This Sir Robert comes with a classy drive

By John Andrews

Arise, Sir Robert ... at last.

Bob Charles will stride the golf courses of the world in the New Year as Sir Robert Charles after finally winning the recognition that legions of New Zealanders have for years felt he was due.

Sir Robert, one of New Zealand's oldest professional sportsmen, is now one of our newest knights.

He has been created a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit - one of four new knights named in the New Year's Honours.

Sir Robert - "call me Bob or Sir Robert" - was made an OBE in 1972 and a CBE in 1992, and thought he would have to wait a further 20 years before those who have pushed so hard for his knighthood saw their efforts rewarded.

Arguably the world's best left-handed golfer ever, Sir Robert has won four New Zealand Open championships - the first in 1954 - and many other tournaments, including the 1963 British Open title.

He is still the only New Zealander to have won one of the golfing majors.
For 13 years, the champion, now 62, has donated 1 per cent of his earnings to the Golf Foundation, which fosters junior golf.

Sir Robert first heard of his nomination for the honour early last month when he received a call from former Prime Minister Jim Bolger, now New Zealand Ambassador to the United States.

"I was quite elated," said Sir Robert.

"It came out of the blue, although there had been much comment about it [a knighthood] over the years."

Sir Robert said his wife, Lady Verity, had concerns about protocols.

"Verity has read Debrett's on correct form and is trying to get me to read it," he said. "I have glanced at it.

"She believes in doing the correct thing. She is more concerned about it than I am."

Sir Robert will rejoin the US senior tour in February, take a short break after his first grandchild is born, then be back trekking the American fairways.

"I will keep competing into the next century, all of next year and the following year," he said.

"My swansong from the British Open is at St Andrews [Scotland] in July, 2000.

"Thereafter I plan slowing down considerably.

"I'm doing something, generating a living by playing a game of golf which is something I love."

Sir Robert said: "The old body is in good shape. You have to keep making hay while the sun shines.

"As long as it continues to shine, I will continue to batter the ball around."

Pictured: Sir Robert and Lady Verity. PICTURE / BARRY HARCOURT