Unflappable, naturally gifted, an Australian sporting treasure
The phrase folklore springs to thoughts when Australian cricketing royalty Doug Walters AM MBE is spoken about. There are such a lot of tales about his formidable pure expertise with bat and ball, but in addition tales of his character away from the cricket discipline. The general public merely love ‘Dougie’ and effectively they may. Inside Golf’s Andrew Crockett spoke to Walters about a few of his cricketing highlights, however extra about his {golfing} exploits and his love of the sport.
Are you able to keep in mind your first sport of golf? How previous have been you and who received you into it?
I didn’t begin taking part in golf till very late. I’d say my first sport of golf was most likely on a tour of England in 1968. I’d most likely hit just a few balls earlier than that, however that was most likely the primary time I received into golf, and it was the cricketers that dragged me on the market.
How was that first spherical? Did you will have the identical form of pure means you had with cricket?
It was fairly irritating.…. Yeah, not excellent. I used to be utilizing 5 irons off the tee and attempting to maintain it in play. My first tour of England in 1968 was three days in need of seven months, so we had a little bit of spare time, and we had 17 gamers. We performed each county as soon as and the highest 12 twice. So, we had just a few video games off and each time we had a match off, there’d be 4 of us, we’d all go and play golf. I used to be 21 years previous on that tour.
Did you get the golf bug then in 1968?
Whether or not I had the bug or not, it was form of obligatory that we went and made a 4 at Denham Golf Membership, close to London.
Might you see a lot of a similarity, between what made for good cricket and good cricket batting and good golf?
Not likely. I imply, a number of cricketers are good golfers. There are just a few excellent golfers, however I’d suppose it’s simply the hand-eye coordination greater than the rest.
What concerning the psychological aspect of top-level cricket and golf? See a cross over there? No, I most likely didn’t take my golf as severe as I took my cricket, clearly. A few of them do take their golf most likely extra critically than their cricket, however no, I want the nineteenth gap relatively than the opposite 18.
I retired from cricket and first-class cricket in 1980-81. When I’ve been at dwelling and never away doing work, each Saturday if it’s not raining, I’m out right here at my membership Pennant Hills in Sydney.
Lowest handicap you will have had?
I received to 13, and was on that for a few years till just lately when I’ve misplaced a good bit of distance. I’ve simply received older and lazier, I suppose. I’m beginning to get just a few extra photographs again and I would like all of them! I used to hit my 5 irons quite a bit additional than I hit my driver now. The extra I play, the more severe I get as a result of I’m solely training dangerous habits. I ought to have taken just a few classes, however I’ve performed with just a few skilled golfers they usually’ve given me ideas which I’ve adhered to.
Have you ever performed a lot golf with among the different Aussie cricketers? I used to be studying you have been good mates with Richie Benaud.
I performed a little bit bit with Richie, however extra with the Chappell brothers and Rod Marsh once we have been on tour with cricket. I performed a good bit with Graham Marsh too. Extra just lately I see Craig Parry rather a lot and he’s designing some good golf programs.
Richie Benaud was very form to me. He was my second father in lots of respects. I moved from Dungog to Sydney in 1963, and I moved to Cumberland, the place Richie was captain. My father died a few years later, and Richie actually took me below his wing and stated, “right here’s my telephone quantity, no matter you want, don’t make any choices with out ringing me.”
Did you ever get to play golf with Shane Warne?
No, not golf, Shane Warne and I, effectively it’s been 15 years plus since I had a cigarette, however Shane Warne was my smoking pal. That was the one purpose I actually received to know Shane Warne. We have been all the time out the again having a smoke. It was Jack Newton who helped me give up smoking, he put me onto this laser therapy with acupressure.
Have you ever performed a lot golf outdoors of Australia?
Properly, most of my golf most likely was performed outdoors Australia after I’ve been away on cricket excursions. All by the 70s taking part in in England, New Zealand, India and South Africa. We have been based mostly in England taking part in largely at Denham Golf Course, simply out of London. Wentworth is a stunning course and there are some beauties in New Zealand too.
Have you ever ever had a gap in a single?
As soon as, yeah, at Ryde Parramatta, I had a gap in a single on the ninth just a few years again. Not a contest spherical, only a pleasant spherical.
Perfect foursome and placement?
I’d want simply taking part in with my mates, to be fairly sincere. I imply, it’s nice to play with of us like Craig Parry and the professionals, however simply to have a little bit of enjoyable with my mates could be my match alternative. Though my mates have gotten much less and fewer, they’re all dying on me. After I first moved to Pennant Hills Golf Membership, I’ve been a member there now for 44 years. There have been heaps of cricketers that belonged to the golf membership, however now I believe I’m the one one left.
Crikey. Did you lose just a few of them over the previous couple of years? Sure, sure now we have. After I first began, Richie Benaud was a member, Jim Burke was a member, Neil Marks and Lynne Marks, Brian Taber, Graeme Watson, Marshall Rosen. Gee, I’ve forgotten some names, however I’m suppose I’m the one one left taking part in golf.
Kevin Doug Walters, one among Australia’s iconic and much-loved cricketers, has been awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM), MBE awarded in 1975, Centenary Medal in 2003, and an inductee into Sport Australia Corridor of Fame in 1994.
Enjoying 74 Checks, having made his debut within the 1965 Ashes sequence towards England. He turned the ninth Australian to attain a century on debut, making 155.
Doug captivated tens of millions of followers all over the world along with his breathtaking batting, amassing 5357 runs at a mean of 48.26. He additionally took 49 Check wickets along with his medium tempo and was identified for his golden arm as he managed to interrupt up massive partnerships.
Phrases from a mate
Inside Golf chatted briefly with a person who knew him higher than most, former Australian captain and cricketing legend Greg Chappell, and you’ll sense the admiration in his voice;
“He is likely one of the most unflappable people that I do know and was some of the gifted cricketers of our period. Doug scored three centuries in a session in Check cricket which is 3 times as many as anybody else I do know and two of these have been on troublesome pitches. We received all three of these matches, just about on the again of his performances. With Doug you’d by no means have identified by his response or physique language whether or not he had made runs or been dismissed first ball. His manner by no means modified. He was a prankster and some of the naturally humorous guys with whom I performed. He had a method of lightening the temper it doesn’t matter what was occurring. Doug was an exquisite workforce man, an excellent fielder and a greater than helpful medium pacer. As a golfer, like along with his cricket, he’s unflappable, naturally gifted though his placing has all the time been streaky. He performed right-handed however turned a left handed putter which can have betrayed his insecurity over the shorter distances. Doug could be very aggressive regardless of his laid-back nature. He’s a useful accomplice off his mid-teens handicap and all the time good for a pithy remark or two.”
