Golf - The Old Fashioned Way!

Bill's story:



The clock turned backwards to 1925 when devotees of hickory golf competed in April in the "Tad Moore Hickory 4-Ball" at Selma [Alabama] Country Club. I partnered with all-time friend Dan MacLellan- a fervent hickory golf disciple. His enthusiasm was sufficiently contagious that I was inspired to accompany him and his lovely wife Simone to
Selma. Dan claims that "there are only two stages of golf: pre-hickory and post-hickory!" Similar hickory ephipanies were related by the other competitors in last week's event.



Above: Dan MacLellan and Bill Case; below: Simone and Dan MacLellan;

Right: license plate shows evidence of
hickory mania




All of them are members of the Society of Hickory Golfers, http://www.hickorygolfers.com/ . They came from distant points in the south and midwest to play in this tournament. They donned knickers, white shirts, ties, and snap-brim hats evoking golf fashions of an earlier time. They played with



right: players warm their ancient putters up on Selma C.C.'s practice green





hickory shafted relics painstaking-ly collected over the years or with replica clubs matching the original designs. Many of the replica clubs were hand-crafted by two of the competitors in the event: Mike Just of the Louisville Golf Company
( http://www.louisvillegolf.com/ ) and tournament organizer Tad Moore (http://www.tadmoore.com/ ). If you are serious about your golf, you know that Tad has designed and manufactured fine golf clubs for over 30 years. A sentimental sort who cherishes traditional golf, Tad loves to play with hickory clubs , and enjoys networking with others who share his passion. Tad also markets the "Tom Morris" label of replica clubs. A native of Toledo, Moore recently moved to Selma. Tad and wife Carol spared no effort in making sure all in attendance had a memorable time.


Below:


Tad and Carol Moore; far below Tad greets the competitors at Selma C.C.

At about 6100 yards, Selma Country Club is ideal for hickory golf. There are several memorable holes including a fitful 127 yarder where the prudent play is to lay up short of the postage stamp green. The bermuda greens required special study, and we learned quickly that leaving iron shots to the sides of the narrow greens left little hope for successful recoveries. It was no surprise to us that seven different Selma members had won ten Alabama Amateur championships. The shotmaking and strategy called for by the tight layout would be the perfect primer for a competitive player. As I was concluding my practice round with Dan and Simone, I noticed that the "whipping" on my woods was coming unwound. Selma's genial professional, Tommy Burns adroitly and in short order made the necessary repairs. When I asked Tommy what I owed him, he just laughed, remarking, "I wouldn't know what to charge you. I haven't changed out the whipping on a club for thirty years!" Tommy proved to be an interesting guy. Tommy became the head pro after his father retired from the position. His father took the job in 1955. I doubt there is another club in the country where the head pro position has been continuously occupied by members of the same family for 55 years. Tommy also played on the University of Alabama golf team with Jerry Pate in the early 70's.



Sturdivant House




After Dan, Simone, and I played our practice round on Thursday, Tad and Carol feted the players at Sturdivant House, an eye-popping neo-classical "Old South" home in the midst of the Old Town area of Selma. While downing the first of several scotch and sodas, I chatted with Roger Hill who is deeply enmeshed in the activities of the society. Roger informed me that like the PGA tour, the society has endured internal controversy regarding technology. Some players take the doctrinaire view that only authentic relic clubs should be allowed in the society's competitions. Ultimately it was decided that such rigidity would be counter-productive to the goal of encouraging new players to join the hickory ranks, and replica clubs were allowed in competitive play, provided that the remake matches a design used in the wood-shaft era. This outcome was dictated by increasing scarcity of supply caused by inevitable breakage (I have already snapped two irons) and collector hoarding. A few die-hards resigned in protest, but the decision was generally accepted by the members. After this enlightening discussion with Roger, I eavesdropped on discussions in which the participants argued the relative merits of Jack White drivers, George Nicol putters, and whether it is better to carry a "baffy" or "bulldog" (both are forerunners of what are now called "hybrids").

