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Venturi back on old stamping ground
By Dennis Knight
Mercury News
07/31/2008 01:35:36 AM PDT
U.S. team captain Ken Venturi holds up the Presidents Cup after it was presented by PGA Commissioner Timothy Finch during the closing ceremonies in Gainesville, Va., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)
He's 77 years old and six years removed from his job as the lead golf analyst at CBS, but Ken Venturi still has his A game.
Venturi was the life of the party Saturday at San Jose Country Club, regaling members with stories from his glory days and showing he hasn't lost his deft touch around the green.
The former San Jose State golfer gained fame as the winner of the 1964 U.S. Open, where he battled dehydration in a memorable 36-hole final at Congressional Country Club.
He returned to one of his favorite courses Saturday, giving a short-game clinic at the private club, which was his home away from home during his days as a Spartan.
Venturi recalled a tournament at San Francisco's Harding Park where he was teamed with a top amateur player. Venturi aced the eighth hole with a 3-iron and watched as a woman ran onto
the green, pulled his ball out of the cup and started dancing excitedly.
"Who was that dummy who took your ball out of the hole?" the amateur asked Venturi.
"I think that's my mother," Venturi replied, adding that the amateur nearly whiffed his ensuing tee shot.
As the members gathered around the fifth hole Saturday, Venturi demonstrated an array of shots along with some tips.
He said many of today's players rely on just one club around the green, while he chooses from among six - always repeating the same swing.
He showed off his precise short game - dropping ball after ball at perfect increments across the green.
A member brought out the sand wedge Venturi had used at the 1964 U.S. Open win, which is on display at the club - and Venturi quipped "I've been looking all over for that."
San Jose State recruit Jay Myers watched with interest, then started practicing on the green himself.
"I guess I'm going to have to stop using just my sand wedge now," Myers said while lipping out a 25-foot chip.
Venturi said former San Jose Country Club pro Eddie Duino gave him "carte blanche" to use the club facilities during his time playing for the Spartans.
"One thing my dad always said to me was to never forget where you came from," said Venturi, a San Francisco native who lives in Southern California. "That's
why I'm here today. The people from San Jose Country Club did a lot for me and I'm honored to be back."
Reprinted with permission
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