His beloved Mt Broughton Golf Club announced his death on their Facebook page noting: “Our prayers and thoughts are with Frank’s family at this sad time. Discussions with MtBGCC members today revealed how he was such an admired and integral part of the Mt Broughton family.”

Williams was a long-time member and President of the club from 2005 to 2020.

But it was his life in golf before Mt Broughton that the flamboyant Williams will be best remembered by the wider Australian golf community.

The Englishman arrived in Australia in 1969 and started a carpet cleaning business in Melbourne, which he later sold to Electrolux and he became the marketing manager of the company.

Then, in late 1979, he made a decision that would become a life-changer. Williams loved the game of golf and when he was asked to tip in financial support of the fledging Australian Masters tournament, he seized the opportunity.

The first Australian Masters was a financial bust, but Williams saw what the tournament could become. He bought half ownership of the Australian Masters for $50,000, the same amount the tournament lost in the first year. The second Australian Masters, with Williams’ input and promotional expertise made a $250,000 profit.

Williams sold the entire Australian Masters concept as Australia’s hero, the Great White Shark Greg Norman, taking on the world’s greatest players. Williams promoted our Masters with Norman parachuting out of a plane into the Huntingdale GC, Rodger Davis arrived by hovercraft and Bob Shearer by a hot-air balloon. It was vintage Williams and the Australian public, not just devoted golfers, lapped it up.

Within just a few years, the Australian Masters was the biggest tournament in this country in terms of prizemoney, gate attendances and profit for the promoters.

In 1987, co-owner of the tournament David Inglis sold his share to the International Management Group (IMG) and Williams joined IMG has a consultant, and manager to its star golf client, Greg Norman.

When Norman split with IMG in the early 1990s, Williams joined him to form Great White Shark Enterprises (GWSE) and help oversee the empire that would include golf course design, turf growing, a restaurant, vineyards and golf tournaments among a host of business interests. In Australia, Williams also ran the Greg Norman Holden International event and later advised Golf Australia on aspects of the Australian Open.

After retiring from GWSE he continued his connection with golf as a Director of the then named Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG)

A memorial lunch will be held at the Mt Broughton club to celebrate Frank’s career on Thursday September 7.