Thomson, Charles playing in New Zealand golf classic

Press, 24 October 1989, Page 48

Thomson, Charles playing in New Zealand golf classic

PA Auckland Peter Thomson, the . five times British Open golf champion and nine times winner of the New Zealand title, will be on the way to winding down his competitive career at Titirangi this; week. Thomson, along with Bob Chafles, Miller Barber, Billy Casper and Don' Bies of the United States seniortour, will be playing in the Air New’ Zealand-Shell Classic which starts, on Thursday. Unlike the other four, however, the 60-year-old Australian has not played in the United States since July. “I don’t intend to play much more,” Thomson said in Auckland yesterday. “I’ve got better things to do.”

I * For the last 26 years he has been > involved in building and designing I courses around’ the world. •At the 1 moment he is involved with devel- • opments in Japan, Thailand, - Queensland and Indonesia. , During his course-building career he has worked pn close to 70; s either .new or redesigned layouts. Now the (area of greatest growth is Asia. M , He says he cduld not pick out his ■ r best course but*;adds: “Perhaps I . 1 should say the Auckland Golf Club, where I have been working on improvements.’’ Thomson enjoyed an Indian summer of playing success like so many others on the seniors’ toiir. His great year was 1985 when he won nine tournaments, averaging 70.05

shots a round in more than 20 tournaments. His game remains basically the same, founded On a sweet rhythm and ideally suited to the Scottish and English courses where he had his greatest triumphs. “I hit sthe ball about as far as I ever did;” (l he said, - “but that is because thO" balls fly further these days, “Titiratigj?''is one of the best courses of its kind. It’s un-modern, so it will be a pleasure to play.” Thomson in 1951 won the second of his New Zealand Opens on the course. The previous year, when still not a fully fledged professional, he had won at Christchurch with the then record total of 280.