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Sir Bob Charles
Sir Robert James "Bob" Charles, KNZM, CBE (born 14 March 1936) is a New Zealand professional golfer whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a tournament as a 71 year-old.
 Sir Bob Charles is the Patron of the Christchurch Golf Club. He has a long association with the Christchurch Golf Club with him winning the Club Championship in 1959 and both his parents Ivor and Phyl lived in Christchurch and played at Shirley for many years.
Born in Carterton, a small town in the Wairarapa district in New Zealand’s North Island, Charles lived in Masterton where he worked as a bank teller and demonstrated great golfing potential. He caused a sensation on 8 November 1954 when, as an 18 year old amateur, he beat a top international field to win the New Zealand Open at Heretaunga. The media was full of praise for this slight young man who equalled the open record of 280, and there were many predictions for an imminent venture in the professional ranks and a lucrative career.
 Charles decided to hone his skills as an amateur first, and remained in his bank employment for a further six years, but all the while continued to show exceptional putting prowess which helped immensely later on the professional circuits. He represented New Zealand several times in international amateur tournaments during this period.
Charles turned professional in 1960 and the next year won the New Zealand PGA Championship and soon after ventured overseas to the European and North American circuits.
In 1963, Charles really came to notice when he won his first PGA Tour event in the United States, the Houston Classic, the first PGA Tour event won by a left-handed golfer. His greatest moment came later that year when he won the British Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. After four rounds (68,72,66,71) his 277 was level with American Phil Rodgers. Demonstrating unerring putting, Charles won the 36-hole playoff by eight shots.
Charles has won about 80 tournaments around the world, and has finished in the top five countless times. As well as his important PGA victories, his win in the 1969 World Matchplay Championship was considered one of his best. He was also thrilled when in 1993 he won the Senior British Open 30 years after winning his British Open title. He remains, along with Michael Campbell, one of only two New Zealanders to win a major golfing championship.
In 2007 Charles became the oldest golfer to make a cut on the European Tour at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. Charles shot a 68 in the second round, beating his age by three strokes. He would go on to finish in a tie for 23rd place.
Charles's move to the Senior PGA Tour (now called Champions Tour) was very lucrative and successful with 23 titles and in three years 1988, 1989 and 1993, he recorded lowest scoring average. He finished second on the European Seniors Tour's 2007 Wentworth Senior Masters at the age of 71. He was the first left-hander to win a major, but also the first lefty to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in the veterans category. He was inducted in 2008, he remains the only left-hander in the Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Charles is a sporting hero in New Zealand, not only for his achievements but also for his demeanour and philanthropy regarding junior golfers. He was also a role model worldwide for left-handed golfers. Until Canadian Mike Weir won the U.S. Masters title in 2003, he was the only golfer with a left-handed swing to have won a major.
Charles was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth in 1972 and advanced to Commander in the same Order in 1992. He became Sir Bob Charles in 1999 when made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Charles married his wife Verity in 1962 and they have two children, Beverly and David. David is a golf director in the United States. He is a successful golf course designer having had major input into the Formosa Country Club east of Auckland, Millbrook at the resort town of Queenstown, and the nine-hole course at Matarangi on the Coromandel Peninsula. He also designed the Clearwater course, near Christchurch.
Charles has played in the Gary Player Invitational several times to assist the Gary Player raise funds for various underpriveledged children's causes.
Charles Tour Shirley Open 2010, won by club professional Anthony Doyle
Information about Sir Bob Charles was obtained from Wikipedia.com.
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