Ben Hogan -- The George Coleman Palm Beach Estate Footage
It's Friday night at Joe Duffer's house. He's tired, but the wife's restless. Let's listen in...
She: Honey, it's Friday night, and I'm thinking about a movie.
He: Naah, Sweetheart. It's been a long week, and I'm beat.
She: I understand, but I've found one I think you'd really like to see. It stars Ben Hogan.
He: Really?! Is it Follow The Sun, the one with Glenn Ford where Hogan plays himself in a cameo? I've seen that one a dozen times.
She: No, we're not talking Hollywood here...or any other professional job. This is a private tape. It was shot with home movie equipment at the Palm Beach estate of a friend of his, George Coleman. He was a rich oil man and former president of Seminole Golf Club where Ben used to tune up for The Masters each year. Ben was older here -- a Lion in Winter thing. And it's a copy of a copy of a copy -- if you get my drift -- but it's still great stuff.
He: Wow! Where did you get it?
She: I could tell you, Darling, but then I'd have to kill you.
He: Never mind.
She: Thought you'd understand. Anyway, the video basically has three parts. The first part, they're doing the set-up and stuff, and Ben does a few swings for the camera. At first you don't see the ocean -- that's the sound you hear throughout the tape and it's where the balls are landing! -- but then there's a down-the-line view, and you get the picture real quick.
He: Cool!
She: And then comes the second part...this is where Ben does a slow motion of his own full swing. I don't mean a normal swing in slow motion...I mean he physically demonstrates his swing at a super-reduced speed. He hits the ball about ten feet.
He: Whoa! Front view or down-the-line?
She: Both.
He: That sounds really exciting!
She: I'll say. We call this the "O-h-h Ben!" part of the tape. It was hard to maintain the PG-13 rating.
He: I can hardly wait! And the third part?
She: Well...that's the part I swear the guy who wrote that yellow book you're always reading must have seen. What do you call it? The Golfing Machine?
He: Yeah, that's it. Homer Kelley's book. But why would you say he must have seen the movie?
She: Because Ben demonstrates his grip and pressure points. Especially that right forefinger thing you're always talking about.
He: The #3 Pressure Point? GeemaneeChristmas! That's not even in Five Lessons!
She: Well, brace yourself, Big Guy, it's in this movie.
He: Honeybun, tonight is Movie Night at The Duffers. Let's get it on!
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