The greatest amateur in the world — Ted McDougall

PICTURED is the front cover of a book about one of New Zealand's greatest amateur golfers, Ted McDougall.
The book has been compiled by McDougall’s son Peter. The book was made possible by Ted McDougall’s wife Leonie who kept an extensive scrap book of newspapers clippings from her husband’s feats on the golf course.
The book contains many references from those clippings and some of the delightful phrases of those times.
One example was when McDougall won the 1957 New Zealand Amateur. The New Zealand Herald newspaper reported there would be a welcoming committee to greet McDougall when he stepped from the train at Pukekohe on his return home.
The newspaper mentioned several dignitaries who would be part of the welcoming committee and that there would be a social evening at the Pukekohe golf house that night.
In a classic example of the period, the paper reported: “All members of the club and their friends are invited to be present. The ladies are asked to take a plate of something to eat.’'
McDougall was a strongly-built man who became known for a power-packed game. Newspaper reports often referred to this and lines would include: “... unleashed his powerful shoulders.’’
McDougall won two New Zealand Opens and represented the country at an amazing seven Eisenhower Trophy’s.