IG177 APRIL 20

April 2020 www.insidegolf.com.au www.facebook.com/InsideGolfIndustry IG business 22 The day Michael Wolveridge invaded Augusta NATIONAL F EW in the golfing industry have led as colourful and varied life as the multi- talented Michael Wolveridge, who passed away suddenly last month aged 82. A talented professional who played the PGA Tour, Wolveridge was perhaps better known as a golf course designer. His sudden death came as a shock as I had spoken to him two weeks earlier and he sounded energetic and excited as he told me about his work redesigning Mirage Country Club, a course he co-designed with the late Peter Thomson in the mid-1980s. Wolveridge and Thomson were involved in designing more than 200 courses in 23 countries. EnglishmanWolveridge, a wonderful raconteur and bel-esprit, told me he had written a book on his colourful life. “When you read my book you’ll stop reading the bible at night,”he joked. His book, Travel With My Clubs, is packed with humorous anecdotes concerning many of the golfing greats and fascinating characters who became an essential part of his wonderful journey. I was particularly interested in his chapter on Augusta, home of the Masters. In 1962, Michael turned up uninvited and drove down Magnolia Lane unchallenged. This is an edited version of events that unfolded that day. “Rising early, I found Magnolia Lane and drove unchallenged to the clubhouse,” Michael wrote. “There was little sign of the sort of fuss the Masters would occasion today. “I found a place to park and walked around the back to the pro shop, carrying my clubs, shod and ready to go. “I had sought to avoid the ignominy of being turned away at the clubhouse portals as a non-entrant upstart Brit. “There were one or two folk in the pro shop and waited until the very pleasant middle aged lady, who seemed in charge, turned her attention to me. “Just as I was to embark upon (I have no idea what) a friendly voice called out, ‘Mike, just arrived?’ “It was Art Wall, the 1959 Masters champion, with whom I had built a pleasant rapport in my early weeks on the tour. “Hello Art,” I responded. “Just arrived and hoping for a few holes. the club and see the course whilst playing my first season on the tour. “The chairman continued frowning, studying the list intently. ‘Oh well, if you’re on the tour next year Michael, we’ll see what we can do’. “He wished Art good luck, finished his tea and was gone, leaving Art and I grinning. “Art said: ‘What now, Michael’. “Some fresh air I think, maybe a last couple of putts to savour a bit more before getting along,”I beamed. “Cheers Art, good luck and many thanks for a morning I shan’t forget in a hurry. “I stay a while, thinking, looking around and grinning to myself. “There were a fewmore putts on the practice green, a stroll across the lawn chatting with one or two of the early arrivals and I probably did a bit more grinning. “I fixed up my caddie Elroy generously as he had cleaned my clubs while waiting. “I popped into the pro shop to say goodbye to the lovely lady who still had no idea who the hell I was – leapt in the car and was out the driveway and heading west for Atlanta. “I found a motel with a nice restaurant and might have treated myself to a glass of their finest wine before an early night to contemplate my very happy day.” Wolveridge leaves behind his wife Barbara, two children and two grandchildren from a previous marriage and two step-children and three step-grandchildren. Wolveridge’s book was published by Lothian Custom Publishing in Melbourne. FOOTNOTE: Cliff Roberts served as chairman of Augusta National from 1931 through to 1976. David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au A 2011 snap of the late Michael Wolveridge at his home in Port Douglas. “With that our clubs were grabbed by two Augusta caddies. “There was nothing to sign and so Art Wall and Michael Wolveridge ambled off in the direction of the first tee. “Art showed a kindly interest in my golf and soon he was telling me where to hit to and where to putt. “Unrushed, it was one of the most pleasant rounds I have ever played. “Art said ‘come in for some lunch. We’ll leave the clubs with the caddies’. “Almost trembling with joy at having played such a pleasant round of golf with the nicest man in the world, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the next piece of high impertinence – quietly suspecting my companion Art Wall was relishing every moment. “I imagine I was fairly lit up with the excitement of it all when Art called: ‘Mr Roberts – Cliff – great to see you’. “He greeted Art, paused and viewed me quizzically as I rose instantly with: ‘I’m a foreign invader Sir, but bring greetings from Archie Compson and Henry Cotton’. “To my great relief, and Art’s undisguised joy, he beamed in recognition of the legendary names and eventually asked my surname. ‘Wolveridge, Sir’. “He reached for a jacket pocket and pulled out a folded list. ‘Wolveridge, let me see – I don’t see your name here Michael’. “Art piped up, saying I had made no presumptions and was merely thrilled to visit Find your local On Course Golf Professional today at: www.oncoursegolf.com.au Game stuck in a bunker? Get yourself back on course. www.sagca.org.au