David Soar is one of life’s achievers.

He worked in a variety of top jobs for British Airways for 33 years, played rugby at a very decent level, has realised a dream by living in France and has captained two golf clubs.

The 72-year-old has recently taken up the reins at Cirencester Golf Club, a club he has been involved with for just three years.

He took over in December after serving as vice-captain to Rodney Williams for a year, and it’s a pretty momentous time for Soar to be in charge because this year the club are celebrating their 125th anniversary.

Soar didn’t start playing golf properly until his early 40s – much of the first part of his sporting life was devoted to rugby.

“I played rugby for 24 years,” said Soar, a fly-half. “I played mainly for Osterley in West London following on from grammar school.

“It was a good level, we used to play the second teams of the big teams in London such as London Welsh, and we’d come down to the West Country and play teams like Weston-super-Mare.

“I’d say we were the top level of the second tier teams around at the time.”

Clearly rugby was a sport that Soar enjoyed, so what was the appeal for him?

“It encompasses everything that is good about sport,” said Soar, who lives in Fairford with his partner Barbara.

“It’s hard and it’s competitive but at the end of the game there is an amiability with the opposition.

“You know that for 80 minutes on the field you will try to beat the hell out of the opposition, but that is all done and dusted at the final whistle. It’s the complete sport.”

Injury forced Soar to stop playing at the age of 38 and, as with so many people who spend much of their lives involved in a game they love, he was desperate to find something else to fill the gap.

“I needed to find another sport and I got into golf,” said Soar, who these days plays off 12, “and I’ve never looked back.”

Ask him which sport he prefers – rugby or golf – and he doesn’t hesitate for a second before answering “rugby”.

But while the oval ball game will always be number one with Soar, it’s fair to say that he’s certainly been well and truly converted when it comes to enjoying all things golf.

He joined Ashford Manor Golf Club in Surrey and in 2004 was the club’s captain.

By then he had also bought a property not far from Poitiers in western France where he enjoyed playing golf at Chateau des Forges.

He moved to Gloucestershire in early 2015 – “We were looking for the same rural and friendly environment that we had enjoyed in France,” he said – and it wasn’t long before he and Barbara, who plays off 27, were playing a round of golf at Cirencester.

So what were his first impressions?

“Everyone was very welcoming,” he said. “They were all very warm and friendly. It was like putting on an old overcoat. There was a good feeling about the golf club.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was challenging and although not the longest around, it certainly made one think.

“I’ve never looked back. I got involved and suddenly out of the blue I got asked to be vice-captain which was a great honour.”

He held that position for 12 months before becoming the main man, and his face will certainly be a familiar one at the club in the weeks and months ahead, because he likes to play “two or three times a week”.

This year is also a big one for the club because they are redesigning the 18th hole.

“It will take it back to the way the hole was in the mid 1980s,” said Soar. “It will increase the length of the course and add another shot to it.

“It will make it a very challenging 445-yard par 4 instead of the current 203-yard par 3. It should be a spectacular finishing hole.”

It is hoped the new hole will be ready to play in April, and in the meantime the par 3 18th is still open for business because the green will remain the same.

That’s good news all round, of course, as is the fact that Soar is the new captain. So what sort of captain will he be?

“I’m not averse to change,” he said, “but I don’t want change for change’s sake. I want to concentrate on all the good things at the golf club.

“I want to see more cooperation across all members so that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet.

“We’ve got a really good golf course and a really good head greenkeeper in Richard Louisson.

“We’re doing a lot of the work on the 18th in-house with the ambition of being one of the best courses in the county.”

Clearly Soar loves his golf, so what does he particularly like about the sport?

“It’s an easy game that we all make difficult,” he laughed. “There’s something about it, it’s got an energy. When you look at it there shouldn’t be anything tricky about whacking a little white ball into a 4.25-inch diameter hole in the ground.

“But it’s not all about power, it’s about finesse and thinking on your feet. Golf is mainly played in the six inches between your ears.

“You can finesse your way round a golf course. I like the strategy just as much as hitting the ball 200 yards down the fairway.

“It’s a mental and physical activity and that’s what makes it a super game.

“And it’s also a game that can be played by people in their 80s and 90s.”

Soar has a long way to go before he gets to that age, of course, and before that he’d certainly like to reduce his handicap.

“It’s been as low as 7.8 and I’d dearly like to get it down to single figures again,” he said.

And to be fair, given his track record, you certainly wouldn’t bet against him achieving his aim.