By Bill Harmon, Director of Instruction
Starting today I will be sending “random thoughts from the Masters.”
En route to Augusta! Going to the Masters brings back many memories. My father, Claude Harmon, won the Masters in 1<948 as a club professional. He was on his way from his winter position of head golf professional at Seminole GC in Palm Beach, Florida, to his summer job at Winged Foot GC in New York, when he stopped to play in his 3rd Masters. He earned his way into the 1946 Masters by getting to the semi-finals in the 1945 PGA Championship. Because he was a club pro, it was his first tour event of the year. What many didn’t know was that he was playing golf everyday for a month with Ben Hogan at Seminole. Most days they played an unusual game: every time you missed a fairway or a green in regulation it cost you $10! Play that game with the great Ben Hogan, and you better learn how to play! That season, my father was holding his own in that game; by the time he arrived at the Masters, he was feeling pretty good about his game. After rounds 70-70-69, he was leading the Masters going into the last round. For reasons I’m not sure of, it was customary at that time for the leader to be paired with the great Byron Nelson. Although my dad had played many times with Nelson, it was still a little nerve wracking to be paired with one of the games all-time greats. My dad put the event away when he birdied 6, 7, and eagled 8! He stood on the 10th tee with an eight shot lead! Playing the back nine in a conservative 38, he finished 5 shots ahead of Dr Cary Middlecoff, 7 shots ahead of Ben Hogan, and 9 shots ahead of Sam Snead. At the time of his victory, I wasn’t even born yet! He used to joke that I was minus two when he won at Augusta and that was the last time I was 2 under par. The way I play now, I’m beginning to believe him! So, as you can imagine, the Masters has always been special to the Harmon family.
I had the great fortune of caddying for Jay Haas in approximately 10 Masters. He had many high finishes and many highlights! He played with Jack in the 3rd round in 1986 and also played with him the first two rounds of Jack’s last Masters. It was a very emotional experience being “inside the ropes” for Jack’s last 36 holes at Augusta!
Some of my greatest memories were seeing my dad every year when I was caddying. He always came back for the Champions Dinner every year and would spend a couple days sitting on the range wearing his Green Jacket, watching all the “young players” practice. He would always needle me about my white caddy jumpsuit, saying, “you take care of your white tuxedo and I’ll take care of the Green Jacket!!!” To this day, everyday that I go to the Masters, I always go to the area where the permanent trophy is displayed, pay my respects to my dad, and look at his name on the trophy. Not many kids get to do that!
It is also part of the family memories that brother Butch has taught Tiger and Phil at the time of some of their victories at Augusta. When my brother Dick was alive, we all rented a house together and just had a fantastic time.
The last few years have also been special because I get to watch Bill Haas play. This will be his third Masters and it is a special thrill to walk with Jay and Jan Haas as they watch Bill play. The Masters is even more special to the Haas family. “Uncle” Bob Goalby won the event in 1968, Jays brother Jerry played in the Masters in the 1980′s and Jan Haas’s brother, Dillard Pruitt, played in 2 Masters in the 1990′s! Five generations!
As you can imagine, Robin and I are in for a special week. Our week will be made more special by the fact that the Harmon Recovery Foundation hosts our big auction item from our fundraiser “a week at the Masters”! We rent a beautiful home, provide the tickets, drivers, food, and nightly entertainment with players, caddies, and TV personalities gracing us with their presence at the dinners! We kick off Wednesday night with Fluff, Bones, Joe LaCava (Tiger’s caddy), John Wood (Hunter Mahan’s caddy), and Jay Haas! Robin and I very touched this week because our fundraiser is going to allow us to donate approximately $250,000 to organizations that treat our veterans coming home from various wars with alcohol and substance abuse issues. We feel like we have won “our Masters!!” Ok, enough for now! Will be checking in everyday!
Bill,
You have a wealth of some of the greatest golf stories. I hope you have them recorded somewhere as you are the Harmon that tells them best. You need to write a book!
Russell
Bill:
I learned more about the nitty gritty of the Masters after reading your first “Random Thoughts” than I ever knew before……..Great Stuff…..I can hardly wait for the next installment!
Nat