Neil Coles

Coles was born in London, England, and grew up in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. He started out as a junior golfer at Letchworth Golf Club, before becoming an assistant professional there at the age of 16.{{cite web |url=https://www.letchworthgolfclub.com/about-us |title=Golf History |publisher= Letchworth Golf Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205171002/https://www.letchworthgolfclub.com/about-us |archive-date=5 December 2019}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/neil-coles-the-greatest-golfer-americans-have-never-heard-of |title=The greatest golfer Americans have never heard of |magazine=Golf Digest |first=John |last=Huggan |date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229075137/https://www.golfdigest.com/story/neil-coles-the-greatest-golfer-americans-have-never-heard-of |archive-date=29 December 2019}}

Coles, then an assistant at Moor Park, was in contention for the 1955 Gor-Ray Cup, the Assistants' Championship, at Hartsbourne. However a poor finish left him in third place, two strokes behind Dave Thomas and Jimmy Hitchcock.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vXVDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4282%2C5764311 |title=Assistants' tie |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=18 June 1955 |page=7}} In 1956, having moved to Burhill, he won the event, finishing four strokes ahead of Peter Butler. In 1956 he qualified for the Open Championship for the first time, at Hoylake, with rounds of 79 and 70.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CXFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5678%2C6811740 |title=Qualifiers and aggregates |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=4 July 1956 |page=4}} However rounds of 78 and 82 meant he missed the cut.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C3FAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5699%2C6168554 |title=Qualifiers for last day |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=6 July 1956 |page=4}} As a previous winner Coles was unable to play in the 1957 assistants' championship but he was runner-up in the Coombe Hill Assistants' Tournament, a stroke behind George Low.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VfA-AAAAIBAJ&pg=5966%2C3034740 |title=Low wins tournament by one stroke |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=24 May 1957}} In 1957 Coles became more prominent in major British events. In September he reached the quarter-finals of the News of the World Match Play and was sixth in the Dunlop Masters, despite a poor final round.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MnhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1941%2C1678213 |title=Halliburton-O'Connor's final for match-play title |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=14 September 1957 |page=7}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OXhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1481%2C2739769 |title=E. C. Brown's success in Masters tournament |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=11 |date=23 September 1957}} Coles played in a few PGA Tour events in early 1959, including the Bing Crosby Pro-Am where he finished tied for 28th place.{{cite web |url=http://www.attpbgolf.com/images/pdf/history/1959.pdf |title=AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am History - 1959 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923180032/http://www.attpbgolf.com/images/pdf/history/1959.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015}} In the 1959 Open Championship at Muirfield Coles qualified in a tie for third place.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PHFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2327%2C94256 |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |location=Scotland |last=Horne |first=Cyril |title=Holder leads 90 qualifiers for Open title |date=1 July 1959 |page=9}} In the Open itself he finished in a tie for 21st place.

In 1960 Coles moved to Coombe Hill and soon won the Coombe Hill Assistants' Tournament, finishing a stroke ahead of Lionel Platts.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CnhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1870%2C3758133 |title=Assistants' win for Coles |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=13 |date=27 May 1960}} In June 1961 Coles had his best finish in an important event, finishing runner-up to Bernard Hunt in the Daks Tournament.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dBk1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2133%2C1846486 |title=Hunt's brilliant finish |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=12 June 1961 |page=5}} Coles finished joint-3rd in the 1961 Open Championship in July. These tournaments were among those that counted towards qualification for the 1961 Ryder Cup, the leading 9 in the Order of Merit after the Carling-Caledonian Tournament in early August gaining a place. Coles was 5th in the table and so qualified for his first Ryder Cup, at Royal Lytham in mid-October.{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=5 August 1961 |page=3 |title=Ryder Cup places earned at Longniddry}} The week before the Ryder Cup was played, Coles won his first major event, the Ballantine Tournament at Wentworth, winning by five strokes from Ken Bousfield. Coles started the final round 7 strokes behind Bousfield but had a final round of 65 to Bousfield's 77. The first prize of £1,500 was more than Arnold Palmer received for winning that year's Open Championship. That year's Ryder Cup was the first played with 18-hole matches; the United States winning by five points. Coles lost both his foursomes matches but halved his morning singles match and beat Dow Finsterwald in the afternoon singles.{{cite web |url=http://www.pga.org/sites/default/files/assets/library/Media/mg_2015_rc.pdf |title=2016 Ryder Cup Media Guide |access-date=26 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927104329/http://www.pga.org/sites/default/files/assets/library/Media/mg_2015_rc.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2015}} Coles made his second trip to America to play in some PGA Tour events in California in early 1962. He had his best result in his final event, the 90-hole Palm Springs Golf Classic where he finished tied for 7th place, winning $1,350.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FH5AAAAAIBAJ&pg=5008%2C5075505 |title=Palmer wins at Palm Springs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=5 February 1962 |page=4}}

