Titanic thompson and amarillo slim would have run from a game with marty stanovich, said evel knievel, the daredevil motorcycle jumper and one of stanovichs close friends. One man stood out among them all, the best of the best of the road gamblers. I brought up the match between titanic thompson and byron nelson. Mar 14, 2011 in the dreary golf parenting business today, theres no couple like scott and judy thompson of coral springs, fla. If even half the stories about titanic thompson were true, he couldnt have lived to be 82 years old. As the story goes, when he studied the photographs of himself he noticed a flaw in his swing, tried to correct it and lost his swing completely. Titanic thompson earned his nickname from a life spent gambling because titanic could sink. Golf and gambling go together like irons and woods, caddies and bags, feet and footjoys.
Thompson traveled the country wagering at cards, dice games, golf, shooting, billiards, horseshoes and proposition bets of his own devising. Titanic thompson, aka alvin thomas gambler and killer. Several years ago one of my pupils suggested that i should record my teaching methods for future golfers. Alvin clarence thomas november 30, 1893 may 19, 1974 was an american gambler, golfer and hustler better known as titanic thompson. Gambling legend wasnt always a winner his name was alvin thomas. Titanic thompson is a character that you need to meet. Most of the players on the top golf tours around the world spend a considerable amount of time working on equipment fitting because it can play such a big role in the outcome of a tournament. His usual con was to demonstrate complete incompetence on the golf course for little bets to lure his victims into bigger bets which he would ultimately win. Ky laffoon, titanic thompson tough to beat unless they. Kevin cook skillfully explores the legend of alvin clarence thomas, a. The way john lardner described him, titanic was a force to be reckoned with and easily could have stepped from the script of guys and dolls. What made norman so special was a selftaught short swing that resulted in straight, accurate shots. Identify yourselves to each other by means of the code words titanic thompson.
Apr 02, 2012 the gamblers and the women could tell you that titanic thompson s dark eyes could be gullible, childlike, confused, bemused, charming, magnetic, penetrating, predatory, allknowing and scary when need be. Teen phenoms, mad parents, swing science and the future of golf, 2008, etc. During the golden age of golf, many of the sports greatest players never went. Clarence doc yockey was one of the more fascinating characters who frequented golf courses in this region back in the 1950s and 1960s. The legendary golf hustler titanic thompson attended the wedding and, during a golf outing at our ninehole club, gave a tendollar tip to his caddie, a local kid who, once hed become an old man, sometimes played golf with me.
In fact, ruth was once the most famous golfer in america. Your feet are your only contact with the ground and peter believes they are one of the most important aspects of the entire game. Jun 04, 2015 golf cons titanic thompson played golf his whole life. Continue reading about golf swing secrets of the greats. Asked if he would ever turn pro, titanic thompson replied, i could not afford the cut in pay.
We are uniquely situated to partner with you for installations and removals of offshore structures. As a major witness at the 1929 arnold rothstein murder trial in new york city alvin clarence thomas was asked how hes making a living. Alvin clarence thomas november 30, 1893 may 19, 1974 was an american gambler, golfer and hustler better known as titanic thompson thompson traveled the country wagering at cards, dice games, golf, shooting, billiards, horseshoes and proposition bets of his own devising. Suspecting a trick, the man demanded an x be scratched on the rock. Jun 24, 2016 he had a swing so sound and repeatable that a robot used to test clubs is known as the iron byron. Inspired by his new york times weekly column on par, bill pennington has created a delightful. Thompson traveled the country wagering at cards, dice games, golf, shooting. Even without a major and only two wins this year, shed get my vote. If you struggle with getting long at the top of your swingoverswingingyoull want to pay close attention to this weeks tour pro analysis michael thompson overcame some tough conditions last weekend to beat a starstudded field at the honda classic. Ti would play golf his whole life, well into his retirement. His father abandoned his mother just after alvin was born, and she remarried a farmer who lived in nearby arkansas. Become the next titanic thompson without any tour he played my home course, im told. The hardcover of the harvey penicks little red book. If youve ever wondered what good upper bodylower body separation looks like or how to achieve it, this analysis of lexi thompson s golf swing may be just what your swing needs.
One of thompsons bets involved an ability to hit a golf drive 500 yards, provided he chose the course and the hole. Funny as well as educational, how to win at golf is well worth extended study. Please inquire about golf memberships by calling 860 9239591 today. After this incredible run, guldahl was offered a writting contract in 1939 to pen a guide to golfing. From an era when people would never welsh on a bet, titanic cheated on cards, played golf like a pro, threw bottle caps over 2 story buildings, married a few teenagers and killed 4. My swing was homemade all the way and when i was playing well, i always played with a lot of confidence. Wanna bet the greatest true stories about gambling on golf, from titanic thompson to tiger woods don wade on. In 1965, titanic bankrolled the young raymond floyd in a mano a mano against lee trevino, then an unknown texas caddie and lockerroom boy with a slashing swing.
Golf cons titanic thompson played golf his whole life. Titanic thompson, was a gambler and golf hustler who died at age 82 on. Lexi thompson comes from four shots back to take the title at the 2015 meijer lpga classic. Keeping with tradition, well soon name golfs player of the year for 2017. He had a swing so sound and repeatable that a robot used to test clubs is known as the iron byron. I know leon well i grew up around him and many of the stories in the book i was a eye witness to including a couple of alvin c thomas ones aka titanic thompson. Titanic thompson, one of americas most notorious gamblers, was born as alvin clarence thomas in missouri in 1893. Apr 17, 2015 the main character, augie based on flatt, is a young amateur golfer of limited opportunities who gets drawn into a world of highstakes golf matches by a titanic thompson esque character named riverboat, played by christopher mcdonald shooter mcgavin in happy gilmore. Turnkey offshore project services tops owns and operates the db swing thompson and is a full service decommissioning company serving the gulf of mexico. After his time in the army titanic came in contact with the golf sport.
