Author: Head Nut

Danny Lee, Golf Nut

By Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest

One of the last places you might expect to see a tour pro is at the range of a muny … in the middle of a tournament at one of the world’s best courses down the street.

That’s what patrons of the historic Rancho Park Golf Course were treated to on Thursday when Danny Lee arrived. Lee had just fired an opening-round 5-over 76, so expectedly, the former U.S. Amateur champion wanted to work on his swing after the morning round. Except he didn’t elect to hit balls at Riviera Country Club—one of the nicest clubs in America. He showed up to the muny course down the road … which feature mats.

We kind of get it if you’re Lee. He was one of the first groups off on Thursday, meaning a bunch of players from the afternoon wave were likely still warming up for their rounds when his morning was completed. Riviera also has one of the tightest ranges you’ll see on the PGA Tour. So we suppose Lee didn’t want to wait around for a spot on the range. And maybe if he was struggling big time, he didn’t want all the eyes on him.

Or maybe Lee is someone who respects history, and knows Rancho Park played host to the Los Angeles Open in the 1950s and ’60s. As one person on Twitter said, he was shocked Lee was able to get a bay at Rancho Park at that time of day.

Turns out, it’s tough to find anywhere to hit balls in Los Angeles—whether you’re a tour pro or not.

Danny Lee, our kind of guy!

The Head Nut

#0001

A Story Every Golf Nut Will Enjoy

Jack Burke Jr., the 1956 Masters champ, is turning 100 and still has plenty to say…

Guy Yocom, Golf Digest

Jack Burke Jr.’s voice, once commanding and direct, is softer these days. His answers to questions are less thunderous, his opinions have less of a hard edge, and his tough-love parables on golf and life are gentler. For this icon of American golf, there’s a reason for the slight transformation. On Sunday, Jan. 29, Burke will celebrate his 100th birthday. The oldest living Masters and PGA Championship winner has arrived at a place we would all like to be—at peace and satisfied.

His birthday will come with all the trimmings. A party is on tap at Champions Golf Club, the famed Houston club he and Jimmy Demaret founded in 1957. Coffee, cake and ice cream will be served at noon, accompanied by laughter, storytelling and good-natured Texas kidding. At Champions, there’s no such thing as a stranger. One of Burke’s friends told him that 100 candles on a cake is so many, he may need to start blowing them out on Saturday.

Events this momentous draw lots of friends. An impressive number of Burke’s pals from out of town are coming in. Butch Harmon, the renowned teacher who at age 6 was taught how to get the ball airborne by Burke, will be on hand. So will Jim McLean, another star teacher who since his college days at Houston has visited Burke at least once a year for counsel, conversation and encouragement. Ben Crenshaw, who credits Burke as an influence along with Harvey Penick, is driving over from Austin. Jim Crane, the owner of the Houston Astros and a longtime friend of the family, will bring the World Series trophy to display for Champions’ members, hundreds of whom will attend.

This may be a good time to offer a primer on Burke, as two full generations of golfers might not fully know what he has brought to the game. He retired as a player almost 60 years ago, and newcomers especially know him only vaguely. Although Burke won most of golf’s important titles and has received the most prestigious honors the game has to offer—the USGA’s Bob Jones Award is chief among them—these days he’s hidden in plain sight. Burke is a vital part of golf history, a singular individual who distinguished himself as a player, teacher, club owner, author, influencer and preserver of the best things in golf.

Burke was one of the top players of the 1950s. He won 16 times on the PGA Tour in the era of Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum. In 1950, Burke’s second year playing full time, he won four events, and in 1952, he won four tournaments in successive weeks, a tour record that still stands. His best year probably was 1956, when he won the Masters by coming from eight strokes back in the final round to defeat Ken Venturi. Three months later he won the PGA Championship the last time it was conducted as match play. He won seven matches and defeated Ted Kroll, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole final. Not known as a superlative ball-striker, Burke compensated with shrewd course management, patience, experience, nerve under pressure and one of the best putting strokes of all time.

Burke also was an outstanding Ryder Cup player and team leader. He played on five consecutive U.S. teams from 1951 through 1959, and in 1957 was a playing captain. His record was 7-1. He captained again in 1973 and in 2004, was an assistant captain to Hal Sutton. Sutton, like Phil Mickelson, was a Burke acolyte, as were Steve Elkington, Crenshaw and many other tour players who made the pilgrimage to see Jack when they came to Houston.

