subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sun, Jul 05 2009 

Published June 07, 2008 08:42 pm -

Hill tops long list of golfers Marshall Smith has helped



If you ask Marshall Smith which of the touring pros with whom he has worked over the years had the best swing, he doesn’t hesitate.

“It was Dave Hill,” the Miami, Okla., golf coach said while taking a break from a series of lessons the other day at Peoria Ridge Golf Club near Miami.

That might seem a surprising choice, given the caliber of the players Smith has been associated with.

What made Hill’s swing superior to all those others — including Chi Chi Rodriguez, Gary Player, Mickey Wright and Craig Stadler — in Marshall’s eyes?

“Dave had the fundamentals,” Smith said. “He was by far the best iron player I’ve ever seen. He stayed on his right side longer than anyone, and he always set the club at the top for a one or two count, or whatever it took for him. It was just a beautiful swing that repeated and repeated.”

If the slightly built Hill had a weakness, it was a lack of length off the tee, Smith said. Still, Dave won 13 times on the PGA Tour, won the 1969 Vardon Trophy for scoring average, was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1969, 1973 and 1977 and had a solid Senior Tour career.

Dave also could be controversial. He was plain-spoken and straightforward. If you didn’t want to hear his answer to your question, then you shouldn’t have asked. Despite his reputation for frankness and ruffling feathers, Hill was “nothing but a gentleman at all times,” said Smith.

Dave’s brother, Mike, was an interesting contrast. On the PGA Tour, he was considered as the other Hill brother. But on the 50-and-over circuit, Mike and Lee Trevino paired to dominate the Legends of Golf, the tournament that gave birth to the Senior PGA Tour, and he developed into one of the circuit’s premier players.

The golfer with whom Smith worked longest and had the greatest success was Rodriguez. Chi Chi once said that he didn’t really have a swing. But he was an exceptional striker of the ball, always working shots from right to left or left to right and high or low. Few players had hands as gifted as his.

“He had a tendency to get a little too loose with his swing,” Smith said. “But he was a good listener and had a lot of natural talent.”

Smith and Rodriguez were together for 22 of Chi Chi’s Senior Tour wins.

The “Z Man,” Walt Zembriski, a high-steel worker who credits Marshall for making him a millionaire on the Seniors Tour, is Smith’s pick as his best putter.

“He didn’t hit the ball far off the tee, but he was a solid player, especially after we worked on his short game,” Smith said.

Marshall considers Stadler, with whom Marshall still works on occasion, the best driver among his pupils, and Dave Hill, as mentioned, was the best iron player.

During his 50-plus years as a golf instructor, Smith estimates he has worked with 75 to 100 top amateurs and pros.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story





monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Click here!!

We Blog!
We Pod Cast!

We Twitter!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!

TV LIsitngs



Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!
Featured Jobs

PCA 'S AND CNA'S
PCAs and CNAs In Joplin and surrounding areas. Call 417-206-7878....>MORE

LIBRARY SPECIALIST
Crowder College Lee Library, 25 hours a week. For complete information, see www.crowder.edu, employment section, or call...>MORE

GROWING DENTAL PRACTICE
looking for experienced Dental Assistant. Computer knowledge a must. Resumes: 2710 Picher, Joplin, MO 64804. Deadline by...>MORE

UP IN FLAMES
WOOD FIRE PIZZA AND PASTA now hiring MANAGERS, SERVERS, BARTENDER Apply 1612 S. Madison, Webb City, behind Subway...>MORE

LIFEGUARDS

all shifts available, Apply in person
at either Joplin Family Y location.
www.joplinfamilyy.org.
...>MORE

ACCOUNTANT
Local Construction firm needing full charge accountant, duties include general ledger, accounts receivable/billing, acco...>MORE

CHILD CARE WORKER
CHILD CARE WORKER Part-time position working with children 0-6 at Discovery Center childcare center. Day and evening h...>MORE

T EACHER-FULL TIME
TEACHER- Full-time Position with benefits working with children 0-6 at Discovery Center child care center. Position requ...>MORE

GROWING DENTAL PRACTICE
looking for experienced Dental Assistant. Computer knowledge a must. Resumes: 2710 Picher, Joplin, MO 64804. Deadline by...>MORE

EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKER
EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKER/ EMERGENCY ROOM ADVOCATE Part-time position in women’s treatment/ trauma program. This positio...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

