Terry Gale had a successful amateur career before turning professional at a relatively advanced age in 1976. From the mid-1970s to the early 1990s he won regularly on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Japan Golf Tour and the pre-Asian Tour Asian circuit.
His victory at the 1982 New Zealand Open was played at Christchurch Golf Club on November 25 to 28 and after three rounds Bob Charles led the field by two strokes from Terry Gale and American Art Russell.
Though claiming to be playing for the second place he achieved in Acland the year previously, Gale began his final round with two birdies and held a share of the lead at the turn while other contenders were dropping off the pace.
Charles then went to four under for the tournament and took a two-stroke advantage before a change of fortune took place over the final four holes. Charles dropped shots at 15 and 16 while Gale birdied 16 and 18 to win in a spectacular manner.
Since turning fifty he has been a member of the European Seniors Tour, where he has won seven tournaments. His best season on that tour was 2003, when he finished third on the Order of Merit. He also plays on the Japanese Seniors Tour.
Off the course, Gale was the second Chairman of the PGA Tour of Australasia and was also a talented cricketer in his youth, representing his state on occasion, although never at First Class level.