His playing career consumed slightly more than a tenth of Burke’s life, and his achievements were the primary basis for him being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. However, Burke lived a remarkable life before arriving on the PGA Tour. Born in Fort Worth in 1923, he was the eldest child of Jack Burke Sr., who finished second to the immortal Ted Ray in the 1920 U.S. Open. Burke Sr. was one of the first club pros in Texas and was a clubmaker, teacher and innovator. He invented, among other things, the original cord grip for golf clubs. The Burke household near River Oaks Country Club was a gathering spot for great players of the day, and young Jackie soaked up the conversation. There’s a ton of Burke minutiae, but an interesting bit is that one of his babysitters was Jimmy Demaret, who went on to win the Masters three times. Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Craig Wood, Babe Zaharias and many others were like so many aunts and uncles to Jack Jr. In school Burke was a good student and briefly attended Rice University, but at age 19 he left to accept a club-pro position in Galveston. After a hurricane swept the clubhouse away, and with America’s entry into World War II, Burke decided to join the Marines.

“My dad’s life was shaped by three things,” says Mike Burke, Jack’s son, who last year purchased Champions from Jackie and his wife, Robin. “First there is his father, whom he idolized. There was and still is, his family. Then there was the Marine Corps.”

Burke was in the Marines for four years and taught physical fitness and self-defense to Marines preparing for combat in the Pacific, including the horrific Battle of Tarawa. Even today, Burke’s instruction on how to defend against an attacker—it involves a buck knife, honed sharply—is something to hear. The values, discipline and toughness he learned in the Marines, coincided closely with his obedient Catholic upbringing. Upon his discharge in 1946, Burke briefly tried playing for a living, but was drawn instead to a series of excellent club jobs. Through 1941 U.S. Open champ Craig Wood, he landed a club job in Deal, N.J. He then served as an assistant to 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon at Winged Foot in New York and later took a head pro job at nearby Metropolis Country Club.

An outstanding playing career followed, but with four children at home, Burke aimed to spend his time in Houston. In 1957, he and Demaret founded Champions, which quickly rose to national prominence. Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and many other celebrities hung their hats at Champions, and Burke knew them all. After Demaret died in 1983, Burke pointed out that the two men never signed a contract. “With Jimmy and I, our word was our bond,” he said. Champions over the years hosted the 1967 Ryder Cup, 1969 U.S. Open, 1993 U.S. Amateur, 1998 and 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, 2020 U.S. Women’s Open and four playings of the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship from 1997 to 2003. During the 1960s, Champions also hosted the Houston Champions International five times. It’s where Hogan, who counted Burke among his few close friends, struck his last shot in competition, in 1971.

Champions became Burke’s most important endeavor. From there he’s preached the importance of amateur golf, juniors in particular. (The Jack Burke Invitational is a popular stop on AJGA schedule.) Over time he has dispensed all kinds of wisdom and humor, along with sharp reactions to different facets of the game. On the commercialization of golf, including pricey club memberships, big green fees and expensive equipment: “These people are like one-eyed dogs in a meat shop. They’ll never realize that an emphasis on money makes everything worse.” On his policy in the 1990s of requiring prospective members at Champions to possess a handicap of 15 or lower: “We don’t want to run a yacht club where nobody knows how to sail a boat.” On the emergence of sports psychologists: “I don’t get it. In my day, our sports psychologist was named Jack Daniels.” On teaching systems: “I’ve never known of one that worked. Golf can’t be overpowered.” On the slew of improprieties that occurred in politics and financial sectors: “Not many of these people play golf. If they did, they’d know where the out-of-bounds stakes are.”

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Jack Burke Jr. with wife Robin, captain of the 2016 Curtis Cup, in 2020.

Instructional thoughts and takes on the nature of competition flowed from Burke, too. On a key swing fundamental: “The primitive hunter who threw his spear at the saber-tooth tiger finished with his weight on his left foot. If he didn’t, he got eaten. A good golfer, like that hunter, shifts his weight to the left.” On fans at major championships: “Many will be rooting for the players, but others are bloodthirsty and want to see how they handle the struggle. They want to see whether they pass out on the first tee.”

