The swag of Australian golfers making their mark in the USA, Europe, Japan and in Australia owe a great debt to the early professionals who toured the world ekeing out a living on tough circuits where the prize money was peanuts compared to today’s vast amounts.
One of these originals, Norman Von Nida, The Von, surely the best-named golfer ever to beat 70 in a round, has just died at age 93.
The Von was a great character and a great golfer. Between 1938 and 1955 he won or was placed second in nine Australian Opens. He won three Australian PGAs. And was invited by Bobby Jones, the Master, to take his place in the US Masters Tournament. Von Nida helped the young professionals like Peter Thomson, Bruce Crampton and Bruce Devlin early on their careers. He often, according to the veteran golf writer Peter Stone, shared his prize money with them to keep them going.
My favourite story involving The Von concerns his attempt to break the course record at the short but as tight as a miniskirt Northbridge course in North Sydney. To earn a quid from time to time The Von would announce that he was going to play a particular course with the intention of breaking the course record. There were a number of courses where he had done just this. A good crowd paying several shillings each woudl watch him take the course to the cleaners. So there was a good crowd gathered around him as he strode to the first tee at Northbridge.
The first hole as Northbridge is a short par four. All the holes in fact are short. But it is impossible to reach the green in one shot because a huge wire fence directly blocks the hole from a hitter on the tee. You have to lay up and then hit a chip shot at the dog-leg into a narrow green. Apparently The Von was not amused that his chance of a birdie at the first was so limited. The second involves a blind shot off the tee. More anger from The Von. Remember his volanic temper was legendary. The third hole involved yet another blind shot off the tee. The fourth was a straight forward shortish par four. Apparently The Von (who hadn’t seen the Northbridge course he started his record attempt) was still fuming when he reached the fifth hole.
Anyone who has played the Northbridge course will have dire memories of the fifth hole, a par three, and the shortest hole on the course. The tee is on the top of a hill. The green is about 50m below. You can’t see the green. You hit your ball into a vast airspace and hope that it drops like a shot bird on to the green. The ball can go into the harbour if it is hit too long. If it is hit short, it goes into rough from which even Tiger Woods wouldn’t be able to get the ball out, real tiger country. Or it skids away down the steep slopes that the green sits on.
The Von apparently was not impressed. Told what he had to do at the tee, he promptly gave up his record attempt. Those of us who have struggled and cursed our slow way around Northbridge feel an affinity with The Von for sharing, if only for a few holes, the anguish that ordinary golfers feel on every hole they play.
Farewell The Von. You were one of the champions of Australian sport, even if you couldn’t crack the Northbridge course.
Samantha Von Nida
Guest
It's really lovely and inspiring to see all of the amazing stats and love that Norman contributed to the world! I am in no way as amazing at golf, as Norman. Actually, I have never even held a golf club or ever attempted to swing one around a golf course. But I thought that maybe some fans would be chuffed at hearing from a family member! Norman was obviously great at golf but I don't think that it's ever been said nor written any where that he had an older brother. A brother that was even better at golf then what Norman was, back then anyway! The brother, Robert Von Nida was a great humanitarian his whole life that got drafted in the war which changed the course of his life from that which Norman took eventually. Robert fought the Japanese bombers flying over Darwin for most of the war and after the war become a lifelong decorated veteran of Department of Fire and Rescue in Queensland. He married a beautiful devoted woman, Olive Von Nida and they had seven children and loads of grandchildren and even great and great great grandchildren before they both died a few years ago. Robert and Norman weren't close in there years raising children etc but I always thought that it was strange growing up that Norman was the Von Nida that I was asked about because my grandad, Robert was such an amazing man. It's also something to think about how much a war and doing what your country asks of you, how much it can change the course of a young man's life. I can't remember my grandad ever picking up a golf club when I knew him and there are no photos either. But, it is a well known fact in my family that it was Robert the older brother that was the better golfer. Which seems an amazing feat, given how great Norman become eventually! Maybe golfing runs through our blood and maybe one-day I will get a chance to try my hand at a golf course. I don't know if I will though because anything but the best results seems like an insult to these two great Von Nida's. I am really proud that I am a Von Nida and I hope they are both able to be reunited in spirit and golf now that they are both gone.
Leland E Whitehouse
Guest
I collect Tour stats and do not have the number of events or top tens for Mr. VonNida. If you kindly provide me with any stat info on him, would you please do so.
Selly
Guest
I e-mailed a simple question to the NSWRU's web-site before the Aust A v Tonga game (which was advertised on their web-site and part of my season ticket package). I wasn't the least bit surprised when I never rec'd a response. Are they the worst run sporting body in Australia? And their complete and utter lack of professionalism begs the question: has the ineptitude and lack of enthusiasm seeped from their office onto the field or vice-versa? I've been a NSW rugby supporter all my life (for the old timers amongst you - Greg Davis was my hero when I was 5 years old!) and I've held a Tahs' season ticket for many, many seasons. But the lack of spirit and effort on and off the field has me (and many of the regulars who sit around me) seriously contemplating giving it away next year. The crowds were dreadful this year and if the NSWRU don't start making serious improvements to their organisation, it wouldn't surprise me if next year's are even worse. They desperately need to lift their game. Selly
Ziggy Olivier
Guest
I'd rather not discuss Northbridge, thank you! I almost gave up golf after my one and only round there. The Von deserves every golf accolade he gets and shame on those who now and try to sully his golf reputation and skill with irrelevant stories about private matters. I wish I were half as good as he was. Vail Von - R.I.P. and may all your drives land where you want and all your puts go in.
Bob McGregor
Guest
The Von is rightly acknowledged as our greatest Golf ambassador - by his peer group, golf writers and readers, as well as sport lovers across the spectrum. I've read most articles on golf in the media over the past 60 odd years and can't recall a negative word written about The Von. He will be missed. As for Northbridge - perhaps the shortest and Hardest course I've ever played. I'm not surprised of The Von's reaction. It was a lovely story and confirms we are all human, despite the God given talent some are born with. Vale The Von!