I was fortunate enough to spend a day at the CasaBlanca Hotel and Casino with Mr. Billy Casper assisting with his book signing during this year’s Nevada Open. Billy signed over 100 books that were given to each participant along with a free 16 ounce can of Nine Iron – a product Billy fully endorses as a healthy alternative to caffeinated energy drinks. Kent Nobis, founder of Nine Iron, is a loyal advertiser of The Independent and a longtime friend of Billy Casper and his family. Billy, his family and a few select friends like Kent are honored guests at the Masters every year. It’s good to have friends in high places!
For those of us who aspire, dream, fantasize and wonder if we could ever be good enough to play this game at a professional level, let alone PGA Tour level, Mr. Billy Casper is one of the legends in golf that can offer young golfers some great advice. His 51 PGA tour wins and three majors make him one of the most respected and influential players of all time. Yet many of the younger players at this event didn’t grasp that fact until they met the man and read his stats. Others knew him well and were truly inspired by his great storytelling, knowledge of the game and sharpness regarding his incredible career. He generously provided all of us with life lessons, golf tips and a hole-by-hole, shot-by-shot history of any tournament he played if you were willing to listen and (we all were).
It began with a dream to write his autobiography. After several attempts at finding a backer, publisher and writer, he found the perfect blend of all three just two years ago, shortly after his 80th birthday. His book, entitled “The Big Three and Me,” is a fun and easy read that is difficult to put down once you start. The “Big Three” are Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player – all are legends, and all agree that Billy Casper should have named among them in that title. Historians also agree. Billy didn’t receive the credit he justly deserved, as you’ll discover in autobiography. That said, my experience with him was incredible and helped cement my love of the game of golf even more.
I think the number one question asked of Billy by young hopefuls at the Nevada Open was, “What advice can you give a young professional who wants to make this a career?” Billy answered it simply: ”Know your swing, take what you’ve learned from your practice sessions and bring it to the course. Don’t think about anything else and always, always stay positive.” Billy added that he never overreacted to good shots or bad shots but kept his emotions in check. He rarely practiced on a driving range. He preferred to play 18-36 holes. “After all, what can I learn from a perfect lie?” he said. He had only four golf lessons in his life, and that came because he changed his grip from a Vardon overlap to a 10-finger grip.
It’s crazy to think about how much players earned in the golden era of golf compared with today’s payouts. Billy’s biggest check was $60,000 for a senior event. He was the second, just behind Arnold, to earn $1 million on tour – and that took him 14 years to accomplish! Players make more than that in four days now! He added that money has ruined the game today. Players like Bubba Watson have so many others interests and business ventures that golf becomes just another one. Not so in his day, when you drove thousands of miles and lived in a 26-foot Spartan trailer pulled by a Buick Roadmaster. Like Billy, most lived paycheck to paycheck hoping to make the cut so they had enough money to pay travel expenses plus entry fees for their next event.
Young hopefuls like those playing in the Nevada Open need sponsors to maintain the dream – a doctor they once caddied for or well-off relative or parents. Yet less than 1 percent of these incredibly gifted golfers ever earn their tour card. Last year’s winner of the Nevada Open posted a 63-63-65 for a winning total of 191. That’s crazy good by anyone’s standards. Yet even with scores like that, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to make a living as a touring professional. Mental stamina, unshakable confidence, smart play and knowing your swing make good golfers into great players – players like Billy Casper, the Big Three and so many others we love to watch each week battle it out in open competition. Superstars, millionaires and just plain great entertainers. Some give back to charities and mentor while others shrug off a request for an autograph. Billy Casper is definitely one who loves to give back. He donates so much of his time for his charity, Billy’s Kids. Makes guest appearances and book signings without a fee. All for the love of the game and his fans. Due to his career and active LDS Church membership, he has rubbed shoulders with U.S. presidents, prophets and apostles. He is welcomed like Grandpa visiting his grandkids at the Masters every year. He’s truly a “Blessed Man,” as he puts it, and I feel blessed to have spent an afternoon and an evening with him.
I highly recommend you read his book and get to know him better. If he had accomplished today what he did some 30 years ago, you would recognize him as one of the greatest golfers who every chased that little white ball. A special thanks to the CasaBlanca Hotel and Casino for hosting this event for the past 40 years. This year’s event provided $105,000 in prize money. If you missed this free event, make it a must-see next year. You may see the next generation’s Billy Casper making his way to the PGA tour.
See you on the links!
Written by Scott Dunford
