QUITE simply, Tony Gresham could lay claim to being the greatest amateur golfer this country has produced.
The popular Sydneysider and Pennant Hills Golf Club legend passed away last month at the age of 84 after a long illness.
‘Gresh’ played for the love of the game and resisted the temptation – and the urging of many to turn pro, when he could certainly have mixed it with the best in the pro game.
Along with many other top amateurs, names like Ivo Whitton, Jim Ferrier, Doug Bachli and Bruce Devlin, Tony Gresham could boast that he represented Australia more than any of them.
Gresham won the 1977 Australian Amateur Championship in a celebrated match with Chris Bonython which went to the 40th hole.
He also reached the semi-finals of the 1979 and 1981 British Amateur Championship and defeated some of the best Australian pros in the game by winning the 1975 NSW Open and the 1978 South Australian Open.
But there were so many other honours for Gresham aside from about 50 individual events as he dominated at his home club, Pennant Hills.
He played in seven Eisenhower Cup teams – a competition in which each team’s worst rounds were discarded.
Every one of the 28 rounds he played for Australia counted, a remarkable feat in itself.
His effort to win the individual honours at Buenos Aires in 1972 was another memorable moment. He beat American glamour boy Ben Crenshaw by two shots. Of course, Crenshaw went on to win two US Masters Championships.
He also played for Australia four times against New Zealand, in the Commonwealth team matches as well as in four Japan versus Australia contests.
In 1980, when he reached the semi-finals of the British Amateur he also became the first Australian to win the French Amateur Championship.
Gresham was described as a marvellous ‘grafter’ with chipping and putting his undoubted strength.
Yet he also had the reputation of being a player who had that unique talent of being able to handle enormous pressure and rise to the occasion when it was required.
His four rounds in the 1975 NSW Open were 66-69-69-71 at Manly Golf Club to spread-eagle a field of top pros and record the lowest four-round total for 40 years.
The final round saw him withstand a sparkling finish from the great Billy Dunk.
Just three years later he repeated the dose at the South Australian Open at Glenelg, cruising home by six shots.
Gresham claimed New South Wales Vardon Trophy honours 13 times in 15 years between 1968 and 1982.
At his home club, Pennant Hills, Gresham won 25 club championships, eight seniors’ championships, two President Cups, one Gold Button, three E. J. Hyde Cups and 10 Pennant Hills Cups.
Gresham married his wife, Wendy in 1967, beginning a partnership that lasted 58 years.
Wendy, who often caddied, was his unwavering supporter, sharing his journey through life’s victories and challenges. Together, they raised two children, Tori and Scott.
After returning from a gruelling Eisenhower Trophy campaign in 1972, Gresham realised the sacrifices required of professional golfers was not worth missing time with his young family.
That selfless decision defined Tony’s life—he remained a dedicated husband and father who found joy in his accomplishments and those of his children and grandchildren and wide circle of friends.
The legendary Jack Nicklaus, whom Tony caddied for in 1971, recognised his talent and sportsmanship.
“You’ve had a great career and represented your country well,” Nicklaus said in a heartfelt message to Tony on his 80th birthday.
Gresham’s love for the game never faded, even as his battle with dementia began to take its toll in his final years.
Whether mentoring young golfers or sharing stories with friends, Gresham exemplified what it meant to be a true sportsman and, above all, a gentleman.
Tony Gresham’s playing record
Amateur Wins:
1968: New South Wales Medal
1970: New South Wales Amateur Championship
1972: New South Wales Medal, New South Wales Amateur Championship
1974: New South Wales Medal
1976: New South Wales Medal
1977: New South Wales Medal, Australian Amateur
1978: New South Wales Medal
1980: French Amateur New South Wales Amateur Championship
1986: New South Wales Medal (tied with Ray Picker)
Professional Wins (As an Amateur):
1975: New South Wales Open
1978: South Australian Open
Team Appearances:
Eisenhower Trophy: 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980
Australian Interstate Teams Matches: 1963–1982 (winners in multiple years).