2005 HONDA SHADOW VLX 600
2,000 miles, color white, $3950. (417)673-3860....>MORE

NEED 2 DRIVERS
with 3 years plus $ miles with turn arounds back to Joplin, MO. Home often. 417-325-7320....>MORE

YAMAHA 1999 ROAD STAR
Yamaha, 1999 Road Star 1600 excellent condition, less than 10,000 miles, saddle bags and highway lamps. $3500. Cell phon...>MORE

FORD 2000 1 TON
Ford, 2000 1 ton, 4X4, 6 speed, duals, flatbed, 7.3 diesel, $6800; 1998 Bucket truck, 55’ Altec. 417-358-8636, 483-9700....>MORE

LEHMAN TRIKE
LEHMAN TRIKE, 2007, excellent condition, rider has health problems. $20,500. Serious inquires only. (417)529-9554....>MORE

1932 FORD
5 window, coupe, glass body rolling chassis, torch thrust, 2 wheels, etc, $18,000. (417)781-1932, or 417-437-9942...>MORE

1957 CHEVROLET
2 door post, project, rust free Texas car, no motor or transmission, good Missouri title, $7500.
Bob 417-781-1932
...>MORE

FORD 2001 ESCORT
FORD, 2001 Escort, 4 cylinder, automatic, good condition. $1800. (417)437-5682....>MORE

1990 GMC HIGH SIERRA
short wide bed, 2 wheel drive, V-8, power windows/locks, air, CD, tinted windows, chrome wheels. $2,000 or best offer. (...>MORE

MAZDA, 2000
B3000, 4x2, V6, automatic, high miles, $2150. (417)843-2613....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

HANDYMAN SPECIAL
Handyman Special, only $500 down, owner financing, 11% interest, $345/ month, priced at $23,900. 1120 W. 12th Street (41...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
OPEN HOUSE 7/5/09 1:00-4:00 2281 sq. ft. Updated kitchen 4 br + bonus room 2 living areas Metal roof. Stapleton school ...>MORE

LAKE FRONT MOBILE
Lake Front Mobile Grove, OK 1972 14 X 46 1 Bedroom, 1 bath lake front mobile home weekend getaway. Complete with furn...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
405 Keeney Street, Carl Junction. Sunday July 12 • 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
This home is owned by Carl Junction R-1 School Di
...>MORE

2-3 BR
Basement, newly remodeled, oak cabinets, nice wood floors, privacy fence. $79,200. 2525 N. Ozark. (417)483-0900....>MORE

INVESTORS OR START-UP
INVESTORS OR START-UP 1217 Central. $67500 2 bedroom, 1 bath, very nice,room to build more. See more at homesbyowner.co...>MORE

OWNER FINANCE
OWNER FINANCE. $650 down, $435 monthly. 201 N. Washington, Joplin, 3 BR, garage, Full price $32,500. 417-359-4113. ...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

INDEPENDENCE DAY BLOW OUT SALE

20% off all grocery items
20% off all cleaning supply items
20% off all refrigerators, dishwashers, deep
...>MORE

NASCAR
Indy Brick Yard 400, 7/26/09,
2 at $90. 417-483-1460.
...>MORE

LAB PUPPIES
lab puppies, AKC 1 chocolate male 1 chocolate female 1 black male 1 black female Master, senior, and junior hunters on ...>MORE

24' BAJA OUTLAW
24’ BAJA Outlaw beautiful closed bow boat, 454 Mag, all options, excellent condition, low hours with 2005 trailer, $16,0...>MORE

WANTED; 2006 OR NEWER BUMPER TRAILER
WANTED: 2006 or newer 28-29’ bumper hitch travel trailer with slide, in excellent condition. (417)235-3402....>MORE

MINIATURE DACHSHUND PUPPIES
6 weeks old, $100. (417)781-4099....>MORE

ANTIQUE RADIO
ANTIQUE Radio; hanging lamps; china cabinet; carnival glass; Singer featherweight machine; 2 ladies and men diamond ring...>MORE

COLLEGE STUDENT
COLLEGE STUDENT LOOKING FOR FEMALE ROOMMATE
I am looking for a female roommate with Christian values to share my du
...>MORE

LOST: 10 YEAR OLD YELLOW LAB

Goldie has on a flea collar, lost 6/28 between Oak Grove and Tipton Ford. PLEASE call 417-438-2828.
...>MORE

AMPLIFIER
1953 Gibson BHR, $250. (417)437-9942....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition