New Zealand Golf held their Centenary Celebrations in Wellington over the weekend of 26 & 27 November 2010.

 

Sir Bob Charles and Michael Campbell were inducted as foundation members into the Hall of Fame, launched at New Zealand Golf’s Centenary Dinner at Te Papa in Wellington. 

 

New Zealand Golf believe the centenary of the organisation was the ideal occasion to establish the Hall of Fame to honour and safeguard the memories of those who have made a lasting footprint on the game in this country.

“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,” said New Zealand Golf Chairman, Philip Hassall.

“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 a fresh-faced 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 stellar 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 Sir Bob 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 outstanding career including the HSBC World Match-Play 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.

Mr Hassall said the Hall of Fame selection panel had determined that only two of New Zealand Golf’s elite will be inducted in the first year.

The criteria included consistent performance over an extended period internationally as an amateur or professional, and performance at the highest level of the game in their time.

The panel, including three New Zealand Golf representatives and two independent panellists, will meet every year but will only forward inductees if they meet the strict criteria.

New Zealand Golf hopes to establish a physical location for their Hall of Fame in the future for golf fans and public to both honour those inductees and appreciate their contribution to the game and the sporting fabric of New Zealand.