Most professional golfers are out to fill their coffers with all the cash they can win, but there have been two notable exceptions to that line of thinking.
Both Gene Littler and Bruce Lietzke disdained playing the entire professional tour and traveling back and forth across the country each year. Instead, they chose to set their respective goals as to an amount of money each would need for the year, and when they had won the stipulated amount, they went home. Neither could ever be accused of being greedy. As Littler once remarked, “Sometimes I make my quota by May, at other times I have to keep playing until September.”
Littler burst upon the national golf scene when he won the 1953 U.S. Amateur by beating Martinsville, Ind., native Dale Morey, one up in the championship match. He captured the attention of the golfing world when he won the first professional tournament he entered, the San Diego Open, in 1954. With five wins in 1959, Littler would go on to win the 1961 U.S. Open. Although hampered by shoulder surgery for cancer, Gene “the Machine” as he was nicknamed, would make a strong comeback after his surgery and continue to win PGA events which numbered 29 by the time he joined the Senior PGA Tour.
By winning the Tournament of Champions held in Las Vegas back in 1954, Gene was presented with the winner’s check for $10,000. At the same time, Frankie Laine, the singer, received $72,900 for having Littler’s name in the Calcutta.
Gene the Machine still makes infrequent appearances on the Senior PGA Tour.
Strangely enough, Bruce Lietzke also won his first professional tournament just as Littler had done, except that Lietzke’s win occurred in January of 1977. That was 23 years after Gene “the Machine” turned that trick. Strange as it may seem, Bruce’s first win, the Joe Garagiola Tucson Open, came on the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff against (guess who?) Gene Littler. Less than a month later Bruce would win the Hawaiian Open. Later he would beat Tom Watson in a playoff to annex the Byron Nelson Classic.
In 1980 when performance records were first kept, Bruce led the tour in greens in regulation, eagles, total driving, and par breakers. By the end of 1981 Lietzke joined Raymond Floyd, Tom Watson and Bill Rogers as the only three time winners on Tour for that year.
I’m reminded of a tourney Lietzke had won when the announcer said, “After this win you should be in good form to make a run at the U.S. Open in a couple of weeks.”
“Not really”, replied Lietzke. “The Open course doesn’t fit my game.
Besides I’ll be taking some time off. My family and cars are waiting for me.” Both Lietzke and Littler collected classic automobiles.
Lietzke was also known as a player who did not practice during those times he was not on tour.
Bruce was John Daly’s playing partner during the third round of the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick in 1991 when the rules committee was deciding whether or not to penalize Daly because they thought his caddy had touched the green with the flagstick on Daly’s line to the cup.
Bruce spoke up to defend Daly and his caddy, Squeaky Meddlin. The penalty was not assessed. Daly won the tournament with Bruce Lietzke taking runner-up honors, three shots back.
It’s certainly rare to find two professional golfers who approached the game so similarly. They definitely are outstanding golfers who are in addition, equally outstanding gentlemen.
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Rick Petty, coach of the girls’ golf team at West Vigo, wants to offer a big thank you to Jim Jenkins, General Manager, and Scott Riley, head professional at the Landing for allowing the Vikings girls’ team to utilize the Landing as its home course.
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Congratulations are in order for long hitting Chris Keen for his win in the Rea Park Club Championship. Two solid rounds of 69 and 67 were good for a three shot margin over Scott Givins, another big hitter.
Also a tip of the hat to senior and junior Rea Park champs respectively, those being E. T. Horrall and Sam Pollock.
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Ray Goddard reports that the Idle Creek Club Championship is on the docket for Labor Day weekend.
Golfers will play 36 holes during four days to determine gross, net, and senior winners. Entry fee is $25.
Ernie Maesch is the defending gross champion. Defending champs in net and senior divisions are Bob Mundy and Dick Wieble respectively.
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• Tip of the week — If you’re missing putts both to the left and right of the cup, here’s a tip from the late Tiny Horton, longtime high school coach in Illinois. Get your left eye (opposite for lefties) directly over the ball when you putt. Utilize a plumb bob if you want to be exact.
P.S. Contact Bernie Ridens if you need a plumb bob. He collects them and I’m certain he has a few hundred lying around.
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Bob Arnett can be reached by e-mail at subob@aol.com.
Vigo County Golf Leagues
First Financial Ladies Rea Park Monday — Standings: VFW No. 2 384, Bratt Hospital 383, Shepard’s Gas 377, VFW No. 1 357, Baesler’s Market 331, Tabco 328. Low gross: Verla Talkington 46. Low net: Latta 34. Play of the day: Kay Gard.
Ft. Harrison Ladies 9-hole — Low gross: Mary Shake. Low net: Mary Ann Tackett. Low putts (tie): Ginny Shawler and Tackett. Play of the day: Effie Giffel.
