A sneak peek of Sir Bob Charles – The Biography reveals the Antipodean version of golf’s ‘Big Three’.

After an exhausting season, Bob Charles returned to New Zealand at the end of 1969 for a well-earned break. He had played 21 tournaments on the PGA Tour, was runner-up at The Open and culminated a successful year winning the Piccadilly Match Play Championship at Wentworth. 

In late November each year the New Zealand circuit started in earnest. The late 1960s through until the late 1970s were golden years for New Zealand golf. Bruce Young, golf writer and commentator (later to caddie for Bob in Europe) accurately summed it up in New Zealand Golf Digest in 2018: “It was a great little circuit that came at the end of a long season for some. While lacking in serious prizemoney, the competition was intense, and fans flocked to the events at a time when there was little exposure to the game internationally through television.” 

For more than two decades, three players dominated the circuit, particularly the New Zealand Open. Between them, the trio accumulated an incredible 20 New Zealand Open titles in a 24-year period from 1950. Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle and Bob Charles were the Antipodean version of golf’s ‘Big Three’. Another valid comparison was made to the Great Triumvirate of Harry Vardon, John Henry Taylor and James Braid, who between them won the Open Championship 16 times in a 21-year period ending in 1914. 

Thomson had supported the circuit from the time of his first New Zealand Open win in 1950 and Nagle started competing regularly from the mid-1950s. Thomson accumulated nine titles and Nagle seven, while Bob collected four. The trio’s amazing run in the event finally came to an end with Bob’s last win in 1973.

By 1978 the circuit had grown to nine events. The Australian and New Zealand professionals who played the world circuits did not have the long end-of-season break of the current era. The centrepiece of the home circuit was obviously the New Zealand Open. 

A different dynamic was in play in world golf throughout the 1970s that included Australian and New Zealand players of the highest quality. Thomson, Charles and Nagle had collected seven Majors between them. The next level down was not too bad either. Australians Jack Newton, David Graham, Stewart Ginn, Graham Marsh, Ian Stanley, Bob Tuohy and Bob Shearer joined the pick of New Zealand’s homegrown talent of Simon Owen, John Lister and Walter Godfrey. Bob played his part in helping organisers attract world-class players such as Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Billy Casper, George Archer, Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson, Jerry Heard, Larry Ziegler, Nick Price, Tom Kite, Corey Pavin and Seve Ballesteros. 

Shining through these tournaments were Australasia’s very own ‘Big Three’. Each year, Thomson, Charles and Nagle would compete and enhance each of the events they played in. Their conduct on the course was impeccable; they would happily sign autographs during play and interact with the galleries. They were gentlemen golfers in every sense of the word. Despite being in the thick of the action on the circuit, the players were accessible and friendly. 

Peter Thomson was once observed listening to an Ashes cricket commentary on a small transistor radio while in contention in the Garden City Classic in Christchurch. Even their attire was classy, wearing some of the brighter hues that were fashionable at the time. In Andrew Crockett’s book Bump and Run, when Thomson was asked whether players wore logos on their clothes in the 1960s, he replied, “No, of course not, that was considered very poor class.” 

It seems extraordinary that some of the greats of the game were prepared to travel to the bottom of the world to compete on a relatively obscure circuit. By their standards, the purses were tiny and there was no appearance money. Their compensation came in their experience of New Zealand, with its hunting and fishing and warm Kiwi hospitality.

 The travelling golfing circus had many players from diverse backgrounds.

 Sewsunker “Papwa” Segowlum [far left] had overcome prejudice and poverty in South Africa to travel and compete competently on the circuit in New Zealand. He played cross-handed and was the first golfer of colour to win on the South African tour, at the Natal Open in 1963. When he won the Natal Open again in 1965, he had been forced to accept the winner’s trophy standing in the rain outside a clubhouse he was banned from entering. 

In the early part of the season, representatives from Japan in the shape of Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki (winner of the 1972 NZ PGA Championship), Takashi Murakami and Takaaki Kono travelled to play in Mt Maunganui. 

Bob reflects on his two peerless Australian contemporaries, Thomson and Nagle: “I would rate Peter as close to the top 10 players I played with in the world. His long game was excellent. He was impeccable with the driver and long irons, and almost faultless through the green. He was a streaky putter who could get very hot. He had no self-doubt and was exactly like [Bobby] Locke in his ability to out-think the opposition. He had that authoritative walk, and you could never tell whether he was having a good or a bad day. And Peter loved links golf and to run the ball.

“Kel Nagle was not a power player but always kept the ball in play. He had a wonderful short game and was more consistent in this department than Peter. He had a great temperament and was a total gentleman on the course.” 

Bob did not deliberately copy Thomson and Nagle but admits, “the way they played the game rubbed off on me.”

For two or more decades New Zealand galleries were able to watch their heroes up close, as they produced a string of amazing scores and performances. Thomson, Charles and Nagle played a significant part in the success of the circuit; the growth of the game was largely due to their sheer presence and well-earned place in the highest echelons of the game. 

Bob was still competitive on the US circuit in 1971 and won $54,732 after a planned increase in his schedule to 24 events. Bob’s victory in the 1971 Kentucky Thoroughbred Open that year brought with it one of the most unusual prizes in golf. The prize was a thoroughbred racehorse that Bob named Miss Kentucky. Encouraged by Gary Player’s enthusiasm and love for horses, he decided to keep Miss Kentucky, in partnership with Player, and it was transported at considerable cost to the Player farm back in South Africa. Miss Kentucky provided the delighted Player with his first win at Germiston in mid-1973. Bob and Player’s elation was short lived, however. The horse contracted spinal meningitis and sadly had to be put down shortly after her maiden win. 

Editor’s note

Sir Bob Charles turns 86 this month and still plays off a handicap of 3. 

Sir Bob Charles – The Biography can be ordered online at bobcharlesbook.com 

There are two editions – a standard edition for $NZ59.95 and a limited (to 1963 copies) coffee table edition signed by Sir Bob for $NZ250. Postage to Australia is free.