ONE of Australia’s most famous golf coaches, Billy McWilliam passed away at age 87 on Sunday after a battle with cancer.

McWilliam, the PGA club professional at Sydney’s Beverley Park Golf Club for 33 years, is credited with launching the pro careers of Greg Norman, David Graham, Bruce Devlin and Bruce Crampton.

McWilliams also coached well-known professionals Len Woodward, Len Thomas and Dennise Hutton and Australian Amateur Champion Kevin Donohoe.

Last year at age 86 another McWilliam student Sarah Kemp won her US LPGA card and credited him for a lot of her success.

McWilliam was famous for encouraging children to play golf and was the first person to stage state and Australian school championships which he held at Sydney’s Beverley Park.

Although his playing career was brief, McWilliam was the winner of the 1940 NSW PGA Championship and he also set a world record in the 1947 Australian Open.

He shot a then world record nine under the card 65 in the first round of the Open at Royal Queensland Golf Club, which had a standard scratch par of 74.

He was eventually beaten by a shot in the four round championship by Ossie Pickworth.

Norman was thrilled when McWilliam agreed to employ him as a PGA Assistant in 1974 at Beverley Park, but due to the lack of tournament opportunities, Norman returned to Brisbane after three months. 

“I was delighted that my first steps in professional golf were to be guided by such a man as Billy McWilliam,” Norman wrote in his biography.

In June 2004 the PGA of Australia Life Member was awarded a Medal (AOM) in the General Division of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to golf.