Paitson’s Eastside — Standings: Daphne’s Beauty Salon 641, Baesler’s Market 614, Turner Coaches 569, Sandy’s Touch of Magic 553, Coaches Corner 541, Deckmaster’s 533, Advanced Chiropractic 524, Page’s Market 505. Low gross: Daphne Newport 38. Low net: Glenda McVeigh 27. Birdies: Daphne Newport (10). Chip-ins: Donna Sumansky (11), McVeigh (17), Karen Cox (16), Newport (10). Play of the day: Blanche Law
Rea Park Wednesday Evening Ladies 9-hole — Standings: Padgett-Snow 33, Newton-Petty 31, Pair-Bedwell 30, Meyer-Clements 30, Swalls-Mozley 29, Mann-Rusk 28, Horrall-Mahalek 22, Lanke-Johnson 22, Cannon-Atterson 21, Honselman-Hiatt 19, Hamilton-Harden 19, Durand-Hyde 18, McCord-Ugo 17, Bocard-Luttrell 17. Low gross: Shirley Padgett 36. Low net: Padgett 30. Chip-in: Madonna Johnson.
Mark’s Par Three Senior Men — Standings: Midwest Gas 302, Tabco 289, Vigo Bowl 282, Dew Drop Inn 265, Mattingly Collision 263, Old National Trust 257, Sycamore Chevrolet 244, Fuson Cadillac 205. Low gross: Bill Turner 33. Low net: Jack Pattison, Bill Brock 26. Closest to pin: Joe Adcock (12). Longest drive: Marvin Mericle (13). Longest putt: Gordon Geckeler (17).
Rea Park Women's Tuesday 18-hole — Low gross: Stephanie Meyer 74. Low net: Lorri Ugo 62. Birdies: Ugo (4), Meyer (6, 17). Chip-ins: Ugo (4), Meyer (17).
Tere Haute Savings Bank Senior Men — National Division standings: Complete Kitchen and Bth 198, Lough Bros. 186, Paitson Bros. 181, Page’s Market No. 1 180, SMC 172, T.H. Savings Bank 161, Pizza Hut 161, Fore Seasons Golf Complex 157. Low gross: Terry Liffick and Dean Kays 38. Low net: Kays and Don Tooloose 31. American Division standings: VFW No. 972 189, Spring Clean Car Wash 185, Callahan Funeral Home 177, Pabst Painting 171, Poplar Flower Shop 170, Page’s Market 162, Salt of the Earth 153. Low gross: Chuck Cardinal 35. Low net: Bill Meng 30.
Idle Creek Terminal Sports and Spirits Wednesday Evening — Low gross: Mike Nuckols 38. Low net: Nuckols 35. Long putt: Matt Love (7). Closest to pin: Dave Rowlett (4).
Idle Creek Home Builders Tuesday Evening — Low gross: Mark Tarrh 39. Low net: Bob Mundy and Brian Puttmann 33. Long putt: Tarrh (10). Closest to pin: Terry Day (12).
Idle Creek Ladies Tuesday Morning Scramble — First place (35): Denise Rowlett, Breanna Moore, Katy Drummy, Mary Brannen. Second place (38): Candy Lovvron, Suzy Colligan, Barb Alcock, Jan Cutter. Longest putt: Cutter (2). Closest to pin: Alcock (3).
Rub of the Green
Rub of the Green: Old-school approach to pro tour
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
The recent Ryder Cup matches are over, but not done with! At the time the final match had concluded the “talking heads” had already gone to work assessing blame to those who didn’t live up to their preconceived expectations.
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Snedeker the big winner after FedEx Championship
The season-long FedEx Championship has finally come to an end and Brandt Snedeker may need a Brinks truck to haul his winnings to the bank.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Memories of Crooked Stick
The BMW tournament that concluded Sept. 9 at Crooked Stick in Carmel brought back a flood of memories.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: "Fair Joe" known expects rules to be followed in local hunts
Fair Joe is the name and golf is the game when referring to Joe Bukovack, who has sponsored hunts in Terre Haute as well as throughout Indiana during the past 25 years.
The “Fair” in Joe’s title refers to the fact that players who wish to participate in Bukovack’s competition must be willing to follow the rules of golf to the letter, otherwise they will not be invited to participate. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Enjoying the game after all these years
When golf is referred to as “The Game for a Lifetime,” you’ve got to believe that description is definitely on target. For example, there is the Danny Williams hunt that converges on the first tee at The Landing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Many players are in their 70s and retired dentist, Bill Aikin, has seen 92 birthdays.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hunts still popular on golf course
There is something about golf that lends itself to some friendly competition and in times gone by, the competitions were called “choose-ups.” Somewhere along the line, choose-ups became “hunts.” Regardless of what you call them, they remain a most popular mode of play for Terre Haute divot-diggers on courses throughout the Wabash Valley.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Heat doesn’t deter Terre Haute golfers
“When you’re hot, you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.” Those are the words of country singer Jerry Reed and they apply to golfers as well.