He gave life advice, too. On retirement: “Leisure time is dangerous. You might wind up inside a bottle of bourbon. You were put on this earth to produce, so get with it.” On managing finances: “A priest and teacher I had in school, Father Allnoch wrote on the blackboard, ’50-51.’ He said if you make $50, don’t spend $51. It’s that simple.” One of Burke’s best is repeated often by Steve Elkington, a PGA Championship winner himself and Burke disciple. Elkington says Burke values personal relationships above all else and notes that on Burke’s refrigerator are the words, “If you can put a match to it, it’s not worth a damn.”

With Jackie, the whole has always been greater than the sum of the parts. It’s Burke who Tiger Woods credits with inspiring his famous “stinger” at the 1993 U.S. Amateur. In 1999, he turned Mickelson’s putting around, setting the stage for big titles. In 1969, he was instrumental in bringing the U.S. Open south of the Mason-Dixon line for the first time. When the crisis over racial discrimination at private clubs occurred in 1990, national TV networks sought out Burke for perspective. He quietly commanded attention from several generations of players, administrators, course architects and club owners, but Burke preferred to stay a half-step away from the limelight. He has always said that the word, “pro” was the root word not for “professional,” but “promotion.” Yet he never was particularly interested in promoting himself.

Age has always been just a number to Burke. In 1987, well after his first wife had passed away, he married the former Robin Moran, a freshman walk-on at Texas who had ventured over to Champions for a putting lesson. Burke was 64, Robin was 24. Robin went on to be the runner-up in the 1997 U.S. Women’s Amateur and captain of the 2016 Curtis Cup team. Jack had five children already, but he and Robin had a daughter, Meghan, now 32. Now that’s living.

After the birthday party concludes, Burke will get back to business. Six days a week, he’ll rise early, eat a small bowl of cereal, attend church and then head over to Champions. He’ll greet members and their guests, write a few notes and talk on the phone a bit. If he’s feeling especially good, he’ll visits the double-ended practice range and big putting green, where he’ll offer a few quick lessons but mostly encouragement. “His eyes aren’t great anymore but he can tell a lot without seeing the ball,” Robin says. The day is not heavy lifting, and Robin has him home by early afternoon. “In summers I’m asleep before dark,” he says.

Years ago, Burke likened the average person’s life journey to climbing a tree, with the focus on reaching the top. “Sooner or later, though, you have to climb down out of the tree,” he said. “The secret is to not break too many branches on the way down.”

As he reaches the century mark of his remarkable life, Jack Burke Jr. is coming down on angel wings.

Letter from a New Nut

Dear Head Nut,

I just joined this distinguished Society and have been assigned #4084. I noticed that you no longer track Nut points. I totaled only 7,077 points on my entrance exam. That may be good for me but when compared to a Nut of the Year with over 100,000 it looks like I left it a tad short! I was going to try to up my total with bonus points for the following examples of nuttiness:

1. Left my wedding band in a golf cart at the Lacayan Beach Country Club while playing on my Honeymoon. Married 5 days and already lost my ring. The newlywed Mrs. Robinson was not amused. Still married 52 years though! 1,005 Points

2. Before my last colonoscopy with an avid golfing doctor, I asked him what type of grip he planned to use on the scope, Vardon or interlocking? He said, “Crosshanded”. Hmmm?   Just before he put me under, I told him “No O.B. and no Mulligans”. When I came to, I asked him how it went. He said “Tough hole, doubled it” and left. 100 Points

3. I’m known as “All Day Dave” in two counties here in NJ. for playing 36+ holes 3 times a week. My wife once had to get me at the course, and the counter pro said “What’s his name?”  My wife said “I think you call him “All Day Dave” . The pro said we’ll get him from the 4th hole. 512 Points

4. I have an official prescription from a Board Certified doctor to convince my wife that I was OK to play after a brief back issue. It said: “Can play golf, no household chores”. 500 Points

