Commonwealth Tournament

The Commonwealth Tournament was a men's team golf tournament between teams of amateurs golfers from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. It was played roughly every four years, in 1954, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1971 and 1975. In 1971 and 1975 there were only four teams, South Africa did not compete in 1971 while Australia missed the 1975 event.

For the similar women's event previously known as the Commonwealth Trophy, see Astor Trophy.
Commonwealth Tournament
Tournament information
Established1954
FormatTeam match play
Final year1975
Final champion
Canada

Format

Each team played the others. Each match was contested over one day with foursomes in the morning and singles matches in the afternoon. There were 3 foursomes and 6 singles in each match.

Results
YearDatesVenueWinnersPointsRef
19541–5 JuneOld Course at St Andrews Australia7[1]
19593–7 NovemberRoyal Johannesburg Golf Club South Africa6[2]
196315–19 OctoberRoyal Sydney Golf Club Australia
 Great Britain		6[3]
19679–13 AugustVictoria Golf Club Great Britain
 New Zealand		5[4]
197120–24 OctoberAuckland Golf Club Canada6[5]
197520–22 NovemberRoyal Durban Golf Club Canada4[6]

1954

The first tournament was organised to celebrate the bicentenary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.[7] It was played on the Old Course at St Andrews from 1 to 5 June.

The teams were:

  • Great Britain: David Blair, Ian Caldwell, Frank Deighton, Gerald Micklem, Alan Thirlwell, James Wilson
  • Australia: Doug Bachli, Harry Berwick, Jack Coogan, Peter Heard, Bill Shephard, Bob Stevens
  • Canada: Don Doe, Phil Farley, Bob Fleming, Walter McElroy, Douglas Silverberg, Nick Weslock
  • New Zealand: Tony Gibbs, Tom Jeffery, Stuart Jones, Bryan Silk, Ron Timms, Tim Woon
  • South Africa: Jimmy Boyd, Roger Brews, Eric Dalton, Denis Hutchinson, A D Jackson, Reg Taylor

Final table
TeamMatchesPointsGames
WonLostTie
 Australia301721
 Canada220418
 Great Britain112417½
 South Africa121315
 New Zealand130218½

Source: [1]

1959

The second tournament was held at the Royal Johannesburg Golf Club from 3 to 7 November.

The teams were:

Final table
TeamMatchesPointsGames
WonLostTie
 South Africa310622
 Australia220420
 New Zealand220419
 Great Britain220415½
 Canada130213½

Source: [2]

1963

The third tournament was held at the Royal Sydney Golf Club from 15 to 19 October.

The teams were:

  • Great Britain: Michael Bonallack, Peter Green, Michael Lunt, Sandy Saddler, Ronnie Shade, Alan Thirlwell
  • Australia: Dennis Bell, Phil Billings, Tom Crow, Kevin Donohoe, Kevin Hartley, John Hood
  • Canada: Keith Alexander, Gary Cowan, Douglas Silverberg, Bert Ticehurst, Bill Wakeham, Nick Weslock
  • New Zealand: Brian Boys, Peter Creighton, Terry Leech, Stuart Jones, Ross Murray, Ross Newdick
  • South Africa: B Franklin, John Hayes, Derek Kemp, Jannie le Roux, Dave Symons, Reg Taylor

Final table
TeamMatchesPointsGames
WonLostTie
 Australia202620½
 Great Britain310620½
 Canada121317½
 South Africa121316½
 New Zealand130215

Source: [3]

1967

The fourth tournament was held at the Victoria Golf Club, British Columbia, Canada from 9 to 13 August.

The teams were:

Final table
TeamMatchesPointsGames
WonLostTie
 Great Britain211518
 New Zealand211518
 South Africa220421
 Canada220418½
 Australia130214½

Source: [4]

1971

The fifth tournament was held at the Auckland Golf Club from 20 to 24 August. There were only four teams, South Africa withdrawing because of threats of anti-apartheid demonstrations.[8] With only three rounds of matches, the tournament was originally planned to be played on 20, 21 and 23 August. Rain on the first day meant that the first round of matches was not completed until 21 August, the second round being moved to the following day. Further bad weather caused the final round of matches to be delayed by a day. The event was called the New Zealand Golf Centennial Tournament, celebrating the centenary of golf in New Zealand.

The teams were:

Final table
TeamMatchesPointsGames
WonLostTie
 Canada300617½
 Australia210414½
 Great Britain120213½
 New Zealand03008½

Source: [5]

1975

The sixth tournament was held at the Royal Durban Golf Club from 20 to 22 November. There were only four teams, Australia did not compete.

The teams were:

  • Great Britain: Nick Faldo, David Greig, Ian Hutcheon, Sandy Lyle, George Macgregor, Geoff Marks
  • Canada: Cec Ferguson, Robbie Jackson, Jim Nelford, Doug Roxburgh, Kem Tamke, Dave Webber
  • New Zealand: Rodney Barltrop, Geoff Clarke, Stuart Jones, Ted McDougall, Mike Nicholson, Stuart Reese
  • South Africa: Coen Dreyer, Chris Heyneman, Gavan Levenson, Robbie Stewart, David Suddards, Peter Todt

Final table
TeamMatchesPointsGames
WonLostTie
 Canada210416
 Great Britain210413
 South Africa120214½
 New Zealand120210½

Source: [6]

References
  1. "Amateur Champion's lead to Australia – Lessons of Commonwealth Event". The Glasgow Herald. 7 June 1954. p. 9.
  2. "South Africa lose and win". The Times. 9 November 1959. p. 15.
  3. "Commonwealth title shared – Britain and Australia". The Glasgow Herald. 21 October 1963. p. 6.
  4. "Britain again tie for first place". The Glasgow Herald. 14 August 1967. p. 5.
  5. "Britain third to Canada". The Glasgow Herald. 25 October 1971. p. 5.
  6. "Britain second as Canada retain trophy". The Times. 24 November 1975. p. 10.
  7. "Test for Amateur Champion". The Glasgow Herald. 1 June 1954. p. 4.
  8. "Britain one of favourites". The Times. 19 October 1971. p. 12.
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