AUSTRALIAN tennis great and keen golfer Sir Frank Sedgman AO was a special guest at the 75th anniversary of the Phillip Island Golf Club.
Inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1966 Sir Frank Sedgman AO has one small trophy in his cabinet which may have gone almost unnoticed.
Alongside his major tennis trophies as Australian Singles Champion 1949-1950; Wimbledon 1952; United States Open 1951-1952, Australian Doubles Champion 1951-1952; French Open 1951-1952; Wimbledon 1948, 1951-1952; United States Open 1950-1951, Australian Mixed Doubles Champion 1949-1950; French Open 1951-1952; Wimbledon 1951-1952; United States Open 1951-1952 and Davis Cup team member 1949-1952, Sir Frank was also Club Champion of the Phillip Island Golf Club.
Sedgman was a near-scratch golfer with a handicap of one.
Still retaining his rock-hard, firm tennis grip the 98 year old tennis legend was accompanied to Cowes to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Phillip Island Golf Club by his wife Jean and daughters Kaye and Roxanne and their husbands.
“I first won the club championship in 1952, the year I won Wimbledon,” said Sir Frank.
“I think I may have won the club championship several times.
“They were early days, we used to gather here at the club.
“It’s nice to come back and see all the changes that they’ve made.
“My favourite hole was the double birdie.”
Having scored three holes-in-one during his lifetime his best remembered was at Phillip Island followed by holes-in-one at Royal Melbourne and the Pennard Golf Club in Wales.
Paying tribute to Sir Frank Sedgman AO Phillip Island Golf Club Heritage Committee member Gerard Ferrari said although the tennis great had won 6 Grand Slam singles titles, 9 Grand Slam doubles titles, and 8 Grand Slam mixed titles surely his most coveted trophy would be winning back-to-back A.J. Jones Mixed Foursomes Championships at the Phillip Island Golf Club in 1968/69.
Sir Frank had some encouraging words for young tennis players.
“Practice a lot and do some gym work, you have to be as fit as you can.”
As a 10 year old Frank admitted to being a sportsman more than a scholar.
“Stay on top of your game,” was Sir Frank’s best advice for aspiring young champions.
Another sporting celebrity to attend the 75th anniversary afternoon was the first Australian woman to play basketball in the United States Janice Baker.
The Phillip Island Golf Club can be found on Facebook or go to pigc.com.au
