Stalking Hogan - Those Crazy Canucks Are Always Up To Something

It is pretty widely known that in the 1950's and 60's Ben Hogan used to prep for the Masters at Seminole in North Palm Beach, Florida. His good friend Claude Harmon was the pro there in the winter back in those days. Anyway it appears that back in the early sixties a 4-some of young Canadian pros and admitted Hogan junkies and Tour wannabe's including Irv Lightstone (one of Moe Norman's 1950's travelling buddies) and George Knudson (pictured here) took to hanging out in the bushes at Seminole to catch a glimpse of Hogan's practice sessions.

On day one they got kicked off of the premises by security. Same thing on day two. On day three those pesky and persistant Canucks try it again and damned if Hogan doesn't pull that security guard aside and say to him ....... "Let 'em watch."


By then Hogan was probably aware of who the groupies were. You see Seminole assistant Dave Marr had met the Canadian contingent earlier at a tournament and had screwed up and spilled the beans about where Hogan was practicing. But that bit doesn't matter. What matters is that Hogan must have respected their persistance and hearing who they were and that they were aspiring (read struggling) pro's just like he was once he threw them a bone. Knudson and pals watched Hogan hit balls for two more hours. Satisfied and grateful for the gesture they did not return and peace and tranquility once again returned to the bushes 'round Seminole.


Not long after that, Knudson was on tour himself observing and hitting balls on the same ranges as his idol Ben Hogan. There is a profile page on George Knudson at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Here's a link: http://www.halloffame.mb.ca/honoured/1988/gKnudson.htm


And here's a link from Fairways Magazine to the article Irv Lightstone wrote about their Hogan encounter: http://www.fairwaysgolf.ca/article.php?id=95