Keith Macdonald, the former Goodwood professional and European Seniors Tour player, died suddenly on Monday aged 53.
He was at his Middleton-on-Sea home in West Sussex when taken ill and wife Janet called an ambulance.
Only last month Macdonald underwent a successful hip operation after a season when his Tour earnings exceeded £55,000.
He ended a 22-year association with Goodwood in February to become a full time tournament player and played out of Cowdray Park.
Away from the Seniors Tour he made up for a series of near misses last year when lifting the British Senior Club Professionals' championship at Coventry.
Macdonald came from a large family of professionals, his grandfather, father, twin sons Ross and James following him into golf together with several other relations.
In fact, the Macdonald family was once listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the largest clan of golf pros in the world.
A former Southern Region champion and order of merit winner, Macdonald was three times Sussex Professional champion, Sussex Open winner in 1996 and Sussex PGU chairman.
He leaves a widow, Janet and twin sons Ross and James.
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