Dan and I were paired in Friday's first round with clubmaker Mike Just and his young marketing director Josh Fischer. We got off to an abysmal start: twin triple bogeys on our first hole! I double-hit a putt. Dan later missed a 1 footer. We were lucky to shoot net 71 best ball, far in arrears of the scintillating 60 shot by Dan's wife Simone and her partner Barb Kopec, the only women in the event. Understand that this is one of those events that is 75% social and 25% competition, but it is always more enjoyable to play well! Fischer exhibited solid shotmaking while Just displayed a tidy shortgame. Both had college golf experience at Belvedere College in Louisville.





Bill Case, Dan MacLellan, Josh Fischer, Mike
Just



We were treated to another convivial evening of entertainment by the Moores on Friday at yet another beautiful ante-bellum building, the Smitherman Historic Building which contained an exhibit of civil war firearms and documents. I assumed initially that most of the hickory devotees played country club golf. After talking with several of the players, I discovered to my surprise that several were public course players. A husband and wife played their golf at the local military base where the husband was employed. I also learned that hickory golf has really caught on in both the UK and in Sweden with both countries sporting a bevy of tournaments. Former Ryder Cup player Pierre Fulke is among those that compete. It was suggested that those countries have taken to hickory play because wooden "play clubs" are more readily available at reasonable prices in Europe. Few clubs in the U.S. have been successful in getting large numbers of players in the game. An exception is Chagrin Valley Country Club in Cleveland where my friend Dan and his fellow hickory advocate Frank Boumphrey had been successful in instituting a "Hickory Day" every Thursday in the summer. Unfortunately, after Dan and Frank left Chagrin, hickory play fell off. At Friday's cocktail party, Dan entertained all with a side-splitting impression of Frank who has been ailing and did not make the tournament. Frank is a magnetic character with an outsized personality who tells wildly entertaining stories, many involving tales from his own most colorful life, with appropriate embellishments. I also met Selma native Otey Chrisman, also a noted club designer. With the golf business down at present, Otey is currently employed as a roofing contractor. He (as do Dan and Roger Hill) plays guitar, and Otey has also done some preaching. Otey is also a songwriter, and he confided that his compositions just kind of "show up," in his mind as he passes time driving down the highway. We found him to be one of those rare individuals who has never met a stranger.





The ever-affable Otey Chrisman





Saturday dawned wet. Thunderstorms doused the course for hours. But it wasn't so bad spending the rain delay with the likes of Roger Hill and Josh Fischer and fellow kindred spirit golfers. When the rain finally let up around 1 PM, the sandy-soiled course quickly drained and we were able to play 9 holes. We played an improvised sixsome with competing teams Roger Hill-Tad Moore and Simone MacLellan-Barb Kopec. Finally Dan and I managed to make something happen, making some putts and other decent shots and carding a net 32 on the final 9. Tad, wielding a wooden headed center shafted mallet putted like a fiend, holing three lengthy putts in 9 holes. But the real revelation was the Simone-Barb team. Simone with her long, lyrical super-smooth swing perfectly suited to swinging hickory clubs, hit all her shots solidly. Barb has the powerful wristy swing that you see in old films of the likes of Vardon and James Braid. The female team emerged the low net winners by one with a score of 92.

















Immediately above: Tad presents low net trophy to Barb Kopec and Simone MacLellan ; further above: the winning net team of Simone and Barb in their 1920's finery


The diminuitive scratch player Roger Andrews and his partner Tom Johnson finished low gross with 109 for 27 holes beating Ted Kopec (Barb's husband) and Jay Harris by one shot. The event culminated with a sumptuous catfish-fried chicken awards dinner at Selma Country Club.

Hickory golf provides an opportunity to experience the bygone days of the game. You should be able to play within three or four shots of your regular handicap. I recommend you try it. Visit the society's website for a complete list of events and tips on how to get started.



Above: Tad Moore with low gross champions
Roger Andrews and Tom Johnson

Still More 1964 PGA - Columbus Country Club

double click to enlarge photos

Many colorful performers competed in the '64 PGA. Top: the ultimate stylist Tony Lema. Tony had just ascended to the game's upper echelon with his victory in the British Open the previous month . Middle: Julius Boros, three time major winner. Boros's tempo, much like that of Fred Couples now, was the best on tour. Bottom: genial Lionel Hebert who took time off from his practice putting to chat with me.

