Golf: Muted wave closes a regal career

By WYNNE GRAY


Sir Bob Charles' regal career in New Zealand came to a muted end at The Grange yesterday.

Thousands lined the 18th fairway to applaud the nation's golfing knight, but there was nothing theatrical about his departure.

He neatly doffed his peaked cap, two-putted for par, acknowledged the corporate-tent spectators with one measured wave, and strode over the hummock at the back of the 18th green into self-imposed retirement.

It was a farewell in keeping with the understated and gentlemanly manner with which he has graced the game for the past half-century.

There was no self-pity for missing the cut for the weekend's play in the 87th NZ Open.

His game was not up to the standard required, he had tried hard, but was swinging poorly. Some useful putts held his score together and he was able to sign for a one-over 71, to improve on his wayward opening round of 74.

"My weaknesses showed up yesterday and today, and the results were very poor by my standards," Charles said. "It is time for me to move on."

No tears, no despair, no wishful thinking. This was reality for the country's greatest golf player. That latter description is in little dispute.

Bob Glading, twice a former NZ Open champion, as an amateur in 1946 and 1947, and still spritely enough as an 84-year-old to follow Charles yesterday, spoke for many.

"Bob is the best golfer we have had from New Zealand. He earns that title because of his record undoubtedly, and because of the length of time he has stayed at the top of the sport.

"As a senior golfer his striking improved, he was far more consistent than he was as a young man.

"When he first won the New Zealand Open at Heretaunga [in 1954] I watched him play about five holes because he was the only lefty of any note around. It was clear then he had great ability and a superb temperament."

That disposition was a substantial weapon in Charles' golfing armoury.

"I remember watching him take on Jack Nicklaus in his prime in matchplay in the States," Glading said. "If they were racehorses you would have said you would have fed one and sent the other to the knacker's yard, but it was Bob who proved to be the winner because of his temperament."

Charles' putting was legendary, with Arnold Palmer rating him the best he ever saw with the flat stick.

The 67-year-old Charles needed a fair chunk of that skill yesterday to save his round, although it started promisingly.

Immaculately dressed in black trousers, yellow shirt and peaked black and white cap, Charles suggested an immediate rally and some chance of making the cut.

He holed a two-metre putt on the first to convert his sublime wedge shot, but then dragged his next tee shot into the trees.

For most of the first nine Charles struggled to control his shots from the tee and, after pulling another offline on one hole, he inquired if his group was playing mulligans.

He will not get to swing his clubs this weekend, but will be at The Grange to meet sponsors and spectators.

He has accepted a position as honorary patron of the NZ Open, hopes to have time to design some golf courses, and will try his playing fortunes on the European Seniors tour.

"I am so fit and healthy it is hard to quit," Charles said. "I have not quite got to the stage of fearing I will embarrass myself."

Asked for his advice to young New Zealand golfers, he suggested they follow the sort of work ethic and fitness regimen of Vijay Singh.