Last Sunday it was a case of ‘drive for dough’ at the Port Shepstone Country Club in the Herald Longest Drive Challenge.
Well, actually, there were grand prizes like braais, watches and things worth a whopping R75 000, but totally the opposite to the late great Bobby Locke’s famous saying: “You drive for show, but putt for dough.”
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Many wrongly attribute that quote to a variety of American golfers, but it was our own Bobby – with his trademark knickerbockers, white shoes and stockings – who coined the phrase.
More than 100 seniors (men and women), juniors of all ages, development golfers and ‘silver foxes’ (over 60s) entertained a large crowd relaxing in an outdoor lounge overlooking the 18th fairway, sipping craft gin and beer.
With music pumping, the vibe was great and even non-golfers were coaxed by the lively commentators into having a few shots. There were the inevitable duffs, but some surprises too.
It was all recorded on a system called ‘Flight Scope’ which measured all sorts of aspects about one’s shot like club-head speed and even ball spin. Heck! Most golfers are just happy to get the ball moving forward.
Teeing up in front of an audience certainly gives one new respect for the professionals who do it week after week.
Called to try my luck, I was so nervous I could hardly put the ball on the tee. Luckily, I did not pull a ‘Berksie’, as this dreaded shot has become known in some golfing circles.
Friend and former DJ ‘Long John’ Berks was one of the celebrities who played in the very first Million Dollar at Sun City in the 80s.
He tells the story of when he was drawn to play with movie star Ernest Borgnine and golfing great Johnny Miller, who went on to win that inaugural event.
Berksie and ‘Ernie’ were nervous as hell before tee-off and they both headed to the pub for a few ‘relaxatives’… three or four ‘green tubes’ (beers).
“I’m still nervous,” said John. “Me too,” Ernie confessed.
So they chased the beers with a few brandies and Coke.
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Then onto the tee in front of TV cameras feeding the world and a packed stand.
Commentator Willem van Drimmelen: “And on the tee… South African radio personality… LONG JOHN BERKS!”
Marshals raised their boards: “Quiet please!”
Deathly hush…
John took a slow back swing… ‘swoosh’.
Berksie: “Do you know the camera replay showed that I missed that ball by six inches?”
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