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Steve_ Shaffer

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Gene Littler RIP
« on: February 21, 2019, 11:39:50 AM »
US Open winner in 1961  at Oakland Hills and a US AM winner too.  29 PGA Tour wins.  " Gene the Machine" was known for his swing.  Won 5 times in 1959.

Also famous for the Shell's WWOG TV match with Byron Nelson at Pine Valley.

http://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/26013085/gene-littler-us-amateur-us-open-champion-dies-88
« Last Edit: February 21, 2019, 11:42:23 AM by Steve_ Shaffer »
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"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
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Jon Wiggett

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2019, 01:26:16 PM »
I hadn't seen this. Thanks for posting it Steve. He was one of the golfers that I grew up hearing all about. A sad day but a good memory.  :'( :)
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David_Tepper

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2019, 01:34:02 PM »
Gene Littler vs. Byron Nelson at Pine Valley, one of the earliest Shell's WWOG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNS6E9-NQPE&list=PL40E9F65E65B89F82
« Last Edit: February 21, 2019, 02:01:46 PM by David_Tepper »
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Ira Fishman

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2019, 01:35:26 PM »
I grew up watching him toward middle/end of his career.  Unbelievably sweet swing.  And he had the reputation of being a very nice guy.


Ira
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Pat Burke

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2019, 02:52:43 PM »
I was a fan of his growing up, loved his routine of practice swings flowing in to his golf swing.


I got to do an infomercial for a putter at San Diego CC that he was in, and spent a good part of an afternoon with him.


He didn’t disappoint, was an incredibly nice man.....was a great day
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Joe Leenheer

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2019, 03:34:31 PM »
Mr. Littler was a member at a club I worked at in SOCAL.


One particular day, he accidentally left his car keys on the shop counter so we decided to have a little fun.   As he made the turn (which the 10th hole of his day happen to be a Par 3), he found his car parked near the tee surrounded by signs informing players a Hole in One would win "Gene Littler's Car".


Without skipping a beat he said, "I know the membership here pretty well and I'm certain I won't be needing a ride home."




We also hosted a Celebrity event at the club.  During the Celebrity-Am round, one of the celebrities had to WD leaving a group empty handed.  Mr. Littler answered the bell and agreed to fill in.  I was the starter on the tee and introduced him to his group who obviously had NO IDEA who he was.  Then, in my best first tee voice I proclaimed...."now on the tee, winner of 29 PGA Tour events including the 1961 US Open, a 26 time Masters participant, a recipient of the Bob Jones Award and Ben Hogan Award, and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame....Gene "the machine" Littler.


I still can't decide if the AMs were more floored or if Mr. Littler was more embarrassed......he gave me a little smirk so I feel it was the former.


He was the definition of professional, a gentleman through and through, and a legend in every right.  RIP.
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Never let the quality of your game determine the quality of your time spent playing it.

Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2019, 10:37:38 PM »
I played in a SENIOR TOUR pro/am in 1985. I met Gene at the dinner. He didn't even need to come, but he made everyone with whom he talked feel special. I spent about fifteen minutes with him. I tried to get him to talk about himself. He kept asking about me and my family. He was one of the most unassuming man I had the privilege to meet. When I was a kid my pro told me about the kind of behavior a golfer is expected to have or he said, "How a gentleman and golfer behave." He was a gentleman and the consummate professional golfer.
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Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

JC Urbina

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2019, 10:50:29 PM »
Steve,


I was in San Diego last week and saw the news, I met Gene Littler while working on a course for Pete and Perry Dye at the Rancho Sante Fe Farms golf club.  Tommy Jacobs was the lead guy at the Farms and use to bring Gene by to see what we were up to.  Nice man and very humble.


Joe's description of their antics envolving Mr Littler were on point. 


He will be missed by a bevy of his fellow friends
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V. Kmetz

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2019, 12:06:01 AM »
I feel sentimental for his passing...he's kind of the last of the Mohecans of guys that played in the shadow of both Palmer and Nicklaus (and Player/Trevino too I suppose)...I think only Don January is really left...


Boy, when I think of that group it takes me back to the womb of even apprehending what golf was...when I finally attained that childhood privlege (well-earned, I tell you) of being allowing to take a crap on my own, I took to leafing through my father's stack of Golf magazines by the throne and those were the names... such cool names too...names that "sounded" like Golf and Celebrity...


Don January... Don Massengale... Miller Barber... Jerry Barber... Dow Finsterwald... Al Geiberger... Cary Middlecoff... Billy Casper... Orville Moody ... Lee Elder... Julius Boros ... Doug Ford... Charlie Sifford... Doug Sanders... now Gene Littler. 


Along with the wild attire of the early 70s and showman like Chi-Chi or dour guys like Bruce Crampton, my intitial apprehension of world class golf glamour was not unlike that towards the wrestlers of those years...Bruno Samartino, George Animal Steele


While later gaining the history and the mature understanding of who such guys were and how wonderful they must have been in their own right, I never really "saw" them play, but they were the atmosphere of finding the sport fascinating.
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"The tee shot must first be hit straight and long between a vast bunker on the left which whispers 'slice' in the player's ear, and a wilderness on the right which induces a hurried hook." -

James Bennett

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2019, 07:14:09 PM »
Viktor
you could add Gay Brewer to your list of interesting golfers.
RIP Gene Littler, you are a true legend.
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Bob; its impossible to explain some of the clutter that gets recalled from the attic between my ears. .  (SL Solow)

Tom Walsh

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2019, 09:30:18 PM »
I saw Gene Littler win in St. Louis at Norwood Hills in 1973. My first PGA tournament attendance and his first win after recovering from cancer surgery. He beat Bruce Crampton down the stretch. Crampton was pissed about the crowds and let everyone know it at the trophy presentation. Gene was as good as his nickname and St. Louis didn't get another tournament until the PGA in 1992. A good memory none the less. RIP
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"vado pro vexillum!"

Jim Hoak

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2019, 09:50:31 PM »
Victor and James, add Mike Souchak to that list of wonderful golfers in the '50's who played without a lot of fanfare.  One of the nicest men I was ever privileged to know!  And a wonderful golfer.
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James Bennett

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Re: Gene Littler RIP
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2019, 03:45:09 AM »
Jim Hoak - I wondered whether to mention the Canadian Mike Souchak (he was Canadian wasn't he?).
I remember something about 'Mike Souchak's socket' but I fear my next golf game will be destroyed for having mentioned that word.
James B
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Bob; its impossible to explain some of the clutter that gets recalled from the attic between my ears. .  (SL Solow)
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