From the Clubhouse
by Randy Dodson
Randy Dodson is the publisher of Fairways

Winter - February - 07
From Billy's House

I watched as Mike emptied old files and stacks of magazines into trash bags. He boxed up pro-am trophies, autographed golf balls and rearranged his furniture. Although his Feng Shui is a little shanked, Mike now has a harmonious view of Mt. Timpanogos from his office chair. This transformation now matches his rejuvenation for his golf game. Mike significantly lowered his handicap last year after having his clubs custom fit by Uinta Golf.

I soon followed, as usual, in his footsteps — at least in the spring cleaning department. It’s amazing what can accumulate over 15 years of following Utah golf. I removed many old files and client notes. I tossed years worth of regional and national golf publications. I removed numerous pro-am photos and marveled at the number of times Deseret Morning News sportswriter Dick Harmon was in my foursome. I boxed up State Am flags, ball markers, bag tags and stacks of photographs of just about every major amateur tournament winner that has made a name for him or herself.

All of my autographed golf balls are now at home. The office collection now joins my Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller and Billy Casper autographed balls. One hundred balls all total from just about every legend in golf that has come through Utah. Each one with its own memory – like the Tiger ball, captured in April 1996 at Riverside Country Club when he and his Stanford teammates competed in the annual Cougar Classic. Tiger won the tournament in extremely windy conditions shooting 69-73-75 – 217. A few months later he went on to win his record third consecutive U.S. Amateur championship.

I followed Tiger for the three days with my camera. After his very first tee shot he whispered a few words to the starter, former BYU golf coach Karl Tucker. Coach Tucker informed me that Tiger would appreciate it if I wouldn’t take any pictures during his swing. I guess I was lucky that Tiger’s current caddie Steve Williams wasn’t around.

I smiled at Karl and off I went, lurking behind trees and shrubs, trying my best not to disrupt his Tigerness. A few times, each day, he would look my way and smile. Three roles of slide film each day for three days are now tucked away in my “Do Not Throw Away” box.

On the final day at the 18th green I positioned myself so that he would have to walk by me on his way to the scoring table. I held out a Top Flite that had been in the camera bag. Tiger took it, signed it with a blue Sharpie, smiled and flipped it back to me. Can you imagine what NIKE would think of my Tiger autographed Top Flite?

For the record, all Sharpie colors other than black fade over time. My Fuzzy Zoeller (red) Raymond Floyd (green) and my Tiger ball have all lost color over time but I have not lost the memories of each of those days.

Speaking of memories — can you imagine what you would find in the house of a 51 time PGA TOUR winner? Thanks to a conversation we had with Billy Casper during a pro-am event, and with the coordinating help of his son Bob, Mike and I, armed with microphone and camera, knocked on Billy’s door of his Springville home for a tour of his own memorabilia.

Casper’s career win total on the PGA TOUR is surpassed by only Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. He won two U.S. Opens and a Masters. He also won two majors on the Champions Tour. He was a member of eight Ryder Cup teams, winning more points than any other American player and he captured the Vardon Trophy five times. Billy was named the PGA TOUR Player of the Year in 1966 and also in 1970.

Nearly all of Billy’s trophies are showcased in the Billy Casper Grill at the San Diego Country Club but there are some real treasures on the walls and bookcases of his home. One of his fondest pieces is a plaque with a logo ball from every course from his career victories including his two U.S. Open championships (1959 at Winged Foot and 1966 at Olympic Club) his Masters win, nine Ryder Cup appearances (including one as captain) and his two Champions Tour majors.

As only golf champions can, Billy explained many of his wins to us, recounting shots, courses, scores and playing partners. It was amazing to watch his instant recall just by looking at a logo ball from a tournament course.

“I have five tournaments that I can’t distinguish from in regards to importance. The first is winning my first tournament in 1956, the second is winning the U.S. Open in 1959, third is coming back from a hand injury to win the 1963 Hartford; answering all the questions as to whether I would win again. Fourth is winning my second U. S. Open coming from seven strokes down with nine to play to catch Arnold Palmer and then beating him by four in the playoff. My fifth would be winning the Masters after most of the media said I was too conservative to win at Augusta. I can tell you a story about every one of these balls — or wins,” said Billy.

Casper has an odd distinction within his Hall of Fame career. “I am still the defending champion of the 1958 Havana Invitational,” he explained. Casper also captured wins in Brazil (twice) and in Italy.

Having been the Ryder Cup captain in 1979 has afforded Casper the opportunity to attend the traditional Captains’ dinner. Framed and attached to his basement wall is a 1995 dinner poster that includes autographs of every living U.S. Ryder Cup team captain including Hogan, Snead and Nelson.

Early in his career Casper found a friend in one of his golfing idols. The legendary Ben Hogan was known for his stand-offish character but he befriended a young Billy Casper.

“I got to know Ben very well, he was my idol. The first time I met him was at Colonial. I was walking down the hall; I had just gotten off the golf course and was going to the locker room. Here he was coming at me and I was scared to death. I was looking for a place to hide. As he got near I said ‘Good morning Mr. Hogan,’ and he said “good morning,” very abruptly in his typical Hogan way. He took a couple of steps and then turned around a said, “Billy, you’re Billy Casper aren’t you?” I said, ‘Yes sir,’ and he said, “You’ve been playing some mighty fine golf.” From then on I always had an open invitation to have lunch with Ben Hogan.”

On Billy’s wall is a painting of Ben Hogan at Pebble Beach with an autographed note from his idol — a treasured memento indeed.

Another jewel is Billy’s framed collage of prints from his win at the 1959 U.S. Open. Within the black and white photos, neatly placed under the USGA logo is his first place check.

“Joe Dey was the executive director of the USGA and he was a great friend. When the check cleared he sent it to me. That’s the $12,000 dollar check I got for winning the Open in 1959.”

In 1978 Billy Casper was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. On his bookcase sits a mahogany box containing his Hall of Fame ring and money clip, indicative perhaps, as the true career defining memento of all professional golfers.