Golf: Sir Bob guest speaker at pro-am

Sir Bob Charles is coming to the inaugural Napier Pro-am next month. PHOTO/NZME.

Having played golf alongside Sir Bob Charles, Andrew Henare was aware how passionate the 1963 British Open champion was about encouraging juniors.

"We wrote a letter and sent it to him [Charles]," says the Napier Golf Club professional who made contact almost a year ago.

Charles accepted the invite and will be here on January 23.

"He's the most decorated golfer, to be fair, and to have him to be part of the programme as part of the growth of juniors, not just in our club but throughout New Zealand, is fantastic," he says, before the launch of the one-day Napier club pro-am next month.

"I thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful for a guy who supports junior golf in New Zealand to come up here to be an ambassador for that', which he is now."

The Napier club, through Andrew Henare Golf, is finding him accommodation and meeting the costs of his travel.

Charles, who will also compete in the pro-am, will oversee a clinic Henare will conduct for the juniors on the morning of the competition.

"He will participate in the clinic and push his experience," Henare says of the 80-year-old from Christchurch.