5. While traveling to Singapore on a stopover in Tokyo in 1987, I saw Arnold Palmer in a concourse bar. Arnie was my Father’s favorite golfer (mine as well). I went over to talk to him. He bought me a beer! When it was time to go, I got his autograph on my business card. I gave it to my Dad. He treasured it. When he passed, I got it back and now proudly show it to all my golfing buddies. 2,000 Points

6. During Covid, one of my golfing buddies challenged me to make something out of old scorecards. Attached is a picture of the Augusta National Clubhouse, not to scale but clearly identifiable to serious golfing patrons. 1,000 Points

7. I am Co-President of my 55+ community’s Golf Club, with about 80 members. I arranged and ran a “Geezer” Ryder Cup competition against another local 55+ community, After 8 years of 3 day competitions in singles, best balls and scrambles, the competition is basically tied, 4-3-1 with 116 points vs. 113. Bragging rights were always on the line. 1,008 Points

8. I write articles on our Golf Club for the 55+community monthly newspaper. Besides the normal results from our various events, I try to include humor. I’ve pondered how some club members would fare on “The 18 Best Holes in the World”. Like the 12th at Augusta or the 18th at Pebble. (picture an 36 Indexer!)  It was not pretty! I’ve found pictures of old clubs and a described how certain members would use them. I’ve published tips for playing in the winter in NJ. When not playing golf, I’m proud to say I like Hallmark movies.

I fashioned a script I want to send to Hallmark for their consideration:  Two golfers meet in high school, Arnie and Annika. They plan to go to college on a golf scholarships, then Q School and the Tours. Annika does it, Arnie has to drop out to run the local Muni after his father dies, giving up his dream. Annika goes onto the LPGA and falls for a rather suspicious Australian pro. Arnie marries a local Waffle House waitress with actress ambitions.  Annika’s father owns a swanky private Golf Course right next to Arnie’s Muni which he tries to buy to build Condos. 

In short, Arnie’s wife leaves him and their son for Hollywood, Arnie and the Australian pro play a match for the Muni’s Deed, and Arnie wins after sinking a 95 foot downhiller with his Father’s original Scottsdale Ping Answer. Arnie and Annika get together in the end. A little Caddy Shack, Missing Links, and Happy Gilmore mixed up with Hallmark schmaltz.  595 Points

I haven’t found The Secret yet, but I’m still trying. This year in mid season I adopted a modified “Gary Player” step through with my new Ping 425 driver. My buddies liken it to Arthur Murray two step, but it’s been working for me. (So far). I call it the “Cha Cha CaChing” from all the $2 Nassau’s I’ve won since switching.  Gotta go now, wife’s not home, and I want to hit nerf balls from the sun room, through the kitchen into the dining room. I’m trying the 7 iron today. 425 Points

Dave Robinson (#4084)

Well, #4084, you’re definitely certifiable, that’s for sure! I loved your email so much that I decided to give you some Bonus Points. 7,145 points, to be exact. Nice work!

Regarding your stories, I’m torn between the bar encounter with Arnie and losing your wedding ring in the golf cart during your honeymoon on the fifth day of you marriage. I guess I’ve got to go with the Arnie encounter as it took a lot of chutzpah to walk up to The King and end up having a beer with him. But, losing your wedding ring on your honeymoon and STILL being married is quite a feat! – The Head Nut (#0001)

Friendship

Golf Nuts,

Yours truly casually mentioned to one of my golf buddies, Doug Kyle (#4021), last week while we were were hitting balls on the range that one of the rivets on my golf bag had popped and the fabric had separated from the top of the bag.

“Do you think it’s worth repairing?” I asked.

“Give me the bag overnight, I think I can fix it.” he replied. Here’s the rest of the story…

Step 1

“I tried clamps and other things but they didn’t work but the bungee cords pulling up are doing a great job at holding it in place. Got it sucked up nice and tight against the two edges.” (LMAO – HN)

Step 2

“Holes drilled and screws inserted.”

Step 3

“Cut, grind and super glue the screws.”

Step 4

“Black fingernail polish as the finishing touch (My wife’s idea).” (They actually drove to the store at 9 PM to buy the polish!! – HN)

“Voila! Finis!”

So, I ask you, fellow Nuts, where does one find such friends? On the golf course, that’s where!

The Head Nut

#0001

P.S. The next time my toilet gets stopped up, do you think I should call him? I await your reply. – HN