After Coles's win in the 1961 Ballantine Tournament he won a further 10 British and Irish events between 1962 and 1966. Two of these were shared wins, both in 1963. In British tournaments at this time only "championships" required a champion; other events were often left with joint winners who shared the prize money. Coles won the Senior Service Tournament in 1962, which had first prize of £2,000. He won two events in 1963, the Martini International and the Daks Tournament, both joint wins. Coles won the 1963 Harry Vardon Trophy ahead of Bernard Hunt, despite Hunt having a lower stroke average and Hunt winning almost twice as prize money. Coles had 674 points to Hunt's 645.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vmtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3843%2C859369 |title=Vardon Trophy for Coles |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=5 October 1963 |page=8}} He also led the Ryder Cup points list for the 1963 event in the United States.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v2JAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2213%2C3297370 |title=Brothers in |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=23 September 1963 |page=10}} The British and Ireland team were heavily beaten, Coles getting a win and two halves from his six matches.

Coles won three important events in 1964, the Daks Tournament, the Bowmaker Tournament and the News of the World Match Play. He won nearly twice as much prize money as any other player but only finished fourth in the Order of Merit.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78344158/evening-standard/ |title=Coles banked £2 7s 2d for every shot |first=Mark |last=Wilson |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=2 November 1964 |page=30 |via=Newspapers.com}} He reached the final of the 1964 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, losing 2&1 to Arnold Palmer and collecting the runners-up prize of £3,000."Palmer's Supreme Golf Under Pressure". The Times, Monday, 12 October 1964; pg. 3; Issue 56140. Coles won two events in 1965, the Carroll's International and the News of the World Match Play, He finished second in the points list for the 1965 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zmxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3954%2C3582490 |title=British team for Ryder Cup match |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=26 July 1965 |page=4}} He played in all six sessions, winning three matches and losing three. He finished the season third in the Order of Merit.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78344357/evening-standard/ |title=Hunt becomes our top golfer again |first=Mark |last=Wilson |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=30 October 1965 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} Coles played on the American winter circuit in early 1966, finishing with the Masters. He made the cut and was tied for 32nd place after three rounds, but withdrew from the final round after feeling ill.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_X9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=6457%2C1881934 |title=Three to play-off for Masters golf title |first=S. L. |last=McKinlay |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=11 April 1966 |page=12}} Coles won two more events in 1966, the Pringle of Scotland Tournament and the Dunlop Masters. He only finished fourth in the Order of Merit but set a new prize money record, £8,329, beating his own best of £7,890 from 1964.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/133040928/ |title=King Coles pockets £8329 (It's a record) |first=Mark |last=Wilson |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=4 November 1966 |page=30 |via=Newspapers.com}}

After winning 11 important British events between 1961 and 1966, Coles failed to win one from 1967 to 1969. He had some consistent results, including solo runner-up finishes behind Tony Jacklin in the 1967 Dunlop Masters and behind Peter Townsend in the 1968 Piccadilly PGA Close Championship.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BH9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=1609%2C2917412 |title=Jacklin arrives at milestone in burgeoning career |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |date=18 September 1967}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6ug9AAAAIBAJ&pg=1727%2C3939807 |title=Townsend's first major triumph as professional |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=23 Sep 1968 |page=7}} He qualified for the 1967 Ryder Cup team, finishing third in the points list, and was placed fifth in the list for the 1969 team, to get an automatic place.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FGtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1434%2C1724237 |title=Will wins Ryder Cup place |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=17 July 1967 |page=4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/133041815/ |title=Jacklin on Open road to golf |first=Pat |last=Ward-Thomas |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 July 1969 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}} In the 1967 match in Houston, he lost his three opening pairs matches but beat Doug Sanders twice in the final-day single matches. The 1969 match at Royal Birkdale was tied. Coles beat Tommy Aaron in the morning singles but lost to Dan Sikes in the afternoon.

Coles made a remarkable start to the 1970 season. In March he won the Wentworth Foursomes with Peter Davidson. He then won the Italian BP Open and the Walworth Aloyco Tournament in Italy, before travelling to Spain where he was runner-up in both the Madrid Open and the Spanish Open.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jZJAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6560%2C4125577 |title=Coles overtaken |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=20 April 1970 |page=4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133055941/ |title=Three-putts finish Coles' chances |first=Donald |last=Steel |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 April 1970 |page=29 |via=Newspapers.com}} Returning to England he was runner-up in the Penfold Tournament in early May, and then in successive weeks he won the Southern Professional Championship, won the Sumrie Better-Ball with Bernard Hunt, was third in the Agfa-Gevaert Tournament and won the Daks Tournament at the end of the month.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hJVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1614%2C526882 |title=Hunt triumphs in Penfold |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=4 May 1970 |page=5}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lZVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1629%2C4957243 |title=Third successive win for Hunt |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 May 1970 |page=5}} After recovering from a leg-muscle injury, he won the Bowmaker Tournament at the end of June, and was then tied for 6th in the 1970 Open Championship. Coles won the Harry Vardon Trophy for the second time, having previously won it in 1963.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=weo9AAAAIBAJ&pg=2945%2C926219 |title=Vardon Trophy for Coles |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=6 October 1970 |page=6}} Coles' continued his good form into 1971, winning four tournaments: the Penfold-Bournemouth Tournament, the Daks Tournament, the Carroll's International and the German Open. He led the points list for the 1971 Ryder Cup in St. Louis.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Huk9AAAAIBAJ&pg=2143%2C3575325 |title=Bannerman in Ryder Cup team by being fourth in points table |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=23 August 1971 |page=5}} He halved his single match with Frank Beard but lost to Jack Nicklaus in the second singles session. He finished second in the 1971 Order of Merit, behind Peter Oosterhuis.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JeU9AAAAIBAJ&pg=6406%2C1164243 |title=Player tops British earnings list |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=6 November 1971 |page=4}}

Coles was ranked 7th in the world on the inaugural Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in December 1968, a position he regained at the end of 1970.The World of Professional Golf 1968, Mark H. McCormackThe World of Professional Golf 1970, Mark H. McCormack

Coles was 37 when the European Tour started in 1972. He won seven times on the tour, six times between 1972 and 1978 and then in 1982 at the Sanyo Open in Barcelona. At 48 years and 14 days he became the oldest winner on the tour and remained so until Des Smyth won in 2001 at the age of 48 years and 34 days.{{cite web |url=https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/the-oldest-winners-on-tour |title=The oldest winners in Tour history |publisher=European Tour |date=30 July 2020}} Coles also held the record for the number of consecutive cuts made in European Tour events, 56, until that record was passed by Bernhard Langer in the 1990s. He made the cut in every event between the 1973 Viyella PGA Championship and the 1979 Open Championship, when he withdrew with an elbow injury.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=176347.html |publisher=European Tour |title=Most Consecutive Cuts Made |date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905135523/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=176347.html |archive-date=5 September 2015}} Coles was in the top-10 of the Order of Merit every year from 1972 to 1979, except 1977 when he was 11th. His highest finish in the Order of Merit was 5th place in 1974.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/seniortour/players/playerid=39/record/index.html |title=Neil Coles |work=European Tour |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226115513/http://www.europeantour.com/seniortour/players/playerid=39/record/index.html |archive-date=26 December 2015}}

Coles had his best finish in the Open Championship in 1973, finishing joint runner-up three strokes behind Tom Weiskopf, after a final round of 66.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9JVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2873%2C2875160 |title=Weiskopf win may be start of new phase |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=16 July 1973}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P5JAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2626%2C2920049 |title=Watson puts on his Sunday best |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |last=Jacobs |first=Raymond |date=14 July 1975 |page=16}} He also had a top-10 finish in 1975 when he was tied for 7th place, despite a final round 74.