Below right is golden-locked Al Besselink, a hard living golf hustler who was good enough to win several tour events including the Tournament of Champions. Al is not smiling- he may have been worn out from sampling Columbus's nightlife, or more likely, he was peeved that I was interrupting his practice.

Lionel Hebert's brother Jay (right), 1960 PGA champ, chips on 13.

Before Jack, the game's longest hitter was George Bayer, a former football player. 6'5" George wedges on to 12 green.

Below , Jack Nicklaus, playing in his hometown, launches one off the second tee. Jack finished tied for second with Palmer behind Bobby Nichols who was on fire with the putter that week.

Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus simul-putt on the par 3 13th at Columbus.

Below, right: Arnold Palmer at the exact instant he holed a long one on the second hole in the practice round. Arnie was coming off a win at the '64 Masters and no doubt believed he could hold off Nicklaus and stay number 1. Alas, he never won another major, and his gradual decline was about to begin.

My Brookside friend Steve Metcalf caddied for Don January. He recalled that January played with Arnold Palmer in Wednesday's practice round. Steve had no photos to commemorate this experience. Now 46 years later, maybe he does! Above: Arnold in his unique knock kneed stance putts on 13. I found confirmation of Steve's recollection as the angular January and his ever-present floppy hat made the far left of this adjusted frame.

I tilted the frame to the right to get a better view of the two caddies. I am betting that the caddy immediately right of Palmer is Steve Metcalf. Steve: let me know.

Mike Fetchick, winner of the Western Open, explodes with Jim Ferrier looking on.

The one and only Chi Chi

Jim Ferree shows classic form teeing off on 11.

Jack Burke, Jr. PGA and Masters champion

In his long career, Burke has experienced a metamorphosis. During his playing career, winding down when this photo was taken, he was described by Bob Hope as the "pro from Boystown," because of his boyish looks. Now he is the revered (though irascible) senior sage of the game.






Johnny Pott, who won the American Golf Classic at Firestone drives. Mason Rudolph watches Pott's tee ball.






Hope you enjoyed this restrospective of the last pro major played in Columbus.

More Retrospective: The 1964 PGA-Columbus Country Club,

Joe Campbell was a three time tour winner. I
snapped him teeing off on 2 in the '64 PGA.
(below)










I have always been partial to old pros past their prime who are trying to catch lightning one last time. One who certainly fit that category in the '64 PGA was 48 year old 1947 PGA champion Jim Ferrier. Big Jim had a quirky dipping action that nonetheless produced effective results. Right, Ferrier, attired in not so sporty red sox drives off Columbus C.C.'s par 5 18th. Having driven into the right rough, Ferrier hits his second below. In '64, old Jim made the cut, but finished well back in the pack.
















Walter Burkemo (below) was a true match play
specialist having won the PGA once and finishing
runner-up twice when the event was contested at
match play. He had a good stroke play
tournament in Columbus
in '64 finishing tied for 16th.

.


































Below: driving off on number 11, is Ken Venturi
then in his prime. Just a month earlier, Venturi
captured the U.S. Open in an emotional victory
at Congressional. In form and attire, he emulated
his idol, Ben Hogan (above) (compare Venturi's
position at impact with that of Hogan).

Retrospective: Ben Hogan at the 1964 PGA Championship at Columbus Country Club

Top: Ben Hogan on Columbus's puttting green; second: Hogan blasts. (note his precision is such that he required his caddy to attend the flag) (also my friend Tim Weidman in khakis is the last fan on the extreme right of this frame); third: Hogan practices his bunker play- a shot of which he rarely had need ; lowest photo: Lionel Hebert plays an explosion with fellow PGA champions Hogan, Jackie Burke, and Walter Burkemo looking on

(double click on images to enlarge)

The 1964 PGA Championship was contested right here in Columbus at Donald Ross designed Columbus Country Club. My friend Tim Weidman (Weeds) and I hatched a plan to drive from our then home of Hudson, Ohio, 2 1/2 hours distant, to Columbus. Dad found us tickets and arranged for us to stay at the Athletic Club downtown. From there we hopped on a COTA bus, and headed out Broad Street to the course to view Wednesday's practice round.

