Bedfordshire County Golf
Tragic Passing of Steve Kavanagh
Steve Kavanagh
16-12-1959 / 08-12-2024
I was fortunate to have known Kav’s for over 30 years though his golfing association with Bedfordshire and its golfing family goes back much further than that, from the early 70’s playing as a youngster at Bedford and County during which time he Captained the County Colts team, to his years at John O’Gaunt when he was not only a regular in the County 1st team squad but also Captained it in 2002/03, winning the SE Northern league and playing Kent at The London Club in the final. He then moved into some slightly different areas when in 2008 along with Geoff Swain and Eamon McEvoy they took on and ran The Bedford GC very successfully for over a decade, he had also moved from poacher to gamekeeper when having qualified as a rules official he spent many years officiating in Europe on both The Seniors and Ladies tours and in more recent years with LIV golf, and during this time his playing certainly took a back seat. Following the closure of The Bedford Kav’s was only ever going to join one Club and duly returned to where it had all started at Bedford and County, he had for the past 9 years when availability allowed be a very active member of our County Seniors team as he love of playing had certainly returned.
As a golfer Kav’s had many high points including more than one Hole-in-One, teeing up for the final round in the last group playing The European Mid Amateur at Hollinwell and that -8 round Royal Cromer GC that he had mentioned a few times over the years and rightly so!!. Possibly the highlight though may well have been following a 3 way play off being victorious in the very prestigious Gog’s Trophy in 1996 with his old mate Stokesy on the bag.
The above though only covers golf Kav’s actually wasn’t a bad footballer in his younger days and even ventured into rugby though not for long, he was though so much more, a loyal, reliable fun loving true Gentleman who could never attract a bad word from anyone and acted as a form of magnet when he entered a room, whilst remaining in many ways a very private person. As County Seniors Captain I always had someone in Kav’s I could send a new boy out with knowing he would make them feel comfortable and relaxed, if no new boys that day and I just wanted to have a fun day and lots of laughter I’d selfishly put him with myself.
Kav’s was a special person who I felt very lucky to have known for so long and could call a friend, like so many others I’ll miss him on the golf course and in the bar afterwards but equally as much the laughter and fun we all had with him when in is company or just chatting on the phone.
Rest In Peace Kav’s gone far too early but certainly wasted none of the time you had, you will be missed immensely and fondly spoken of for many years to come.
Andy Brown - BCG Seniors Captain
“Happy times and great memories with County Senior Team mates at Len’s Charity golf day 2024”
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