Coles qualified in second place for the 1973 Ryder Cup team, his seventh successive Ryder Cup appearance, in which he had never been outside the top 5 in the qualification points list.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rJVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1393%2C3956592 |title=Selectors stick to Ryder Cup table |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=21 August 1973}} The match at Muirfield was tied after two day but the United States dominated the two singles sessions. Coles halved his match against Gay Brewer but lost 6&5 to Lee Trevino in the afternoon session. Coles withdrew from consideration for the 1975 Ryder Cup in Pennsylvania, because of his fear of flying and because it was impractical to travel by sea.{{Cite news |title=Coles drop out of Ryder Cup |date=6 August 1975 |newspaper=The Guardian |page=18}} Coles finished in 15th place in the points list for the 1977 Ryder Cup at Royal Lytham, having missed some events with back trouble. The top 8 in the list were automatic selections and were joined by four further players selected by a committee of three consisting of Coles himself, the team captain Brian Huggett and Brian Barnes.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/133106564/ |title=People in Sport |newspaper=The Evening Standard |date=15 August 1977 |page=29 |via=Newspapers.com}} The committee chose Coles as one their four selections.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X5BAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3515%2C3308557 |title=Ken in Ryder Cup |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=16 August 1977 |page=28}} The selection seemed justified when Coles won the Tournament Players Championship the week before the Ryder Cup.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lvY-AAAAIBAJ&pg=2110%2C2672882 |title=Coles proves he is worth place |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=12 September 1977 |page=25}} The match itself was a disappointment with the United States winning by five points with Coles losing all his three matches.

1977 was Coles' last appearance in the Ryder Cup. In 8 contests he played 40 matches, winning 12, losing 21 and halving 7. However his singles record was better with 5 wins, 6 defeats and 4 halved matches. There were two sets of singles matches from 1961 to 1975 and Coles played in 7 of those matches. His total of 15 singles matches is the most for any Ryder Cup player and the 7 points he won in these matches is still tied for the most singles points won.

Coles continued to play in European Tour events until his mid-50s, having his last top-10 finish, a tie for 6th place, at the 1987 Panasonic European Open at the age of 52.{{cite web |title=Neil Coles |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/39/career-record?tour=dpworld-tour |publisher=European Tour |access-date=8 October 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mTg1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2396%2C3691762 |title=Paul's pressure putt is the turning point as he win European Open title |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=14 September 1987 |page=9}}

