Bob Charles wins unique NZ Hickory Open

By Neville Idour

Caption: Sir Bob Charles was splendidly dressed for the New Zealand Hickory Open in Christchurch.

Sir Bob Charles will never die wondering.

This remarkable New Zealander won the 2023 Golf Warehouse New Zealand Hickory Open at the Christchurch Golf Club last month just before his 87th birthday.

Just a month earlier he had landed his first hole in one at his home Shirley Links course in Christchurch.

Charles was happy to talk about the event, it’s origins and how the New Zealand event came about.

How many played in the event?

“We had over 50 but it was somewhat disappointing. We were catering for 80, but Golf New Zealand let us down.”

How?

“They did not provide all the clubs in New Zealand information on the event and date. I am personally disappointed in Golf NZ not advertising it. These days it is very easy to advertise on the internet I believe.''

Did they not send a poster out to clubs?

“They were supposed to but it didn’t happen. When I was at Millbrook for the New Zealand Open I was speaking with the general manager of Hokowhitu Golf Club in Palmerston North and he knew nothing about it. All clubs should have known about it before the NZ Open.

Caption: Bob Charles (third from left) with some of the other players at the New Zealand Hickory Open, all suitably attired.

“It is going to become an annual event at a similar date around mid-March. It has now become a three-day event beginning on Friday. The main 12 hole event was on the Sunday afternoon. The first event last year was a nine hole event. We were able to play the 12 holes this year without crossing the road which worked out very well.”

Charles then explained the origins of the event.

“This actually goes back to the first ever Open Championship at Prestwick in Scotland which was a 12 hole course. This was 150 years ago and they played three times round the 12 hole course in one day.

``So the first Open was 36 holes with eight players. We are giving it the original Scottish flair with the 12 holes. Next year it will be at least 12 holes but we are going to have a review and it remains to be seen if we go to 24 or even 36 holes.

“The feedback I received from the Australians was very positive and they had a terrific time. They have a lot of events in Australia although I haven’t played in any.

`` We went a little overboard. We had a nine-year-old piper and as he was piping the beginning of the opening ceremony all the Australians arrived in virtually 100 year old cars. We had three American cars. One was a Dodge.”

Who actually runs the event?

“The original committee was three of us but we have now expanded it to five. The original mover and shaker was Stu Upton, a member at Rawhiti. He actually has more than 40 sets of hickory clubs which he supplied for the event and will supply to anyone who wants to rent them.

“Now we have Peter Van Ecklund, a committee member at the Christchurch Golf Club who has set himself up part-time with a workshop where he works on hickory clubs which he imports from all over the world. So we now have these two talented clubmakers.”

So these clubs are available for the event?

Caption: Bob Charles shows a hickory driver with a driver of today.

“Yes, you don’t need your own clubs. We hire them out although the Australians brought their own clubs as can anyone who has a set.”

What about the hole names at St Andrews?

“All the holes on the old course have names. One of them, I think four is called the Ginger Beer hole. The reason it was called that was in old Tom Morris’ day there was a cart on the hole which dispensed ginger beer which was visible. But hidden away underneath was whisky and milk. So we replicated the ginger beer cart and put it on top of the hill at the pagoda where the third, ninth and 17th tees are.

“So the ginger beer and milk were dispensed and I suspect (chuckle) the whisky as well. So going back 150 years to Scotland is really the theme of the event.

``What we did impressed the Australians so much that all the visitors have said they will be back next year. Not only themselves but they will be spreading the word around Australia. So we are hoping for a bigger and brighter future for hickory golf here at the Christchurch Golf Club.

“It is all very exciting and when I was at St Andrews for The Open last year I went into St Andrews Golf and they manufacture replicas of wooden shafted clubs so I ordered a set. Peter Ecklund modified the irons for me so I have a cleek, special mashie, a mashie and a niblick and a putter. I also have a driver which I enjoy (see photo), meaning I only play with six clubs and this is the great thing about hickory golf … you don’t need 14 clubs. You invent shots, you play half shots and three quarter shots.

“The interesting thing is the club I use as a driver is actually a brassie which has a little bit more loft than a driver and I would say I hit it within 10 yards of my graphite shafted driver (see photo).

``One hundred and fifty years ago the caddies carried the few clubs under his arm. Today the members at Christchurch have a pencil bag and carry the clubs which may include a spoon (fairway wood). I didn’t use one.”

Charles backed up his words with his win. Even more so as the oldest player in the field. Sandy Lyle is the only other major champion to win a hickory open making an exclusive pair. The field was a strong one including several experienced hickory players from Australia and around New Zealand. Alan Grieve from Brisbane was a former US Hickory Open champion.

Charles won the title from 51-year-old Mark Lawson, the Christchurch club course superintendant. Charles was one shot ahead playing the final hole. Charles struck a long drive followed by a pin point mashie to three feet from the flag. Lawson also played two good shots to leave a two metre birdie putt he knew had to be made to apply any pressure on Charles. He narrowly missed then surprisingly Charles missed his birdie putt for the one shot win.

Caption: The New Zealand Hickory Open trophy.

The New Zealand Hickory Foursomes Championship was played in the morning before the singles. Richard Reid and the youngest player in the field Canterbury representative Catherine Bell won with a score of 51. Charles and Geoff Saunders finished third with 53.

It was fa wonderful and spectacular day with players dressed for the occasion. There was even a large gallery watching the action. Players looked resplendent in plus fours, ties and caps while many of the spectators were in keeping with their tweed, waistcoats and the flat caps typical of the hickory era. The women likewise looked quite the part in their flowing ankle length skirts and bonnets. There were even kilts to be seen at the prizegiving.

Hickory golf is all about golf’s beginnings where technology was a thing of the future and shotmaking was inventive and adaptive. Many people today believe the reliance on technology has reduced the traditional skills of golf and Bob Charles is the perfect example of a golfer who highlights that with his superb skill undiminished.