What a thrill for two golf-crazy kids! All the great men of the game were there: Palmer, Player, Nicklaus, Snead, Boros, Chi Chi, and Ken Venturi. The buzz when we arrived was that golf's greatest master, Ben Hogan, in a rare tournament appearance, was preparing to tee off on number 1. Weeds and I scurried to the first tee and there he was. Sporting his trademark white snapped brim hat and immaculate gray apparel, Hogan looked every inch the great champion. We were mesmerized. Hogan possessed a mystical quality, no doubt borne of the recognition that he alone had unlocked the secret to perfect ballstriking. Weeds and I felt that if we did not take our eyes off the Hawk, maybe that secret by some combination of magic and osmosis would pass on to us. Knowing an opportunity to see Hogan in action might never come again (it did not), we stayed with Ben and his practice round partners Jack Burke, Lionel Hebert, and Walter Burkemo for all 18. All four in the group had previously won the PGA Championship. I took pictures of Hogan and several of the other stars which I have just converted to digital and hence to this blog.

Ben Hogan fires an approach to Columbus's first green. I recall that he hit all the fairways and 16 greens. At age 52, Hogan played well, eventually tying for 9th.

Stay tuned for more images of the '64 PGA.

Retrospective: The 1965 Thunderbird Classic- Westchester Country Club

Jay Hebert tees off


Sam Snead- caught alone in his thoughts as he strides toward the green at Westchester

In the summer of 1965, my friend George Shepard and I journeyed to Rye, New York to attend the PGA 's Thunderbird Classic at venerable Westchester Country Club. My folks Weldon and Bea Case made it possible. George and I both played on the golf team for our local high school and this was a big treat. I snapped off a number of photos during the practice round which Lisa and I have recently found in my Dad's old slides, and we have converted them to digital. Here they are!




I always tended to root for underdogs instead of Arnie and Jack. Two of my favorites were Lionel and Jay Hebert, shown above. Both brothers won the PGA - Lionel in '57 at Miami Valley in Dayton and Jay in '60 at Firestone in Akron. Lionel was known as a mean trumpet player while Jay was the hard-bitten World War II ex-marine. They were very gracious in posing for a picture taken by this 16 year old kid.




My folks knew the great Cary Middlecoff winner of two U.S. Opens and a Masters. Cary came aboard my dad's boat docked in New York during the tournament. Left to right: my buddy George Shepard, Cary, and me with the crew cut and cowlicks.





Star crossed Champagne Tony Lema (right- putting) was defending British Open Champion when this picture was taken on the Westchester putting green. He died in a plane crash the following year.

Gary Player grinds on a putt.

Gary on the practice tee at Westchester.

Player at the moment of impact.

Gene "The Machine" Littler: '61 Open Champion and famous for having the sweetest swing on tour for many years.

Bob Charles: until Phil Mickelson, the New Zealander was hands-down golf's premier lefty. Bob also won the '65 British Open Championship.

Bob Charles on the practice tee.

Lionel Hebert hits his second on 18 at Westchester. My friend Pete Pointer will appreciate this as Lionel taught him to play golf in Erie Pa.

Colorful Doug Sanders, tour playboy and sharp dresser, at the top of his famous "telephone booth" swing. Sanders was a fabulous player, but sad to say he never won a major.

Bespectacled Jim Ferree was another underdog that I liked. Like Doug Sanders, Jim was known for enjoying the nightlife. He won only once on tour. But he later gained distinction as the model for the knickered silhouette that serves as the logo for the Champions Tour.

Jim Ferree stripes an iron.

Jack Nicklaus won the Thunderbird Classic in 1965. After the tournament, George and I visited the New York World's Fair. As I recall there were drought conditions prevailing in New York and you can see evidence of that in some of the photos.