Golf's Iron Horse by John Sabino

Author:John Sabino
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2017-01-24T05:00:00+00:00

Ralph’s second appearance on the Saturday Evening Post’s cover. (Photo courtesy of Curtis Publishing)

In April, Ralph’s former caddie, Gene Sarazen, scored a two on the par-5 15th hole at the Augusta National Invitation Tournament. In only its second year, it was not yet known as the Masters; Grantland Rice would be the first to use that term to describe the tournament several years in the future. Gene’s double-eagle was the “shot heard ’round the world” and helped him eventually win the tournament. Nineteen-thirty-five was also the first year the tournament was played in its current configuration, the two sets of nine holes playing in reverse order from when Ralph teed it up there.

Writing in the New York Sun in July 1935, George Trevor nicknamed Ralph “Golf’s Lou Gehrig.” Trevor had a knack for giving out monikers and was the first writer to use the term “impregnable quadrilateral,” when referring to Bobby Jones’s achievement winning the British and U.S. Opens and Amateurs in 1930.

The red-haired wonder appeared again on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on August 31, 1935. This time, the illustration emphasized his ruddy cheeks; he is shown wearing a multi-colored tam-o’-shanter and a white dress shirt with a plaid tie. In his left hand he is holding a golf club and a scorecard and—to the delight of his employer—in his right hand, a pencil. His right hand is held in the air with his index finger extended, as if gesturing to another golfer, making a point. After its publication, Eagle sent a memorandum to all their salesmen trumpeting the free publicity they were receiving and encouraging them to use the magazine to help sell more.

Kennedy’s appearance on the cover didn’t please everyone. In one case, an irritable (though well fed) reader from the Bluegrass State sent the magazine’s publisher a neatly typed, well-written letter at its headquarters in Philadelphia, dated August 27, 1935:

Gentlemen:

Kindly cancel my subscription to the Saturday Evening Post immediately. It is with extreme regret that I make this request as I have been a subscriber to your very excellent magazine since 1867, and after our many years of pleasant relations I feel it is only fair to offer an explanation for my action.

This morning, while enjoying a light breakfast of half a honeydew, cereal, fried eggs, mush, bacon, fried apples, waffles, honey, and coffee, the postman delivered your magazine dated August 31st. On looking at the cover I pushed aside my fifth cup of coffee and grabbed for my bottle of gin. I wish you to understand that I am a teetotaler, but during the long years of prohibition (due to a severe stomach ailment) I have been compelled—under advice of my physician—to take a modicum of gin before the evening meal. You will understand my extreme agitation. My faintness forced me to imbibe this devil’s brew even before finishing my medium morning meal. The reason why I was so overcome is this: I am not only a Deacon in the Synagogue but also a member of the Louisville Board of Education and stand for honesty, sobriety, morality, etc.

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