Thursday: We were finishing our circuitous walking loop when we passed two gentlemen conversing in the middle of our street; one on foot, one on bicycle. We exchanged pleasantries and kept moving. Just before we arrived at our driveway, the bicyclist passed and began to circle like a Shriner in a miniature car at a parade, commenting, “You look like you might have played a little basketball in your day.” I nodded, confirming his assumption. The bicyclist went on to say, “I held Maravich to ... continue reading...
Wee-Met – The Site (Part 3)
The Country Club, founded in 1882, is the oldest club in the United States and was one of the five charter clubs that founded the USGA with the initial purpose to sponsor the undisputed amateur championship which began in 1895. The initial course build began in 1893, completed in 1899 (Clyde Course, Squirrel Course). An additional nine was constructed in 1927 by William S Flynn (designer of Shinnecock Hills, Cherry Hill Country Club, Cascades Course, Kittanset Club and Lancaster Country Club) ... continue reading...
Wee-Met Part 2 – “Wee” Continued
Eddie’s love for golf and the amateur game, his “alpha dog” mentality, “gift of gab” and wealth set numerous events in motion. Social Eddie became well connected, having golf memberships through the years at Cypress Point Club, Augusta National Golf Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Thunderbird Country Club, California Golf Club and Seminole Golf Club. His golf buddies were the likes of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope (traveled together to compete in the 1951 British Amateur), Ed Sullivan, Byron Nelson ... continue reading...
Wee-Met (Part 2): Wee
Francis Ouimet stunned the golfing world by winning the 1913 US Open at twenty years of age. His victory changed the landscape of golf in the United States, as over two-million people embraced the game in the following decade. Francis had a partner in crime; his diminutive (“Not much bigger than a peanut”) impoverished caddie, Eddie Lowery. On September 18, 1913 immediately prior to Francis’ opening tee ball, ten-year old Eddie Lowery had the unenviable task of informing Francis that Jack ... continue reading...
Wee-Met (Part 1 of 3)
In the 1913 U.S. Open, played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, a local twenty-year old amateur (Francis Ouimet - “Met”) and his diminutive ten year old caddie (Eddie Lowery - “Wee”) took down two seasoned professionals (Harry Vardon age forty-three and Ted Ray age thirty-six) from the Bailwick of Jersey, Channel Islands, becoming the first American-born amateur to win the U.S. Open. Fact: The 1913 U.S. Open, originally scheduled for June, was postponed until September to ... continue reading...
Good Work If You Can Get It
I recently read the November 2017 edition of Golf Digest, featuring Butch (Clyde) Harmon on the cover. In a listing of the top 50 instructors, the publication also listed their corresponding hourly rates. Butch (rated as the #1 instructor in the world by a long shot) charges the same fee for amateurs and professionals alike. He ranks third on the hourly “rate” list: 1) Dave Pelz...$2,500/ hour or $41.67/minute 2) Hank Haney...$1,875/hour or $31.25/minute 3) Butch Harmon...$1,500/hour or ... continue reading...
Stimpmeter
“Johnny, the greens are running at a 10 today! “What? Why are the greens running and where are they going!?” We hear references to green speeds virtually every weekend during the telecast of tournaments (tidbit: Speed readings are never disclosed for August National and Oakmont’s are typically running between13-15). In 1935, Edward S. Stimpson (accomplished golfer and Harvard graduate) invented a device (stimpmeter) to measure green speeds; a simplistic wooden, angled track that releases a ... continue reading...