Right: Bob Chadwick


Far right: John Crawshaw (hi-lighted)


to knock the driver off the fairway again onto the green and even inside his first effort! On the 4th day of the 67 Open itself I


had been marshalling at the 6th (I think) and, after the last players had passed them by, all marshals were asked to come to the 18th for the climax. With the first ever ‘stadium finish’ stands on three sides it was to be our job to hold the fairway crowd some way back from the edge of the green to enable as many people as possible to get a view. Af ter Roberto and his playing partner


Gary Player in the last match had struck their second shots, the marshals moved forward slowly carrying a rope; but the crowd started running and, being a somewhat officious 19 year-old, I turned to my right and screamed, ‘Stop running!’ Th e nearest spectators were our own Joe Pinnington (not yet a member of RLGC) and his brother Phil – who I knew reasonably well. I’m pleased to say they were immediately shocked into obeying my orders and they helped to slow down the crowd. Th ey were rewarded, like me, with


front row standing positions to witness Roberto’s moment of triumph.


…PE T ER KELLY At the time of the 67 Open Nobby Roberts was Treasurer of Royal Liverpool and, in that capacity, he held a cocktail party at his house in Stanley Road. I was there, being a good friend of Nobby’s son, Mike, who sadly passed


away not long after. It was the evening after the third round and among the guests was Roberto as the third round leader.


One cannot imagine such


informality from a player in these times. Now the leading contender would be back in his hotel with the team of coaches, therapists, fitness and conditioning guys. Not Roberto - he was chatty, amiable, sociable and, as I recall, totally relaxed. At the end of the party he entertained us by bouncing a golf ball on a wedge, over his shoulder, through his legs etc, all in a sitting room adorned with glass, china and other ornaments. I can’t remember his lines but he was


explaining that this was how he amused himself when having to wait on the tee. More players should try it as it clearly


worked.


…HUGH MORLAND Like almost every member of the Club at the the time I was standing in the perfect place to watch Roberto’s second to the 16th draw gently over my head into the


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2017 MAGAZINE


3


…J OHN CRAWSHAW Rudolph was a good, tidy player and a good putter but not in the same class as Roberto as a ball striker. I can still recall today his big hands and shortish but effortless back swing and the wonderfully explosive noise as he hit peerless iron shots usually with a touch of draw. He was also very charming to me and indeed to the smallish gallery that turned out to watch. It was a very long day with long intervals between shots as cameras were manoeuvred into position. In the end I think boredom got the


better of Roberto and he lost the match thanks to a poor finish and some good putting from Rudolph. For me it had been one of the most enjoyable opportunities to watch a master at his work.


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