03/08/2026
Happy Birthday Bob Tuohy!
Bob's contribution to golf in New Zealand is not widely known, but as a touring professional golfer he played many events in New Zealand in the 60's and 70's and was a contemporary and great mate of Sir Bob Charles. In 1963 he won the NZPGA Championship and continued playing professional golf into the 70's making regular visits from Australia, and playing tournaments in New Zealand.
But it was as a 'tournament promoter' that Bob made a huge impact on golf in New Zealand.
Following the 2005 Blue Chip disaster at Golf Harbour NZ Golf called on Bob's company TA Golf to rescue the national open.
TA Golf operated in New Zealand for over 14 years and promoted and underwrote over 20 professional golf tournaments including 3 x Clearwater Classics and 6 x NZPGA Championships at Clearwater Golf Club, 5 x New Zealand Opens at The Hills and at Clearwater Golf Club and notably 8 New Zealand Women's Opens at Pegasus GC and Clearwater GC.
He arranged co-sanctioning with the USPGA Tour, The European Tour, Australasian Tour, Asian Tour and the LET (Ladies European Tour), and the ALPG.
Total prizemoney introduced was over $15,000,000, largely underwritten by TA Golf.
As well TA Golf promoted 2 versions the 'Kiwi Challenge' a made for TV 36 hole event with prizemoney of $2.6m per event at Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers featuring Adam Scott, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, Brandt Snedeker, Sean O'Hair and Camillo Villegas.
All these events were TV networked around the world and featured many players that went on to greater things, many on the main PGA Tour.
Not many have done so much to promote and profile New Zealand and Golf in New Zealand.