Charles “At Home” On Shirley’s Course

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 19

Charles “At Home” On Shirley’s Course

There have been great occasions at Shirley and some of the world’s finest golfers have walked its emerald paths, but today’s meeting of Palmer and Charles must surely rank as the most exciting match ever played at a course which is as closely allied to Canterbury golf as Lancaster Park is to Rugby football.

Television has helped spread the Palmer story, and to many of the thousands who will throng Shirley today, he will seem a familiar friend.

This cordiality will no doubt be improved before the match begins. It is Palmer’s habit to warm up for about 45 minutes before such a match, and to convert this

practice into a golfing clinic by talking about shots and their production to spectators.

He proposes to observe this custom at Shirley. Charles and Palmer will hold a practice session between noon and 12.30 p.m. The New Zealand profes- : sional, R. R. Newdick, will compere the session. [ Charles, the finest left-hand [golfer in the world, and a j match for anyone on most accasions, should have an excellent chance at Shirley of distinguishing himself. To be sure, his visits to the course in recent years have been irregular, but he knows Shirley better than most of those who play there every week, and his awareness of its problems should benefit him immensely. The Shirley course is groomed to perfection, and the Christchurch club has high hopes that it will not suffer unduly through the presence of a crowd which may be as large as 8000. Careful arrangements have been made for the pleasure of spectators and for the preservation of the course: but last

night there must have been some chib officials whose sleep was disturbed by visions of thousands of high heels trampling over the greens and fairways. The plea for women to use flat-heeled shoes is urgent, and understandable. Yesterday’s events at Balmacewan are very recent history: but they are immaterial, in the context of today’s game. Today, two masters of the golfing craft meet to match shots. It should be a memorable occasion.