very engaging.”

Ian will be leaving Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club in early December, working out his three months notice. Karen and he will then travel down to South Africa for a long planned-for Christmas and NewYear break before returning in January when he takes up his position at Liphook.

“The challenge for me on arriving at Liphook Golf Club will be to meet all the members, not necessarily at once, and starting to remember every one’s name. Please forgive me if I don’t get it right first time!”

“I look forward to serving the club and the members to the very best of my ability over the coming years.”