Young Yoda

[hg]

Tommy Armour was one of his era's finest golfers, winning the U.S. Open, the British Open, the PGA and a host of cash-prize tournaments. Pretty good for anybody, but particularly good for a guy who had been severely wounded and blinded in one eye in a World War I mustard gas attack.

He was also one of golf's most successful -- and expensive! -- instructors. He taught students whose skills ranged across the board from duffer to champion. They included the rich and famous and winners of national championships, both amateur and professional. Over time, his reputation as a teacher grew greater than his reputation as a player. To put it mildly...

The guy knew what he was talking about.

In 1953, he applied his brilliant mind to a little book he called How To Play Your Best Golf All The Time. He insisted that it be simple in narrative and illustrated only with a few line drawings (instead of the dozens of photographic sequences that had become de rigueur for golf texts of the day. The line drawings were limited to those Stroke alignments he deemed mission-critical. The book was an instant success, and it subsequently has been reprinted numerous times over the past five decades. In my next piece, I will discuss -- and illustrate from the book -- Tommy's grasp of the importance of the Head as the Pivot Center. And also, his thoughts on the geometry of the Stroke, the Flat Left Wrist and Clubhead Lag Pressure. There is much to learn.

The book has a special meaning for me, not only because of its content, but because I got an autographed copy at age 15. But the autograph is not that of Tommy Armour. No, it is much better than that...

What a treasure signature Yoda....a little off topic but can you share with us when your fascination/romance for the GAME began. At the beginning did you struggle to improve and were there any doubts about your abilities to achieve a high level of success. Did you have a mentor/teacher when you first began the journey.

Thanks for sharing ...it may be interesting to the members.

[Yoda]

He could of done that so everyone could watch him hit balls....to build fear.

Hogan was Hogan.

No more. No less.

Which was why they feared him.

[Yoda]

What a treasure signature Yoda....a little off topic but can you share with us when your fascination/romance for the GAME began.

About age eleven, I learned two things about golf, one from my Dad and one by myself. From Dad I learned that golf takes a long time to play. On my own, I learned that golf balls go farther than baseballs.

My Dad was military, and I learned both these things in Germany. There were no courses near our American community, and when Dad played, which wasn't often, he would always come in at night. So it seemed to me that golf took a very long time to play.

For my first swing, I used my mom's Patty Berg 3-wood. I couldn't use Dad's clubs because he was left-handed. I don't know if I hit the ball on the first try, but I do know that when I did make contact, I fouled it from our backyard (in a community apartment complex) into a neighbor's balcony. There was a terrific crash as the ball slammed into their glass sliding door, so I didn't hang around long and don't know what happened after that. But I do remember my first feeling . . . Wow. Golf balls go farther than baseballs. A lot farther!

I even liked the smell of golf balls. And their stickiness, one against the other, right out of the sleeve. I would take'm out and roll 'em around in the palms of my hands, then put 'em back and pull 'em out and roll 'em around again. I liked the painted wooden tees, too. Dad had a million of 'em in the deep pocket of his canvass bag, in all different colors, and I would dig down in there, crunch around, and bring'em up by the handful.

I didn't touch a golf club for the next three years and then only as a caddy in the chicken-wire pen behind the putting green at the old O.B. Keeler Golf Course in Kennesaw, Georgia. But then and there in my backyard is when I learned the truth . . .

I love golf.

[hg]

About age nine, I learned two things, one from my Dad and one by myself:

1. Golf takes a long time to play.

2. Golf balls go further than baseballs.

Regarding the first item, my Dad was military, and I learned these things in Germany. There were no courses near our American community, so however long golf took, it took even longer there. When Dad played, which wasn't often, he would always come in at night.

Regarding the second, my first memory is taking one of my Mom's wooden clubs -- couldn't use Dad's because he was left-handed -- and belting it from our backyard (in a community apartment complex) into a neighbor's balcony. I didn't hang around long, so I don't know what happened after that, but I do remember my first feeling...

Golf balls go further than baseballs. A lot further!

I even liked the smell of them.

And their 'stickiness,' one against the other, right out of the sleeve.

