Golf Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame join the Canadian golf community in mourning the passing of Ian Clarke, a former chair of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee and past president of the PGA of Canada. Clarke passed away on November 5, 2026, at the age of 80.
Clarke helped preserve and celebrate the history of Canadian golf through his work with the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. He chaired the Hall’s Selection Committee from 2012 to 2014, contributing to the national recognition of the players and builders who shaped the game in Canada. His involvement continued as a member of the committee following Sandra Post’s appointment as chair in 2015.
His commitment to the game’s heritage extended to service with the Golf Historical Society of Canada and as a founding member of the PGA of Canada and PGA of Ontario Hall of Fame committees.
“Ian understood how much we can learn from the people who shaped Canadian golf. Through his work with the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, he helped ensure their contributions were recognized and their stories preserved for future generations,” said Meggan Gardner, Director of Heritage Services with Golf Canada. “He gave so much of his time to the game, and we are grateful for the care and commitment he brought to that work. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
A national leader within the golf profession, Clarke served as president of the PGA of Canada in 1997 and 1998. He contributed a decade of service to the association’s board of directors and also served as an honorary director of the PGA of America during his presidency. He was a Life Member and 50 Year Member of the PGA of Canada.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Clarke began his golf journey caddying for 1947 Open champion Fred Daly at Balmoral Golf Club. He immigrated to Canada in 1966 and began his Canadian professional career at the Board of Trade Country Club in 1968.
Clarke later served as head professional at Dundee Golf Club and Glendale Golf Club in Hamilton, Ont., where he spent more than two decades before retiring in 2005.
He won the 1976 PGA of Ontario Championship, earned the association’s Golf Professional of the Year honour in 1991 and was inducted into the PGA of Ontario Hall of Fame in 2025.
Golf Canada extends its deepest condolences to Clarke’s family, friends, colleagues and the many members of the Canadian golf community who knew him.