Golf: Charles, Campbell receive hall of fame honour

Sir Bob Charles is a foundation member of the New Zealand Golf Hall of Fame. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Sir Bob Charles and Michael Campbell were inducted as foundation members into the New Zealand Golf Hall of Fame, launched tonight at a centenary dinner in Wellington.

NZG chairman Philip Hassall said the centenary of the organisation was the ideal occasion to establish the Hall of Fame to honour those who have made a lasting footprint on golf in New Zealand.

"It's more than just honouring those people for their impact on golf. In doing so we will ensure that their traditions are not merely preserved but perhaps more importantly, they set the benchmark for future generations of golfers who dare to dream and who aspire to such greatness," Hassall said.

"New Zealanders have achieved great things in this game and Sir Bob and Michael have made giant contributions both on and off the golf course. It's that essence that we want to both honour and set as a challenge for those coming along in the future."

Charles, who was voted on the world golf's Hall of Fame two years ago, first sprang into prominence in winning the New Zealand Open at Heretaunga as an 18-year-old amateur in 1954.

His win would spark a remarkable career for golf's most famous left-hander, highlighted with victory at the British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 1963. He won the New Zealand Open four times among his 68 professional victories in a career spanning over six decades.

Campbell also made his mark on the world first as an amateur, when he was part of the New Zealand team that won the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur teams Championship in 1992.

He joined Charle as the only New Zealander to win a major when he triumphed at the Us Open in 2005. He has 15 professional victories so far in his career including the world matchplay also in 2005 and four wins to open the new millennium, including the New Zealand Open in Paraparaumu.

Both Charles and Campbell have also made major contributions to golf in New Zealand through their respective foundations and scholarships.

- NZPA