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HISTORICALLY SPEAKING MIKE STEVENS
THE ODDS WERE ALWAYS IN HIS FAVOR
continued from page 15
could hit a 500-yard drive with a hickory club. It was easy money. Now you understand the
Eager gamblers were ready to take him up on man and why the odds were always in his favor.
it, but he declared only when he was ready, Over the course of his golf life, he teamed with
“I have to feel it,” he said. So, one day in the some of the most famous professional golfers
middle of winter he announced that this was of the era in big-money matches including
the day. Off they went to the local club and Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson.
Titanic teed up the ball. There was as much as It was Thompson who arranged a famous
$50,000 on the line. Thompson addressed the match involving Ray Floyd and Lee Trevino with
ball and then turned around and launched the $100,000 on the line.
ball down the frozen lake behind the tee. The Wherever big money and gambling were,
hoodwinked mobsters could only pay up as Titanic Thompson was around. When mobster
their convoluted code required them to honor Arnold Rothstein was murdered after a poker
the bet even if snookered. game where he refused to pay up, thinking
Another story involves a time when the game was fixed, Thompson was one of the
Thompson said he could mark a ball with an X players at the table. Whether you approve or
and hit it into a nearby pond and dive in and not, his life story is fascinating and worth the
come up with the same ball. Little did the poor read. He’ll be forever known as the man who
marks know that on the previous day, he hit would bet on everything. w
several balls marked with an X into the pond.
Y… NEVER
OO LA
T
NEVER TOO EARLY… NEVER TOO LATE
NEVER OO EARL T TE
By Bob Wyatt, Jr.
USGTF National Coordinator
Fort Pierce, Florida
olf is a game that gives us all unique
Gand unlimited opportunities to
embrace and enjoy competing with yourself
as well as with others. With that said, I
am proud to share with you my personal
experience with growing up with the great
game of golf!
The picture in this heartfelt message shows
me as a baby in diapers watching my dad
practicing his first love, second only to his
family. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth
a thousand words.”
16
SUMMER 2020 Golf Teaching Pro ®
