Tuesday, January 10, 2006
More on Sarazen
According to the World Golf Hall of Fame, Gene Sarazen, despite his major accomplishments on the golf course, is credited with a major accomplishment off the golf course - inventing the modern sand wedge in 1931. 
Story has it, Sarazen noticed the way an airplane's tail moved in flight while taking flying lessons from none other than Howard Hughes and came up with the idea for improving the earlier-used, concave-faced sand wedge that was eventually banned by the USGA.
Another of Sarazen's notable innovations included the weighted practice club and, although he argued unsuccessfully, he tried to get golf officials to recognize the importance of enlarging the holes, believing it would help the game gain popularity based on more puts-made, equaling more fan interest in the game.
Perhaps Major League Baseball was listening to Gene Sarazen as they moved their fences in to accommodate more homeruns knowing the fans come to see the long ball.
Gene Sarazen turned pro in 1920 while still in his teens. He started winning majors and kept on winning right through 1935. He is credited for one of the most famous shots in golf history - the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" at the 1935 Masters - a final-round hole, out from 225 yards with a 4-wood for a double-eagle on the 15th hole which helped him seal his career grand slam.
Sarazen wasn't done yet. He remained an excellent golfer well after his PGA touring days ended winning PGA Seniors Championships twice and even scored a hole-in-one in the British Open at age 71.
Ouch! I hope I don't have to wait that long for my second ace.
See you on the 19th,
BC
Story has it, Sarazen noticed the way an airplane's tail moved in flight while taking flying lessons from none other than Howard Hughes and came up with the idea for improving the earlier-used, concave-faced sand wedge that was eventually banned by the USGA.
Another of Sarazen's notable innovations included the weighted practice club and, although he argued unsuccessfully, he tried to get golf officials to recognize the importance of enlarging the holes, believing it would help the game gain popularity based on more puts-made, equaling more fan interest in the game.
Perhaps Major League Baseball was listening to Gene Sarazen as they moved their fences in to accommodate more homeruns knowing the fans come to see the long ball.
Gene Sarazen turned pro in 1920 while still in his teens. He started winning majors and kept on winning right through 1935. He is credited for one of the most famous shots in golf history - the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" at the 1935 Masters - a final-round hole, out from 225 yards with a 4-wood for a double-eagle on the 15th hole which helped him seal his career grand slam.
Sarazen wasn't done yet. He remained an excellent golfer well after his PGA touring days ended winning PGA Seniors Championships twice and even scored a hole-in-one in the British Open at age 71.
Ouch! I hope I don't have to wait that long for my second ace.
See you on the 19th,
BC