Wanna bet the greatest true stories about gambling on golf. Five summer mustread books for golfers orlando sentinel. Some of the tales about titanic thompson are even true. He saw a man on a driving range, and asked for a swing. Titanic thompson was a character that lived through the early 1900s in america playing and betting on pool, golf, cards, darts and pretty much anything else if he could be sure of winning. The book is a fascinating glimpse into a world from a bygone era. If youve ever wondered what good upper bodylower body separation looks like or how to achieve it, this analysis of lexi thompsons golf swing may be just what your swing needs as you likely know, thompson recently became the youngest winner ever on the lpga tour. In the dreary golfparenting business today, theres no couple like scott and judy thompson of coral springs, fla. Hogan also said, only a fool would play him in a game he suggested. Nobody knows how to make the side action sizzle like golfers and nobody knows golf like beloved author and longtime golf digest editor don.
Titanic thompson, gambler and golf hustler extraordinaire, in his new book. That confidence came from hard work on the driving range and i havent done that lately. He bet on anything as long as he knew he was going to win. Titanic thompson, was a gambler and golf hustler who died at age 82 on may 19, 1974, but whose outlaw career really flourished, as kevin cook records with breezy. It was on one of these trips that ti first encountered golf. Drive for show and putt for dough memoirs of a golf hustler by leon crump i have ties to that book in fact my old man is in that book and our home course. Kevin cooks biography tells the tale of the gentleman conman who travelled america making and losing more money in a lifetime then most could dream about. Gary koch breaks down her golf swing and what makes her swing successful.
In the early twenties, titanic went to chicago where he met nicholas nick the greek dandalos, americas most famous gambler at the time. He was a talented player and could play right handed and left handed. Golf is a hard enough game as it is, so there is no sense in making it harder by playing with equipment that is illmatched to your swing. In years past id talked to both ben hogan and byron nelson about titanic. Titanic thompson, was a gambler and golf hustler who died at age 82 on may 19, 1974, but whose outlaw career really. Even as a young man in south africa, i had heard of the legendary titanic thompson. His first shot went past three hundred yards, a huge distance for a beginner. In his new movie, the squeeze, jastrow relates a story based on the reallife experience of a man named keith flatt. Titanic thompson, aka alvin thomas gambler and killer headstuff.
You weigh the options, benefits, decide if the drawbacksrequirements are that bad. The internet and particularly you tube seemed to be the way forward and a window to my teaching methods to any golfer in the world. Lexi thompson wins 2015 meijer lpga classic golf channel. Oct 06, 2010 titanic thompson is a character that you need to meet. Wanna bet the greatest true stories about gambling on. His usual con was to demonstrate complete incompetence on the golf course for little bets to lure his victims into bigger bets which he would. This was probably continue reading about golfs ultimate hustler titanic thompson. Curtis, 18, is a freshman at lsu on a fullride golf scholarship. Norman, thompson stories would make compelling movies. The gamblers and the women could tell you that titanic thompsons dark eyes could be gullible, childlike, confused, bemused, charming, magnetic, penetrating, predatory, allknowing and scary when need be.
Raceway golf club thompson golf courses thompson ca. Nov 27, 2010 gambling legend wasnt always a winner his name was alvin thomas. Unplayable lies the only golf book youll ever need by dan. Born in a log cabin in the ozarks, alvin titanic thompson 18921974 traveled with his golf clubs, a. As you likely know, thompson recently became the youngest winner ever on the lpga tour. Raceway golf club is open to the public, located in thompson, ct. We should hand the hardware to this months cover subject, lexi thompson, right now. Want to post a video of your swing and get some feedback but have questions about shooting the video.
He not only knew which end of the golf club to swing. If he was that long back then, i wonder what he would do now. Having only ever taught on a one to one basis it did represent a challenge. The regular rate in 1938 was 35 cents a loop, 60 cents for two bags. Nov 21, 2016 titanic thompson, one of americas most notorious gamblers, was born as alvin clarence thomas in missouri in 1893. Thomas golf, the trusted brand for custom golf clubs with. Each said he possessed a fine golf swing and was a hell of a player. From an era when people would never welsh on a bet, titanic cheated on cards, played golf like a pro, threw bottle caps over 2 story buildings, married a few teenagers and killed 4 men. He not only knew which end of the golf club to swing but how to encourage wouldbe gamblers into taking hefty bets against him and his most famous partners on the golf course, ky laffoon and titanic thompson. Enter terry jastrow, seventime emmywinning producerdirector, with an extensive pedigree in televised golf. At age 16, alvin titanic so called because he sank everybody he gambled with thompson 18921974 bet a man his dog could fetch a stone he threw into a river. Thompson, golf hustler, card cheat, crack shot and master of the prop bet.
The greatest true stories about gambling on golf, from titanic thompson to. This fantastic dvd will show you how and why you must position your feet in a certain way for maximum benefit throughout the swing. Top 5 greatest golfers youve never heard of from the. Each said he possessed a fine golf swing and was a. Unplayable lies the only golf book youll ever need by. Titanic thompson earned his nickname from a life spent gambling. To improve your golf swing you need to work on exercises that will enhance the stability in the lower body and increase mobility of the upper body. While that is a possible drive, its a very difficult one so of course he found.
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