Wed, Dec 03 2008
|
|
Published December 17, 2006 12:13 am - Jack James was a perfectionist in a game in which perfection is unattainable. A tenacious, even fiery competitor, he might mutter and fume over a missed putt that he thought he should have made or an errant approach. Clair Goodwin: James was one of area’s gretest golfers By Clair Goodwin
Chip Shots Jack James was a perfectionist in a game in which perfection is unattainable. A tenacious, even fiery competitor, he might mutter and fume over a missed putt that he thought he should have made or an errant approach. But he snapped his concentration back into place by the time he walked to the next tee or to his next shot. James’ rotund frame was a fixture at Schifferdecker Municipal Golf Course during the 1960s. His strong practice habits honed him into one of the better golfers around. “He was tough,” says Frank Jacobs. “He was a great putter and chipper, and he had an excellent short game.” I considered Jack one of the best of what I call the “gamers,” players who get the best out of their games even when they aren’t striking the ball well. But then James normally struck the ball well, particularly in the late 1960s when he built and solidified his reputation as a top-level player. James, who died last week, told me in a 1986 interview before his induction into the Joplin Golf Hall of Fame that he had a practice routine that he followed religiously. “I used to practice every day,” he said. “I would get up early in the morning and hit 100 balls on No. 13 (at Schifferdecker). I’d hit a wedge, then an 8-iron, 6-iron, 3-iron, 3-wood and then the driver. Then I would hit all the balls back to the shag bag. I’d play 13, 14 and then go up to the clubhouse to chip and putt. When I was really going, there wasn’t a weak spot in my game, not a weak club in my bag. ... The more I practiced, the slower my swing got.” That dedication paid off. In 1968, James won the Ozark Amateur, then the premier medal-play tournament in the area. It was not only his biggest victory, but probably his toughest. He finished in a downpour that created puddles on the 18th green and made putting treacherous. Jack walked off the 17th green of the final round with a two-shot lead. The wind began to blow and a hard, drenching rain began falling. Within a few seconds, everyone was soaked. Spectators ran for cover. The 18th on the old Schifferdecker course was a 215-yard, slightly uphill par three. James hit his four-wood left of the green, about pin high, and then chipped to within four feet. “I had to putt through water,” James said, smiling at the memory. “I two-putted for my bogey.” It gave him a final round 65 and a two-day total of 133. It was good enough for a one-stroke win over Harold (Sonny) Henson. Always at home at Schifferdecker, Jack finished second in the Ozark in 1966 and 1967 before breaking through in 1968. Among his other victories were the 1967 Joplin Golf Club Championship and the 1968 city match play championship. He wouldn’t guess how many tournaments he had won around the area, but there were quite a few. He was a regular competitor on the Joplin Horton Smith Cup team after moving here in 1959. Ironically, Jack didn’t tee it up very often in the Missouri State Amateur, but he had quite a few brushes on the golf course with those who had won or would win that event. James grew up playing golf in Lebanon with Jim Patton, who would go on to win the 1966 Missouri Amateur. In the early 1950s, he lost in the semifinals of the Springfield City Championship to Bill Stewart, the eventual winner and twice a Missouri amateur titleist. In 1958, he was co-medalist with Jimmy Jackson in the state amateur at Kansas City Country Club, losing a chance at solo medalist when he bogeyed the final three holes after being told that he had it wrapped up. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Columns section
Mike Pound: Recital dancers may make playoffs Wally Kennedy: Intersection ready for spring work Zach Ewing: Some cures for your fall-sports hangover |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |