Southpaws in solidarity
When Kiwi golfer Sir Bob Charles won the 1963 British Open, fellow left-handed golfers a world away in his homeland were inspired to start their own tournament.
Now set to be held for the 57th time, the annual Winton lefthanded golf tournament attracts southpaws from all over Southland.
Southland golfing stalwart Paul Adams will be looking to win it for the 17th time, having claimed his first title in 1966.
Seemingly evergreen, Adams could add to his impressive tally at Winton on February 9, if form is anything to go on. He achieved a sporting lore achievement in December, shooting a score less than his age (71), with a hole in one, at the Invercargill Golf Club.
He said he always looks forwarded to the Winton event, where the left-handers did not have to endure the usual, tired jabs about standing on the wrong side of the ball.
Debuting for Southland as a 16-year-old schoolboy in 1965, Adams went on to build a reputation as one of the most talented left-handed amateurs in the country.
He won Charles’ inaugural New Zealand left-handers tournament in Masterton in 1967, two years after winning the New Zealand schoolboys’ title.
The very first running of the Winton tournament, in 1963, was on the club’s old east Winton course, at ‘‘the Bend’’.
After that first event, the then 36-hole tournament was held at the new west Winton course. Adams won it for the first time in 1966.
Winton Golf Club life member and tournament organiser Graeme Carroll said attendance at the event had waned a bit since 100 players took part in the 25th edition in 1988.
Carroll, who started playing in his 30s and is now in his 70s, said golfers used to travel from around the country.
Carroll is still the tournament organiser and said there was a real fraternity among the left-handers.
The tournament wasn’t about making money for the club, Carroll said –it was about carrying on the tradition.
Globally, left-handed golf organisations garner committed fields of competitors.
The 27th world championships will be held in Paris in August this year and the event was held over four Queenstown courses in 2008.