The EGA is saddened to hear of the passing of one of its former Continent of Europe team captains, Dietrich von Knoop.
Dietrich was born on 14 May 1937 in Wiesbaden, Germany and passed away on 11 December 2021.
Dietrich von Knoop (right) at the 1974 EGA Trophy, the then-Captain of Downfield Golf Club Edward Boyd (centre), and Barclay Howard (left)
Dietrich was a skilled amateur player who represented German teams many times on the international stage. This included representing Germany in the first ever played European Amateur Team Championship in 1959, where he carded the lowest aggregate score in the stroke play qualifying rounds.
Dietrich went on to captain the Continent of Europe team at several EGA Trophy matches in the 1970s. He captained a number of successful amateur players including Yves Hofstetter, Christoph Städler, Philippe Ploujoux, Uwe Nievert, Markus Frank and Kai Flint.
The German team at the 1965 European Amateur Team Championship, Royal St. George’s, England. From left: Hans Lampert, Nils Wirichs, Dietrich von Knoop, Helge Rademacher, Peter Möller. Front: Erik Sellschop, Jan Brügelmann (Captain of the team and EGA President 1991 - 1993), Walter Brühne
“Dietrich von Knoop was a real gentleman” said Yves Hofstetter, chairman of the EGA Championship Committee and a former Continent of Europe EGA Trophy player. “As a captain, Didi always encouraged his young players and showed them how to fight very hard with the perfect ‘spirit’. His example inspired me when I was asked to become captain of the team in 1978 and 1979.”
We pay tribute to a well-respected individual of the European golf family, Dietrich von Knoop.