In this article, Peter Naudi takes us on a nostalgic journey through the golfing history of his family, spanning three generations at the Royal Malta Golf Club (RMGC). Peter reflects on the strong bond golf has created within his family, particularly between father and son. From Joe’s unique swing and unconventional golfing tactics to Peter and Andrew representing Malta in the prestigious MvR match play competition, this legacy is a testament to the enduring power of the sport to bring people together.
Joe Naudi was one of the early non-British nationals to be granted membership in the 60’s of what was originally known as the Civil Service Sports Club (CSSC), the Marsa Sports Club. At the time he was Assistant to Head Brewer A.B. Maule (also a golfer) at Simonds Farsons Cisk Ltd (later known as Farsons brewery) – facilitating a smooth entry into the CSSC and the Union Club in Sliema. He eventually joined the RMGC in 1970/71 and played mid-week with Eddie Zammit Tabona and Ronnie Pace.
He enjoyed it so much that he quickly joined the Saturday competitions as well as the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon rounds. To ensure that everyone took it seriously, the mid-week prize was a brand new golf ball (rather expensive at LM2-3 per ball) which they kept in a box in their locker and passed them on once they lost their match. In those days there was a roaring trade in second-hand golf balls – hawkers would walk round the course collecting and cleaning lost balls which they illegally sold off by the 8th and 15th greens out of sight of the clubhouse or in the ditch by the 17th.
Joe joined the Golf Committee in the 80’s as Handicap Secretary. Every Saturday he would collect all the competition cards and meticulously go through each one, allowing no more than a double bogey for a bad hole (stroke play or stableford). He would record each round on the golfer’s individual record card and chalk up any changes in handicap on a board outside the Pro Shop on a Tuesday afternoon before his mid-week round and in readiness for the following weekend competition. He was also known to slash handicaps arbitrarily when overhearing members boasting about their good round in the shower room. Many a golfer tried to bribe leniency from Joe with a pint or two – alas to no avail as Cisk was his staple liquid diet.
On one occasion, after one too many, Joe was met by a tree branch (later known as Joe’s tree) through the windscreen of his wife’s Morris Minor in the MSC car park. The wedged car had to be pulled away by a tow truck!! On another occasion Joe climbed onto the slates on top of the wall in the ‘Maids Bedroom’ to hit a plugged ball – he lost his balance and with a shrieked yell landed on his back with his trolley on top. (Kim Borg thought he was a gonner!!) Joe was regularly seen playing cards or ‘liar dice’ with the likes of Freddie Zammit, Sur Johnnie, Gustav Ricci, Frenchy (who played golf in flip-flops), John Holland, Alex Mangion, Ray Calleja, the Urpani brothers, John Delia, Victor Satariano and others. In the early 90’s during a record downpour, the Civil Protection Department (CPD) had to be called in to collect these golfers from the Putters Inn in rowing boats as they were stranded in the clubhouse surrounded by a flooded golf course, car park and entrance to the MSC. There was also a story that the Ladies’ table was near the Gentlemen’s shower room and the door was open when Joe emerged from the shower. One Lady shrieked “Shut that door!” and the then Lady Captain allegedly said “No, leave that door open!” In one of his mid-week rounds, one of the golfers in his group hit his ball so hard that it split into half a dozen pieces. “Joe, what do I do now?” he said. As quick as a flash, Joe replied “Find the biggest piece and finish the hole! Then you can change your ball.” There are many other stories and no doubt these have been embellished over the years but inevitably there is a grain of truth in them, supposedly!!
On one occasion, after one too many, Joe was met by a tree branch (later known as Joe’s tree) through the windscreen of his wife’s Morris Minor in the MSC car park. The wedged car had to be pulled away by a tow truck!! On another occasion Joe climbed onto the slates on top of the wall in the ‘Maids Bedroom’ to hit a plugged ball – he lost his balance and with a shrieked yell landed on his back with his trolley on top. (Kim Borg thought he was a gonner!!) Joe was regularly seen playing cards or ‘liar dice’ with the likes of Freddie Zammit, Sur Johnnie, Gustav Ricci, Frenchy (who played golf in flip-flops), John Holland, Alex Mangion, Ray Calleja, the Urpani brothers, John Delia, Victor Satariano and others. In the early 90’s during a record downpour, the Civil Protection Department (CPD) had to be called in to collect these golfers from the Putters Inn in rowing boats as they were stranded in the clubhouse surrounded by a flooded golf course, car park and entrance to the MSC. There was also a story that the Ladies’ table was near the Gentlemen’s shower room and the door was open when Joe emerged from the shower. One Lady shrieked “Shut that door!” and the then Lady Captain allegedly said “No, leave that door open!” In one of his mid-week rounds, one of the golfers in his group hit his ball so hard that it split into half a dozen pieces. “Joe, what do I do now?” he said. As quick as a flash, Joe replied “Find the biggest piece and finish the hole! Then you can change your ball.” There are many other stories and no doubt these have been embellished over the years but inevitably there is a grain of truth in them, supposedly!!
