South Australian golf has celebrated one of its finest with the induction of champion amateur, Chris Bonython, into the SA Golf Hall of Fame.
Bonython, the son of celebrated Adelaide identity Kym Bonython, now joins an illustrious group of local golfing greats including the late Pauline Sanderson, Bob Tuohy, David Cherry, and siblings Jane and Neil Crafter in the hall of fame. His inclusion recognises not only his achievements on the course, but also his lasting contribution to the game in South Australia and beyond.
“I’m very humbled by it,” he said.
“I did have a very successful period during the seventies, but I feel this honour recognises such a short period because, after I sort of wound down I started my own business.
“Others made long contributions. So I’m gobsmacked. I never really considered myself in that sort of class.”
Raised in Geelong, Bonython learned the game with his mates on a crudely built course around the playing fields of Geelong Grammar.
When his family relocated to the Adelaide Hills, he made his second home at the Mt Lofty Golf Club, where his natural ability was quickly obvious.
“Being a keen sportsman, whether you played tennis, cricket or football, you always needed someone else to play with,” he said.
“I took up golf because you could just go out and play by yourself as much as you like.
“My uncle, Colin Virgo, he was the president of Mount Lofty Golf Club.
“It made for a great environment. You learn to play different shots because of the hilly slopes and things at Mount Lofty.”
By the early 1970s, he had made the move to Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide’s western suburbs, a decision that would set the stage for one of the most decorated amateur careers of his era.
“They showed interest in me as part of their pennant team,” he said.
“And I started off in B pennant and then made my way through to Simpson Cup”
Kooyonga quickly became the base from which Bonython honed his craft and built a reputation as one of Australia’s leading amateurs. After claiming the SA Amateur in 1973, his career reached its pinnacle in 1975 when he captured the Australian Amateur Championship, then one of the most prestigious titles in the nation.
Far from being a one-off triumph, Bonython continued to perform with distinction at the highest level, earning stroke play medal honours in 1976 and finishing as the losing finalist in 1977. That 36-hole final, played at Victoria Golf Club, saw Tony Gresham prevail over Bonython on the fourth extra hole, a match still talked about as one of the greatest matches in Australian golf history.
Gresham and Bonython also went one-two in the 1978 SA Open, a rarity for two amateurs to prevail over a professional field. But Bonython never seriously considered turning professional himself.
“I’m not that overly confident, outward sort of bloke who thinks ‘Oh, the next step is I’m going to make it as a pro.’” he said.
“You know, a lot of people mistake Greg Norman’s inner confidence as arrogance, but he’s just a very confident person. And I was not that.
“I thought more towards building my future in the sporting goods industry and make my own agency because I thought I could do something there.”
Bonython’s business interests included distribution sales for Reebok footwear and he negotiated the contract to distribute Nike golf gear across SA and NT during the Tiger Woods era.
He now lives in Thailand but aims to return to Adelaide every 12 months. And he returned this month to join his mates celebrating the 1975 Interstate Teams Championship title, won by SA at Kooyonga.
Bonython is revered at golf clubs across the state, but particularly so at Kooyonga. He won four club championships there, played in five Simpson Cup victories and was SA Amateur champion in 1973.
Such is his legend, the winner of Kooey’s annual battle amongst its monthly medallists is awarded the Bonython Medal in his honour.
The Hall of Fame induction was presented to him by Golf Australia (SA) chair Rod Phillips during a lunch at Kooyonga to celebrate the 1975 Interstate Series team’s 50th anniversary.
“I’m just so proud of the fact that I’ve been considered,” he said.
“And now I’ve got three-and-a-half kilos of excess baggage to get home.”
Interview conducted by Ben Hook.