The European Senior Tour started in 1992, when Coles was 57 years old. Before then there were very few professional seniors events in the UK. The PGA Seniors Championship had been played since 1957 and The Senior Open Championship was started in 1987. Coles dominated the PGA Seniors Championship between 1985, when he first played in it, to 1991. He won the events in 1985, two strokes ahead of the 60-year-old Christy O'Connor Snr.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f6VAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2577%2C6099930 |title=O'Connor fails to catch 'young fox' |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=29 July 1985 |page=15}} He won again in 1986 and for a third time in 1987, when the event was reduced to 54 holes by bad weather.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZLZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4075%2C671134 |title=Jittery Coles wins as Butler charge just fails |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=4 August 1986 |page=10}}{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=22 June 1987 |page=38 |title=Coles wins title for third time}} He was tied for third place in 1988 behind Peter Thomson before winning for a fourth time in 1989.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8zNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3105%2C7425165 |title=Thomson makes in a double |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=27 June 1988 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ahM1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2938%2C258587 |title=Scots find Coles too hot to handle |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=19 June 1989 |page=22}} In 1990 and 1991 he was the runner-up, behind Brian Waites on both occasions.{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=18 June 1990 |page=45 |title=Newcomer deprives old hand}}{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=17 June 1991 |page=35 |title=In brief - Golf}} Coles won the inaugural Senior Open Championship in 1987 at Turnberry, a stroke ahead of Bob Charles.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T6w1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3679%2C6169710 |title=Charles finally closed out by chairman Coles' casting vote |last=Jacobs |first=Raymond |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=27 July 1987 |page=9}} The following year, again at Turnberry. he was just a stroke behind the leader Gary Player after three rounds, but a last round 79 dropped him into a tie for 6th place; Player scoring 69 to win the title.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jw01AAAAIBAJ&pg=3945%2C6042424 |title=Vintage Player lands a second slam |last=Jacobs |first=Raymond |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 July 1988 |page=7}} He had further top-10 finishes in the 1989 and 1991.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kxI1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2623%2C4083590 |title=Charles streaks away to take Seniors title as Casper's bid falters |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=31 July 1989 |page=17}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133270242/ |title=Verwey's big pay day |first=Bob |last=Rodney |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=15 July 1991 |page=29 |via=Newspapers.com}} From 1987 to 1991 it was only in the 1990 Seniors' British Open that he failed to get into the top 10.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133271129/ |title=Player's triumph recalls '59 Open |first=Peter |last=Donald |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 July 1990 |page=41 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Coles played on the European Seniors Tour from its start in 1992, making his final appearances in 2007.{{cite web |title=Neil Coles |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/39/career-record?tour=legends-tour |publisher=European Tour |access-date=11 October 2023}} Although he never won the PGA Seniors Championship or the Senior Open Championship during this period, he did win 9 of the regular 54-hole events between 1992 and 2002. His last win was in the 2002 Lawrence Batley Seniors at the age of 67 years and 276 days, beating his own record for the oldest winner of a European Seniors Tour event, set in 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186327.html |title=Oldest winners on the European Senior Tour |work=European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910022603/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186327.html |archive-date=10 September 2015}} Amongst his high finishes was joint runner-up behind John Fourie in the 1992 Senior British Open.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133310560/ |title=Fourie recovers in time |first=Bob |last=Rodney |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 July 1992 |page=38 |via=Newspapers.com}} He had a total of 68 top-10 finishes between 1992 and 2004, the last being in the Bovis Lend Lease European Senior Masters three weeks before his 70th birthday. Coles finished in the top ten on the European Seniors Tour's Order of Merit every year from 1992 to 2000, except 1997, his best position being 3rd in 1992.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186625.html |title=John Jacobs Trophy Winners |work=European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909205127/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186625.html |archive-date=9 September 2015}} He was 11th in the Order of Merit in 2002.

Coles was, since its inception in the 1980s, until November 2013, the chairman of the PGA European Tour's board of directors, when he was replaced by David Williams.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/25184206 |work=BBC Sport |title=European Tour appoints first non-professional chairman |first=Iain |last=Carter |date=2 December 2013}} He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. He was also a golf course architect designing courses such as Chartham Park.{{cite web |title=About us - Neil Coles MBE |url=http://neilcoles.com/about.htm |work=Neil Coles and Associates |access-date=18 November 2016}}

Coles married Ann Keep, after growing up together in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. They had two sons, Keith and Gary. Ann died in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/news/articles/detail/ann-coles-obituary/ |title=Ann Coles: obituary |date=30 June 2015 |publisher=European Tour}} Gary was also a professional golfer and followed his father by winning the PGA Assistants' Championship in 1985, 29 years after his father.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qqNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3281%2C3437356 |title=Gary a chip off old Coles block |date=17 August 1985 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=19}} He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1982 New Year Honours,{{London Gazette |issue=48837 |page=13 |date=30 December 1981}}

Source:{{cite web |title=Neil Coles |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/39/results |publisher=European Tour |access-date=6 October 2023}}

European Tour playoff record (2–1)

