ALLSPORT

Bobby Locke.

I HAVE in my possession what was Bobby Locke’s very own copy of Bobby Locke on Golf, a book published in 1953 following his third British Open victory a year earlier (and he would go on to capture the 1957 Open as well). I was left the book by his widow Mary and daughter Caroline, who, a few years after his death in 1987, tragically took their own lives, which is a very sad story indeed.

Anyway, what got me thinking about “Old Muffin Face”, as Locke was known in his playing days when, at his height, he was considered the world’s No1 golfer, was this week’s SA Amateur Stroke-play Championship at Glendower, as well as the Sanlam SA Amateur Match-play scheduled for Mowbray next month.

The Stroke-play was first played for in 1969 but the Match-play dates right back to 1892, which makes it one of the world’s oldest tournaments.

And it was in 1935, at the age of 17, that Locke entered the tournament.

Today, competitors in the Stroke-play and Match-play are for the most part full-time golfers. Not professionals yet, but certainly with an eye on the pro ranks, and handsomely backed financially either by parents or golf unions or whoever.

Not so in Bobby’s day. At 17 he had a Monday to Friday full-time clerk’s job in a Johannesburg office and finished work at 4.30pm. It meant he could only play golf at weekends.

“For me this was like being caged,” he wrote in his book.

The pencil-slim teenager, who weighed just 61kg at the time, had to put in for leave to take part in the tournament.

But his skills were sublime and he went on to win it, beating big-hitting Frank Agg at the second extra hole of the final after the two were deadlocked through 36 holes.

“I ended up needing an eighteen-inch putt to win,” Bobby wrote. “I was wearing a pork-pie hat. I took it off, threw it on the green, and holed the putt. It was a terrific moment. The huge crowd surged on me, hoisted me on their shoulders, and that was the end of my hat!”

The following week he doubled up by capturing the professional SA Open and a brilliant career was launched.

“I solemnly declare that more wonderful, absorbing golf has never been played in South Africa by man, woman or angel (boy, was this guy impressed!),” declared a commentator known as “The Caddie” in a review of the young man’s golf.

Locke in those days used to practise on a Germiston club rugby field, according to the Star’s golf correspondent of the time, HB Keartland.

“He would wile away the hours by laying golf balls on the turf in front of the posts and lofting them over the crossbar with an old mashie.

“And in much the same way as a rugby man practises his place-kicks, he would gradually move over towards the touchline and from the narrowing angle continue to place shots between the posts.”

My, how things have changed!

Today’s young amateurs, armed with the latest, expensive, high-tech equipment and all day, every day to practise on pristine courses, have it so much easier.

I hope they appreciate what they’ve got and, of course, I also hope that one or two of them play golf like angels next week and launch great careers in the spike-marks of the legendary Bobby Locke. – Sunday Independent