John Paramor, one of the most respected and recognizable rules officials in the history of golf, died on Thursday, February 17, 2023, after a bout with cancer. He was 67 years old.
A Career Spanning Six Decades
Paramor joined the European Tour as an administrator in 1976, having previously spent a year working as a caddie for Peter Butler. He became the tour’s chief referee in 1989 and influenced many significant changes to the sport’s rules over the years. He worked with the R&A and the United States Golf Association to modernize and simplify the Rules of Golf.
He officiated at dozens of major championships and was a familiar figure on every circuit in the world. He was involved in rulings concerning some of the sport’s biggest names, including Tiger Woods and Seve Ballesteros. He was known for his professionalism, fairness, and sense of humor.
He retired from his role at the 2020 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He had been ill for some time before his death.
A Leader in His Field and a Popular Figure
Paramor was widely regarded as a legend and a guru of referees in the golf world. He commanded the absolute respect of the players and his peers. He was also a big character and a hugely popular figure across the entire tour family. He enjoyed socializing and sharing stories with his friends and colleagues.
Keith Pelley, the chief executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Quite simply, he was a leader in his field, the guru of referees, and someone who commanded the absolute respect of the players and of his peers. He was also a big character in all senses – his physical stature, his stature in the game and his popularity with anyone who shared a dinner or social occasion with him.”
Fellow referee Andy McFee said: “What a man JP was and what a life he led. He has left us now, but he left us when he was full of his favourite things after a John-style lunch yesterday – garlic snails, rare fillet steak and fine red wine. He leaves us with memories galore.”
Tiger Woods, the 15-time major winner, called Paramor “one of the all-time best rules officials”. He said: “John was around when I first turned pro and had been a staple obviously on the European Tour and all the World Golf Championships, when he came over here and was a rules official. Just a great guy. I’m a little bit taken back by that.”
Paramor’s death was marked by a minute’s silence during the third round of the DP World Tour Thailand Classic in Bangkok. He is survived by his wife Katie and their three children and five grandchildren.