Sources:{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/132988626 |title=Coles makes a worthy champion |first=Pat |last=Ward-Thomas |newspaper=The Guardian |date=3 July 1972 |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NJVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2277%2C320052 |title=Popular win for quiet man Coles |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=1 June 1976 |page=28}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HLdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2401%2C2883340 |title=Trevino ends play-off jinx |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=14 August 1978 |page=14}}

• 1962 Sunningdale Foursomes (with Ross Whitehead){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bnxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3019%2C4875290 |title=Whitehead's foursomes double |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=31 March 1962 |page=5}}
• 1963 Wentworth Foursomes (with Keith Warren){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kmxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1891%2C2288709 |title=Win for Warren and Coles |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=16 March 1963 |page=9}}
• 1967 Sunningdale Foursomes (with Keith Warren){{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109944972/the-daily-telegraph/ |title=Putting errors almost rob Coles & Warren |first=Geoffrey |last=Cousins |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=25 March 1967 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• 1969 Carlyon Bay Hotel Tournament
• 1970 Wentworth Foursomes (with Peter Davidson),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3JRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6598%2C2738517 |title=Davidson and Coles fight back |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=14 March 1970 |page=4}} Southern Professional Championship,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/132956098/ |title=Coles triumphs over Grubb at second play-off hole |first=Geoffrey |last=Cousins |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 May 1970 |page=21 |via=Newspapers.com}} Sumrie Better-Ball (with Bernard Hunt),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kJVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3801%2C3412374 |title=Hunt and Coles invincible |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=18 May 1970 |page=4}} Carlyon Bay Hotel Tournament{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zOo9AAAAIBAJ&pg=5754%2C3589907 |title=Coles wins by 8 strokes |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=19 October 1970 |page=5 |access-date=21 April 2020 |via=Google News Archive}}
• 1971 Carlyon Bay Hotel Tournament{{cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS151614802/TTDA?u=bli_ttda&sid=TTDA&xid=e3864641 |title=Top prize to Coles for third time |newspaper=The Times |first=Peter |last=Ryde |date=18 October 1971 |page=9 |access-date=21 April 2020 |via=The Times Digital Archive}}
• 1973 Sumrie Better-Ball (with Bernard Hunt){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JpNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2912%2C4040570 |title=Hunt and Coles play down their five-shot victory |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=21 May 1973 |page=5}}
• 1980 Sunningdale Foursomes (with Doug McClelland){{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109946630/the-daily-telegraph/ |title=McClelland helps Coles to triple |first=Michael |last=Williams |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=29 March 1980 |page=28 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Source:

Sources:{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186334.html |title=Senior Past Champions Current Events |work=PGA European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910022935/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186334.html |archive-date=10 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186334.html |title=Senior Past Champions Former Events |work=PGA European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907123227/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186399.html |archive-date=7 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186278.html |publisher=European Tour |title=Most Official Staysure Tour Victories |date=12 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214721/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186278.html |archive-date=26 August 2018}}

European Seniors Tour playoff record (2–2)

Source:{{cite web |title=Individual Play-off Records since 1992 |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186144.html |publisher=European Tour |date=14 October 2014 |access-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913105301/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=186144.html |archive-date=13 September 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133275380/ |title=Neil Coles |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 June 1998 |page=44 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133275571/ |title=Huggett ends wait with play-off win |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 August 1998 |page=42 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/133276826/ |title=New Coles record |first=Colin |last=Callander |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 July 2002 |page=43 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Sources:

• 1991 Léman International Senior Trophy

{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}

{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1972, 1983 and 1984 Open Championships)

WD = Withdrew

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Note: Coles never played in the U.S. Open or the PGA Championship.

• Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (1973 Open Championship – 1978 Open Championship)

Source:{{cite book |title=The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008 |volume=1 |first=Morgan G. |last=Brenner |year=2009 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-3360-5}}

Source:{{cite news |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |date=27 July 1987 |title=Charles finally closed out by chairman Coles' casting vote |page=9 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T6w1AAAAIBAJ&pg=3679%2C6169710 |access-date=5 April 2022}}

• Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969 (tie), 1971, 1973, 1977{{cite web|url=http://2014rcmediaguide.com/2014RyderCupMediaGuide/ |title=2014 Ryder Cup Media and Players' Guide |accessdate=September 30, 2014 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074322/http://2014rcmediaguide.com/2014RyderCupMediaGuide/ |archivedate=October 6, 2014 }}
• World Cup (representing England): 1963,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0mtAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2176%2C4590511 |title=Exciting play by United States |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=29 October 1963 |page=6 |first=P.A. |last=Ward-Thomas}} 1968{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/501341975/?terms=%22World%2BCup%22%2Bgolf |title=More on golf: All the scores |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver, British Columbia |agency=Associated Press |date=18 November 1968 |page=18 |via=newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}
• R.T.V. International Trophy (representing England): 1967 (winners){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HFxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6175%2C4296815 |title=England's clean sweep in R.T.V. Internationals |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=28 August 1967}}
• Double Diamond International (representing England): 1971 (winners),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wNk9AAAAIBAJ&pg=1847%2C1404601 |title=Scotland lose all but one singles against English |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 October 1971 |page=5}} 1973,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OZFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2660%2C292982 |title=Scotland's £5000 team triumph |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=3 September 1973 |page=5}} 1975 (playing captain),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9I5AAAAAIBAJ&pg=3106%2C6608231 |title=Scots just miss second place |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=29 September 1975 |page=17}} 1976 (winners),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r5FAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5774%2C4264856 |title=Coles - Double Diamond triumph |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=23 August 1976 |page=15}} 1977{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y5BAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3631%2C2381118 |title=Wales left to carry home flag |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=20 August 1977 |page=16}}
• Marlboro Nations' Cup/Philip Morris International (representing England): 1973,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/132988728 |title=Gallacher inspires Scots' 2-1 win over France in final |first=Michael |last=Williams |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=29 October 1973 |page=29 |via=Newspapers.com}} 1975{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bZBAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2941%2C195890 |title=France's surprise win |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=2 June 1975 |page=17}}
• Sotogrande Match/Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1974 (winners),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v49AAAAAIBAJ&pg=5380%2C606120 |title=Gallacher undefeated in British victory |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=4 November 1974 |page=4}} 1976 (winners),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hd49AAAAIBAJ&pg=6100%2C4379757 |title=Horton and Jacklin clinch cup |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=20 September 1976 |page=15}} 1978 (winners),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SgI-AAAAIBAJ&pg=3151%2C5419894 |title=Short game is golf answer |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 September 1978 |page=12}} 1980 (winners){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BcRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6508%2C3280009 |title=Hennessy cheer for Britain |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=15 September 1980 |page=20}}
• Praia d'El Rey European Cup (representing the European Seniors Tour): 1998 (tie),{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112096103/the-daily-telegraph |title=European Cup |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 November 1998 |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}} 1999{{Cite web |url=https://www.europeantour.com/legends-tour/news/articles/detail/the-teams-x3548/ |title=1999 Praia D'el Rey Rover European Cup The Teams |date=19 March 2010 |publisher=PGA European Tour |access-date=27 October 2022}}

• List of golfers with most European Senior Tour wins

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://neilcoles.com}}
• {{EuroTour player|39}}
• {{World Golf Hall of Fame|neil-coles}}

{{BMW PGA Championship champions}}

{{navboxes|title=Neil Coles in the Ryder Cup

|list1=

{{1961 Great Britain Ryder Cup team}}

{{1963 Great Britain Ryder Cup team}}

{{1965 Great Britain Ryder Cup team}}

{{1967 Great Britain Ryder Cup team}}

{{1969 Great Britain Ryder Cup team}}

{{1971 Great Britain Ryder Cup team}}

{{1973 Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup team}}

{{1977 Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup team}}

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{{Senior British Open Championship champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coles, Neil}}

Category:English male golfers

Category:European Tour golfers

Category:European Senior Tour golfers

Category:World Golf Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Ryder Cup competitors for Europe

Category:Winners of senior major golf championships

Category:British golf course architects

Category:Golfers from London

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:People educated at St Christopher School

Category:Sportspeople from Walton-on-Thames

Category:1934 births

Category:Living people