EAST MEADOW, NY – Golf’s greatest gift is that if you look with the right kind of eyes, you can still see the game’s ghosts flitting about, still savor the ethos of altruistic sportsmanship, and not only walk in the footsteps of the greats, but emulate their virtue as well. That’s why spirits of fans and players alike are soaring at the Red Course at Eisenhower Park for the Champions Tour’s Commerce Bank Classic. It’s not just that eight players – including several well decorated champions – are within three shots of leader Loren Roberts. It’s that great golf, great people, and great fun are still the hallmarks of our beloved game.
Back in the roaring twenties, and long before Bristol, Connecticut was a twinkle in a Disney executive’s eye, Hempstead, New York was known as the “Sports Center of America.” Garden City Golf Club had already hosted several important national and international tournaments, and the club’s Spring Invitational was blossoming into one of the region’s great amateur events.
By 1926, nearby Salisbury Country Club – the precursor to Eisenhower Park – had been open for more than a decade and, with five Devereux Emmet designed golf courses, had grown into one of the great sporting venues of its age. Wispy cirrus clouds would flit their way capriciously across the powder blue expanse of open Hempstead sky on cheerful, sunny summer weekends. Golfers would walk their trolleys around four of the courses, while the touring professionals played the flagship design in some of the most prestigious tournaments in American golf.
Here, generations would meet and embrace: children watching the magicians of the game forged dreams of their own, imagining they were the Sunday heroes of the future; fathers and mothers would revel in the joy of watching the kids at that blissful age of innocence; and the elderly would reminisce about glory days long past with their beloved families. Salisbury played her role admirably: on one hand, a masterfully designed championship venue tested the mettle of the game’s hallowed icons, on the other, the country club offered the escape needed from the hustle and bustle of living and working in greater New York City.
That magical summer saw two epic battles the Met Open and the PGA Championship. Macdonald Smith and Gene Sarazen needed a 54-hole playoff to resolve the Met Open. Tied at 286 after 72 holes, they returned that Sunday and tied each other twice, first at 70, then at 72. It was only after Smith carded a scintillating 66 to Sarazen’s 70 that the match finally ended. Later that year, Walter Hagen defeated Leo Diegel 4&3 to win the PGA Championship. During these heady, halcyon days, Long Island was indeed America’s playground.
Dissolve the scene to seventy-two years later and, while the trappings are different, the spirit is the same. Golfers walk their way around the white and blue courses while locals watch their sporting heroes from long ago battle once more on the red.
Denis Watson made galleries roar all around the course; he was 5-under after twelve holes and surging into contention despite a bad knee. “I’m happy to finish at 6-under, despite a 5-5 finish” he said with relief. “I had a 78 in the pro-am, and broke my driver at the Senior PGA. But I’ve been working my tail off and, working with David Leadbetter, grooved my swing with a new one.” It shows. He fired a 4-under 67, then signed autographs for a good fifteen minutes, chatting amiably with fans. “What a great place and atmosphere” he stated earnestly. “Great place, great fans, great event.”
Indeed, savvy golf patrons ringed the ropes four deep for groups that had well decorated champions and popular figures, even if they were out of contention.
When 1988 PGA Championship winner Jeff Sluman slugged a 4-iron to three feet on the par-4sixth hole, you’d have thought we were back at Oak Hill on Sunday. Isao Aoki traded putting tips with people he’s never met before and will never see again between holes. Scott Simpson, just two shots behind friend and doubles teammate Roberts, playfully jibed Loren to the media. It’s just another fun day on the Champions Tour.
Perhaps the ethos was best exemplified by Gentle Ben Crenshaw. Although he was out of contention at 1-under, he still aw-shucksed and chuckled his way into the fans’ hearts. “What a great golf course. I wish I could build them like Devereux” the well-decorated and much-celebrated golf architect said in homage to the original designer.
“There are many terrific greens here: the par-3s at 13 at 16 have soft movements and subtle breaks” he explained in an almost reverential tone. “10 and 13 are also some of my favorites, the ledges and tiers are well molded. The course is well routed and the par-4s are long and difficult. They’ve lengthened the course, but it’s a great test of golf.”
He finished by explaining that while some of Devereux Emmet’s work has been changed over time, “it’s beautiful and still looks natural.” He was happy to explain to inquiring fans that he is trying to emulate such a natural feel at two of his new courses, Clear Creek in Tahoe and The Dormy Club in North Carolina.
As Ben retired for the day, the last groups finished and play drew to a close with the leaderboard crowded: Fulton Allem, Eduardo Romero, defending champion Lonnie Nielson and new crowd favorite, previously unknown Gene “Gene Gene, the Dancing Machine” Jones, a Monday qualifier, all were within three shots of Roberts.
“I just want to hit the first fairway tomorrow” Roberts explained, highlighting how his round started roughly and set the tone for a front nine struggle. “Also, I started with a three-putt bogey. After that, for a while, I couldn’t get anything going. I couldn’t gather momentum and it’s hard for me to stay patient” Despite some good looks at birdie and seemingly hitting good putts, his round didn’t start to heat up until 11. But birdies at 11 and 14 off wedge approaches that finished three feet and six feet away respectively buoyed him to a 32 on the back.
“I was able to rally on the back. Tomorrow, it’s fairways and greens, try to be under par on the front and see what happens” he finished with a smile, before going out to the range to hit balls and find Scott Simpson for a return jibe. “He’s my partner!” he exclaimed with mock offense. “And he’s givin’ me the mojo?! I’m gonna go straighten him out” he finished as the press room dissolved in laughter.
With that, the patrons and players went home, just as a passing thunderstorm groaned and strained before expiring in time for the county fair fireworks display. The same chairs that fans used to watch the golf were simply turned a few degrees for a better view of the bursts of green and gold high in the night sky. As one, the crowd cheered and exclaimed with delight. It’s seventy-two years later and – same as always – the more things change, the more they stay the same. Great place, great people, great golf: that’s the Champions Tour.
