Peter Williams: The golfing legend who refuses to hang up his clubs

COMMENT

Sir Bob Charles just loves to play golf. If that sounds as obvious as stating Vijay Singh doesn't like playing with women or that the greens are fast at Augusta National, then consider this: last year New Zealand's greatest golfer announced his retirement from full-time tournament play. His definition of retirement has been to play 13 tournaments on the United States Champions Tour and a further five on the European Seniors Tour.

That's 18 weeks of tournament golf, exactly the same as a fellow called Woods. Jack Nicklaus, born four years after the 68-year-old Sir Bob, played competitively just six times this year. Greg Norman, a mere child at 49, teed it up in tournaments on only seven occasions.

Others of Sir Bob's generation just can't compare to his work rate. Al Geiberger, a year younger, played twice on the Champions Tour. Australians Bruce Crampton and Bruce Devlin, respectively born the year before and the year after Sir Bob, now don't play at all. While the great golfers of his era have either really retired or moved their primary interests into business or course design, Sir Bob just keeps playing.

It was ever thus. Sure, he's had the occasional foray into golf architecture or product endorsement (will golfers of the 1960s ever forget the Bob Charles shirt with the action gusset?) but Sir Bob has been first and foremost a player. In December he'll have been a professional 44 years - that's almost half a century of airports, hotels, courtesy cars and pro-am dinners. It's a staggering achievement of endurance, patience and overcoming jetlag.

At the age of 68, he can no longer be competitive on the Champions Tour. Golfers nearly 20 years younger, such as Craig Stadler, Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen, are the stars. But every now and then comes a reminder of the glory days. In August he tied for 10th at the Greater Hickory Classic in North Carolina and won US$36,000. At the Bank of America Championship in Massachusetts in June he shot two under his age with a 66 in the third round. Only two weeks ago in San Antonio, Texas he hit a third round 68 in the SBC Championship.

Sir Bob's most lucrative paydays nowadays come in events for the over-60s. In April in Savannah, Georgia, he teamed with Australian Stewart Ginn to win his division of the Legends of Golf best ball event. Sir Bob's share was US$55,000.

This week he starts an eight-city "farewell tour" of New Zealand. The courses have been specifically chosen for their nostalgia value. He begins at Mount Maunganui, where he won the New Zealand PGA in 1979 and 1980. He'll be at three of the four venues where he won New Zealand Opens - Hokowhitu (1973), Paraparaumu Beach (1966) and, delightfully, Heretaunga, the scene of his arrival on the international stage as a mere 18-year-old in 1954.

Next Saturday, November 6, is 50 years to the day since he won his first NZ Open. He'll celebrate with a game at the place his left-handed parents first put a golf club in his hand, the Masterton Golf Club at Lansdowne.

Years ago, before he turned 50, I asked Sir Bob why he kept playing. He told me then that he had to because he might need some money to buy a new tractor for his North Canterbury farm. The truth is that he's been able to purchase as much farm equipment as he wants for a long time. He just can't stop playing the game.

He's not too fussy about who he plays with either. Today and tomorrow Sir Bob's joining the news media for our annual shindig at Wairakei. We are delighted and privileged to have his company.

- THE HERALD ON SUNDAY