FOR some it was a living, they were propelled and fueled with hunger and obsessed with that other elusive thing in golf – the winners cheque.
According to an article published by The Fiji Times on August 1, 1990, it was a chance for others to break into the first category — the amateurs, whose aspirations were to start paying from scratch and for financial glory.
But for some, well, one wonders why they bothered.
You saw them year in and year out. They played for the fun of it, they lent their names. Winning was the last thing on their mind – not that they didn’t want it, just that it was not found in their dictionary.
But they loved every minute of it. They were celebrities.
No sporting event was complete with the pomp, class and finesse without these fanatics. The Fiji Bitter Fiji Open was no different.
The line up was already impressive.
Among the runners were the chief justice, Sir Timoci Tuivaga, with a judicious handicap of 14.
But at the top of the honours list would have to be David Pickering, who, according to the computer listing and computers don’t lie, was wasting his time trying to boost tourist arrivals when he should have been spending more time on the fairways.
According to the listing, Mr Pickering was an amateur with a zero handicap.
The commander of the Fiji Military Forces, Major General Sitiveni Rabuka, would try to confirm that his putting was as good as his handicap of 11.
Filipe Bole, the Education Minister, was out to prove that his 17 was not a generous handout but should be on par, at least, with Tomasi Vakatora who was also playing at 15.
One of the runners had an early tumble, prime minister Ratu Kamisese Mara, who had earlier indicated interest in playing would be away in Vanuatu for the South Pacific Forum. Visiting professionals and amateurs would be likely to see him play.
Someone who certainly should have been in contention for elevation to celebrity status was Falo Keil, who, after that hole-in-one in Pacific Harbour three weeks earlier, should have left no doubt about his standing.
Gold and sports in general were the winners.
Major General Sitiveni Rabuka….to play.