I liked the painted, wooden tees, too. Dad had a million of'em in his canvass bag -- in all different colors -- and I would dig down in there and bring'em up by the handful.

I didn't touch a golf club for the next five years -- and then only as a caddy in the chicken-wire pen behind the putting green at the old O.B. Keeler Golf Course in Kennesaw, Georgia -- but I guess then and there is when I learned the truth...

I love golf.

So now we've reached age 14 ...can you share with us a little more...how this romance continues

[tongzilla]

About age eleven, I learned two things about golf, one from my Dad and one by myself. From Dad I learned that golf takes a long time to play. On my own, I learned that golf balls go farther than baseballs.

My Dad was military, and I learned both these things in Germany. There were no courses near our American community, and when Dad played, which wasn't often, he would always come in at night. So it seemed to me that golf took a very long time to play.

For my first swing, I used my mom's Patty Berg 3-wood. I couldn't use Dad's clubs because he was left-handed. I don't know if I hit the ball on the first try, but I do know that when I did make contact, I fouled it from our backyard (in a community apartment complex) into a neighbor's balcony. There was a terrific crash as the ball slammed into their glass sliding door, so I didn't hang around long and don't know what happened after that. But I do remember my first feeling . . . Wow. Golf balls go farther than baseballs. A lot farther!

I even liked the smell of golf balls. And their stickiness, one against the other, right out of the sleeve. I would take'm out and roll 'em around in the palms of my hands, then put 'em back and pull 'em out and roll 'em around again. I liked the painted wooden tees, too. Dad had a million of 'em in the deep pocket of his canvass bag, in all different colors, and I would dig down in there, crunch around, and bring'em up by the handful.

I didn't touch a golf club for the next three years and then only as a caddy in the chicken-wire pen behind the putting green at the old O.B. Keeler Golf Course in Kennesaw, Georgia. But then and there in my backyard is when I learned the truth . . .

I love golf.

Is that "the truth" or The Truth?

Like hg, I'd also like to hear more!

[Yoda]

Is that "the truth" or The Truth?

Like hg, I'd also like to hear more!

Just 'the truth,' Tongzilla. This was a simple narrative, and you'll notice I did not include my usual capitalization of golf-related terms.

[lagster]

A couple of things I heard from a fellow that knew him...

He smoked quite a bit on the golf course. If he hit a shot he didn't like much, you could hear him take an especially hard draw on that cigarette.

Sam Snead did not like to play with Hogan, because Hogan's tempo affected Sam. I believe he would try not to watch him hit.

[KOC]

Dr. Gary Wiren, then Director of Instruction, PGA of America, at the far left in the PGA-crested blazer. He and two of his associates flew in from PGA Headquarters -- a Men in Black sort of thing -- and spent a full day at the school. Gary walked away with a yellow pad full of notes and his incubator humming.

The ball doesn't know, Yoda knows and Homer knew.

[hg]

So now we've reached age 14 ...can you share with us a little more...how this romance continues

Yoda

Please tell us more about young Yoda....after age 14...let the story continue

[Yoda]

Estimated Value (based on the collectors I deal with) depending upon condition of the book:

1st $100-$300

The value increases, especially in the first edition, if signed by Mr. Kelley.

During my personal study with Homer Kelley at his home the week of January 11-15, 1982, I began a reasonably intensive personal lobby for a 'first edition' of The Golfing Machine. He said he didn't think he had any more around, but that he would look. Over the next ten months, by phone, I continued to lobby, and he continued to look.

Finally came the day when I went to the mailbox and discovered his 'care package.' I stripped away the envelope and wrapping and there it was: the First Edition. Alas, as was so characteristic of his humble nature, he didn't sign it. But he did include an invoice in his own hand dated December 6, 1982, clearly stating the contents:

"1 Copy 1st Edition"

And the price...

"$7.50."

At the bottom of the invoice he penned this note:

"In putting the 6th edition material in storage I gathered up everything and put the archives in order. I found it pretty bare, but not empty. Have fun.

Homer Kelley"

What is this combination of book and personalized invoice worth today?

Who knows?

Who cares?

It belongs to me, and I ain't sellin'.

The memory I share with you.