Happy returns to Patea for Campbell

He will be remembered for his US Open win at Pinehurst but it is a relatively unknown annual golf tournament that is dearest to Michael Campbell's heart.

The tournament that honours the man who encouraged Campbell into golf is held every year at the Patea Golf Club in South Taranaki - and last year Campbell was so eager to attend that he flew in by helicopter to land on the first tee.

This was the seaside course where as a youngster during his school holidays, Campbell spent lazy summer days following his father Tom and uncle Roger Rei around the green.

The late Mr Rei was a leading provincial golfer, having won the Patea Golf Club's senior matchplay title at least 25 times in his lifetime. He had also played for the NZ Maori team.

It was Mr Rei who encouraged Campbell into golf on the sheep-grazed course, where the green fees are $7, and the club stays open by relying on volunteers to maintain the course.

Mr Rei's daughter Cheryl Simpson, who now lives in New Plymouth, watched her cousin during the Open and said her father's passion for golf undoubtedly rubbed off on the young Campbell.

"That is where his interest probably came from," she said. "My father helped Michael's father and Michael start."

Mr Rei died in 2001. The tournament is staged every January in his memory - a tournament that Campbell tries hard to attend. He couldn't make it to this year's event but in a desperate attempt to be there last year he flew in by helicopter.

Campbell was born in Hawera and moved to Wellington as a youngster but returned to Patea during school holidays to visit his grandmother Titi-Huia Cunningham, uncle and cousins.

Mr Rei's 68 is still the record for the testing 18-hole Patea course. Campbell is next with a 70.

Fees

* Patea, Taranaki: $7

* Pinehurst No 2, North Carolina: US$275 ($382)