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Rub of the Green: Father’s golf imprint still evident today
I was lucky and I knew it. My father, Robert Erwin Arnett, was one of the best dads any youngster could hope for.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hogan, small of stature, left big footprints
With the Crowne Plaza Invitational being played at Colonial Country Club today, it conjures up images of the man himself, Bantam Ben Hogan, who won so often at Colonial it became known as “Hogan’s Alley.”
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Rub of the Green: Bowling or golf? Both provide plenty of challenge
The question has been raised in the past, is it bowling or golf that is the more difficult endeavor?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Sometimes this can be a confounding game
To be sure, the great Sam Snead certainly knew what he was talking about when he delivered his favorite axiom, “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Grayless takes over as golf professional at Hulman Links
Ed Grayless has assumed the “head man’s” position at the Links after Ryan Klopfenstein resigned as Hulman Links golf professional in order to pursue other interests.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Young players should match course to skills
One of the biggest mistakes a beginning golfer can make is to keep playing a golf course that is far too difficult for the ability demonstrated by that player.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: On the lanes or links, Davis is competitive
Darrell Davis carries a 240 bowling average which obviously puts him in some strong company on the alleys, but he feels that golf is a much more difficult sport than keggling.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Loquacious golfers can provide priceless quotes
Golfers always seem to have a great deal to say, but determining who said what and who said it first can be a problem.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Rick Fernandes can look back on a great golf career
What does an outstanding golfer have left when an accident has robbed him of the consummate skills he once possessed? The answer most assuredly would be one word, “Memories.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Feherty’s humor good for golf
David Feherty is an extremely funny man. If you have read his book written a few years ago, you might have guessed what to expect from him. The book, entitled “Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot,” set the stage for his far out brand of humor, most of which is directed at himself.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: It's all in your head
A pair of divot diggers had been discussing their favorite sport when one could be heard saying, “You know, I think this game is 90 percent mental.” After a short pause his friend replied, “Well, I think you’re about 10 percent short in your estimation.”
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Golf: ‘The Game You Love to Hate’
Golf has been called “The Game You Love to Hate.” In addition, love-hate relationships have been around since the beginning of time.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf is only sport that offers both hilarity, pathos
It’s been stated more than once that “golf is a microcosm for life itself.”
This writer would heartily agree. No sport or game can offer combinations of happiness and sadness, hilarity and pathos as evidenced by an activity called “cow pasture pool” by some of its practitioners. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Even golfers say there is drug problem on Tour
Are professional golfers using performance-enhancing drugs? This writer wouldn’t have the foggiest, but if you asked Gary Player, one of the game’s greatest, the answer would be a resounding, “Yes.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Not all golfers display their trophies
Back in the “old days,” let’s say the 1940s, most of the time when you won something in a golf tournament your prize came in the form of a trophy. That was it, just a dust catcher. Later, merchandise prizes were added.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf full of colorful characters
Every sport has its own cast of characters and golf is definitely no exception. Whether it is diving head first into a greenside bunker or tying an unreliable putter to a car’s bumper and dragging it down the road, golfers can do some strange things.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Winter made golf impossible this year
Old Man Winter along with Mother Nature must have something against area golfers. They have joined forces to sabotage a sport called winter golf, an activity many Wabash Valley players have enjoyed in years gone by.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf instruction a strenuous art
Few who have ever tried their hands at playing the game of golf would describe the sport as “easy”. In fact, just the opposite would be the case.
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BOB ARNETT: No matter what your level, watch out for pressure
What is the affliction that can affect most any golfer from those who can’t break an egg to skilled golfers who can break 70?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: THGA tournaments include variety, long history
In days gone by, the Terre Haute Golf Association has always offered more than just a 72-hole stroke play tournament.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: PGA playoff system still needs work
Is anyone fed up with the convoluted Fed Ex playoffs? The PGA has been tweaking its so-called Fed Ex playoff system for years, and they never seem to get it right.
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Rub of the Green: Golf can be roller coaster for young pros
Dustin Johnson may be best remembered for his appearances in the major tournaments in 2010, but not because he won. He didn’t win. But he came awfully close.
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Rub of the Green: One size does NOT fit all when it comes to golfing ability
Literally hundreds of books have been written on the subject of golf instruction, and we can be certain they all agree on one fundamental, always keep your head stationary throughout the swing.
Right? Nope, wrong as it could be! How’s that, you say? As examples both David Duval and Annika Sorenstam at one time were rated the world’s No. 1 professional golfers, respectively, and both swiveled their heads well before their clubheads reached the impact zone. In fact, Duval is one of a select few who has a 59 to his credit on the PGA Tour. - More Rub of the Green Headlines
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Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
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California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
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Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Oklahoma City Thunder Players Tour Moore
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Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
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Spurs' Popovich shows great frustration at post game presser
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Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
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See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
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Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton Show Off Their Amazing Bikini Bodies
