Home
About Us
QAGA Membership
Sponsors
Golf Events
OUR PATRON
CHARLIE EARP
When it comes to golf Charlie Earp really needs no introduction.
Charlie knew very little about the game in 1953 at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club where he started his apprenticeship. He had never been on a golf course before, and his first boss Reg Want worked him hard, with a little help from great friend and mentor, Alf Rush.
They taught him the almost-extinct art of club making and the basics of teaching. Charlies lack of golf was more than made up for with his enthusiasm, gift of the gab and his photographic memory. Charlie says "it helped him to see a swing to fit a person and make it work for them".
When it came time for Charlie to leave, he headed south to Lismore where, in the early winter mornings, he developed his taste for teaching. In those days he had the enthusiasm and the desire to teach but also yearned to play tournament golf. He was advised he was better off staying in Australia to continue coaching.
In the late 1950s Royal Queensland was being revamped and an available club pro job was offered to Charlie in December 1958 at the recommendation of Want. Could this 20-year-old really do the job?
Charlie was still keen on playing and practiced hard. There was little money but it gave him the chance to meet and pick the minds of players of the ilk of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle, to name a few.
Earps legacy to Australian golf will be best found in the dozens of top-class teachers from Barry Vasella, the first trainee who worked under Earp to Chris Rutherford who will return from the Sunshine Coast to fill the larger-than-life shoes as head pro at Royal Queensland.
Of course Charlie Earp will always be remembered as mentor and coach to Greg Norman. It was Charlie who convinced Norman to change his grip when he was lacking control. Norman believed there was nothing wrong with his grip but as Charlie pointed out, Jack had it, Arnold had it, Pete and The Von all had similar grips. Earp believes this change and the punch shot established the illustrious start to Normans career.
Charlie says he also has fond memories of coaching the likes of Vasella, Mike Ferguson, Michael Hobbs and Corinne Dibnah, at an international level.
After 50 years as a pro golfer Charlie Earp retired earlier this year. During his career Charlie Earp has come in contact with many quality players. Over the last 45 years this combination of quality players and the master coach, along with a few Earp witticisms has created a reputation that is revered in Australian golf.
However as we all know once a golfer always a golfer. Even when you're a retired golf coach legend you're never far away from the game. As president of the Greg Norman Junior Golf Foundation, Earp will stay in touch with Norman and the game. And hell remain working with disabled people keen to play golf, something he has been doing for the last 30 years and he will continue to do so with a much more active roll as Patron of the (QAGA).
Charlie's wealth of experience and knowledge that he brings to the (QAGA) as Patron is simply invaluable. We are extremely privileged to have Charlie Earp involved with and assisting amputee golfers in Queensland.
Thank you Charlie
