Don't you just love these guys !

I guess we all have certain favourite golfers and perhaps the odd one that we don't particularly care for. I was reading a golf instruction article regarding " building a classic swing " and thought about it afterwards, chuckling to myself I thought perhaps I should send this article to Jim Thorpe and Allen Doyle.
Those two guys I could watch all day, you really have to love them, and it does prove the point " it doesn't have to look good ". At the finish of Mr. Thorpe's swing it looks like he's being attacked by a swarm of bees and Mr. Doyle, when he's striking one of his hybrids off the fairway reminds me of someone digging a gopher out of his hole.
Have they done well at their trade ?? you bet they have, Mr. Thorpe has earned $ 4.5 million and Mr. Doyle's earnings total $ 3.5 million, and that's in the last four years. They are great to watch and certainly appear to have plenty of personality. As far as players I don't care for top of the list would be Sabbatini, Mr. Wonderful himself, wonder if he still thinks Mr. Woods is " as beatable as ever ". Scott Hoch would be number two, I'm still miffed at the remark he made a few years ago about the " Old Course ". When asked if he was going over to play in the Open he remarked, " why should I go over there, I've no desire to travel that distance to play on something that looks like a wasteland full of bomb craters ". Can you imagine Tiger making a comment like that !

There was an ad for the PGA during the Pebble Beach Pro Am featuring Jim Furyk. It's Jim talking about how his only swing coach was his dad, and how his swing looks unconventional, but then he's like 'but with 10 wins including a US Open, perhaps there's nothing wrong with being unconventional'.

I look at it another way. Just think how good those guys with "unconventional" swings could be. Their obvious creativity, determination, winner mentality, grace under pressure, etc. paired with a better technique. Oh, wait. I don’t have to imagine. I can just look at Tiger.

As with all serious sport at the highest level, the future is for the technicians, not for the characters. Personally, I miss the characters.

Moe Norman, the legend.

This is an article by Jack (Professor) Kuykendall who worked with Moe. I think it says so much for Moe's character.

Moe Norman and the Titleist Deal.

Wally Uihlein, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Titleist saw an article in The Wall Street Journal about my discovery of a new type of golf swing. The article mentioned that it was similar to Moe Norman's and that Moe was under contract with my company "Natural Golf".
I had promised Moe that if he signed an exclusive with me, that I would see that he would never have to worry about his finances again. Mr. Uihlein had one of his vice-presidents do some checking on Moe's financial status and found that he was just barely making ends meet with his clinics and a small contract from Natural Golf. As Moe was under an exclusive contract with Natural Golf at the time, Mr. Uihlein contacted me about meeting at the 1995 PGA show for discussion about Moe Norman.
When we met, I talked to Mr. Uihlein first. One of Mr. Uihlein's concerns was what financial gain Natural Golf might want. I informed Mr. Uihlein that Natural Golf wanted no financial gain from anything that would help Moe. Mr. Uihlein expressed his opinion that Moe was one of the four great ball strikers of all times and did not want his swing lost to future generations. How would the golfing world like to have current video quality images of Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan. They just don't exist.
Mr. Uihlein wanted to take video of Moe and have several tour players talk about his swing. I agreed on the condition that I could be the last person on the video and explain what Moe really does during his swing. No one had ever gotten it right. Mr. Uihlein agreed.
I then ask Mr. Uihlein, "I also understand that you want to do something financial for Moe." Mr. Uihlein said, "That is correct, but I don't want to make you look bad." I responded, "That's OK. make me look bad." "What did you have in mind?"
Mr. Uihlein said, "How does $5,000 a month for the rest of his life sound?" My response was, "Moe will love that."
We called Moe and several of his friends over (Gus Maue being one of them) and I explained to Moe about the video. Moe's response was, "Can I be on this big bank of TV's at the show next year?" Mr. Uihlein said, "Yes, Moe, you can be up there next year." I then told Moe that Mr. Uihlein want to do something financially to help him as well. Mr. Uihlein then told Moe that Titleist was going to give him $5,000 a month for the rest of his life. Moe took one step backward, turned his head a little and looked at Mr. Uihlein with those piercing eyes and said, "I've played your balls all my life, I wear your shoe." He repeated the same thing a second time, "I've played your balls all my life, I wear your shoe. What do I have to do for that?" Mr. Uihlein responded with, "You have already done your part Moe. Titleist is just saying thank you for what you have already done." Moe took one more step back and repeated. "I've played your ball's all my life, I wear your shoe. What do I have to do for that." Mr. Uihlein assured Moe that he did not have do anything. It was a thank you gift from Titleist. Moe said, "Your not going to hurt my friend Jack, are you?" I told Moe that I had approved the deal and no one was being hurt. Moe said, "OK, I'll accept it."
Hairs were standing up on my arm and I was holding back tears. Handkerchiefs were coming out of the pockets of all of Moe's friends who were not as controlled. When Moe said it was OK, he almost fainted. A few of his friends held him up until he regained his composure.
We had a clinic to do in less than 30 minutes on the range. As we were walking out the door, Moe said, "I don't know if I can hit ball or not Jack." I assured Moe that if he missed every shot, it would be OK. He, obviously, did not and performed one of his best clinics ever. No company that I know of has ever done an act of appreciation that can parallel what Mr. Uihlein and Titleist did for Moe Norman.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Brian,
That was a delightful, heartwarming story regarding Moe Norman and Titelist Golf. I had the pleasure of meeting Moe and attending a clinic he gave at Mount Hope Golf Club back in the late sixties. What a personable character he was, I remember him saying as he was swinging the club " this aint' exactly a copy of Gene Littler's swing but it don't really matter, it's all about where the ball ends up "
And of course getting back to my original post is that not the whole point, what difference does it make how Mr. Doyle and Mr. Thorpe " swing " they certainly have the knack of putting it in the hole when it counts.
Buteman.

All my mates tell me that my swing if not the end results remind them of Eamonn Darcy.

I'm never sure whether to be flattered or not.

Well perhaps I am.

As long as it's not Eamonn Andrews

Eammon Andrews I could live with; the missus keeps on mentioning Eammon Holmes and giving me WeightWatchers leaflets

Gloating! 18 lbs offf since new year

Ooh you ***** can I PM you for your diet secrets? Unless they include abstinence and bean sprouts.

ive been on the banana and coconut diet!
i havent lost any weight but you should see how i climb trees now!

Feel free to