Craig Disher sent the following
I never thought I'd have to write this but Jim Goby passed away after a
3-month battle with lung cancer. The indomitable man that he was, he
fought it until he couldn't fight anymore. He was a great and true friend.
Craig
http://www.kentgolf.org/newsThere’s an old saying that Golf quickly reveals a person’s character, I only got to play with him a few times but what a great impression Jim left on me.
I was introduced to Jim on the first tee at Hoylake, where someone had the great idea of putting us together for my first ever game of foursomes. He quietly advised me not to worry and that on no account was I ever to say “sorry” to my foursomes partner. About three holes from the end of the match he said that his neck had seized up but that he would play on, just don’t mention it. Well we held on for a draw against the battling McBride’s. His neck was bad enough to prevent him from playing the next morning but he had hidden it from our opponents.
Keen to play with him again, next Buda I asked for him to be my partner and at Alwoodley we prevailed. I’ like to say we never lost together but sadly I played poorly when we were paired together at Liphook last year and we did lose. However as tee times were tight on the final day the single matches took place as two separate games played concurrently with four teeing off. I got to watch Jim play the African Animal. Whoever arranged that one shared Jim’s sense of humour, one of the longest against one of shortee hitters in a match. On the Par 5, 13th Phillip hit a majestic second shot over the pin for a two putt birdie and (I believe) the hole. Jim had played his 3rd from 165 yards; short of the stream. However it was all square on the 17th tee where I figured a 158 yard par 3 might go to my team, but unfortunately Jim found the gulley on the right of the green and couldn’t get up and down. We all walked to the 18th for another Par 5 playing strongly uphill with Jim one down . If Jim was at all daunted he didn’t show it and held his nerve to win the hole for a half that pleased him no end.
I can’t think of anyone I’ve ever played with who competed so hard while retaining his calmness and sense of humour and was always fun to be with.
I only spent enough time with him to realise there must be lots and lots I don’t know about him. He was born in the North of England and work took him south. We once drifted on to the subject of Rugby and he let slip that he had played scrum half for Hull Kingston Rovers, one of the elite Rugby League teams. That’s one tough game and when you think of some of the opponents he took down, well it sums him up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_Kingston_RoversHe was immensely proud of Littlestone and Kent golf in general. He loved how his home greens could confound the pro’s in Open Qualifying. I believe he served on many county committee’s.
A devoted family man, my attempts to accept his offers between BUDA’s regrettably failed because he reserved his weekend’s for the most important people in his life and foolishly I didn’t set aside a day’s holiday to see him. He left the Deal Dinner early because he had promised to collect his wife from Babysitting. I hope everyone realises the bottles of Port passed round that evening had been an unannounced gift from a man who’d already gone home.
A loving family and friends like Craig and Peter must be feeling his loss dreadfully. I can only feel thanks for the time Jim shared with me.
At Alwoodley when he saw the 17th flagstick he asked me to take a picture becausee it might amuse a few people on the website.
RIP Jim.