Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-26
WIN, LOSE OR
UKAW By FRANCIS srANN
More Than a HumbIin' Game

IT CAME AS NO SURPRISE to the golfng brigade when
Frank Strafac turned fire away the North and South
Amateur in progress PnehurSt After 20 years of
tournament golf the decepvely youthful looking New Yorker
remains dedicated the game few others have BEEN
There had been occasion during the winter to sound out
the veteran star in attempt to learn what him tick
Two decades of bgtime competition long time especially
for an amateur and it seemed reasonable to that
Straac like old horse player has the hook in his
In way, that's true" Frank saying afternoon
in ST. Petersburg The part that's that I've spent
lot of time and in golf But there's to it. Golf
is good way to stay healthy and happy And SO happens
that being in the insurance business pick up pretty
good contracts wouldn't get otherwise"
sTRAFACI, WHO LOOKS little bit like Prince Rainier
insists that he longer hopes big one, like the
u s. Open the Masters You believe Frank you wiSh
but deep down inside of him must Turk that wild ambition
THE good pro 40 per cent better than the good
teur he said don't look for an amateur to win of the
big from the pros"
Yet few weeks later Ken Ventura almost captured the
Masters and in 1854 another Billy Joe Patton,
eSSy threw away his chance win the tournament
The I'm making the tour" Frank insisted, lis
simply to win the U S. Amateur That's big enough goal
almost quit last fall when lost tough Billy Booze
in Richmond. The before, playing the best knew how
lost another heart in Detroit Arnold Palmer who
the National"
SITTING IN THE GRILL room at the country club in
St Pete with couple of newSpapermen Strafac drew
picture of what he thinks golf worth He
1t on napkin and apologzed because the picture was
incomplete
I'll send them to you Right know that it costs 5000
week to follow the TRAIL about $4,000 each to
polish up game and play And don't forget don't make
the full l2-month tour. Just about half of it,
The other day Straacs personal statistics came to
hand They are presented in case think your game is
costly in terms of time and money.
In 80 years 20 tournament player have
miles, Frank reveals Il played all over this
country plus England Scotland. Canada, Australia New
Guinea, France The Philippines and Dutch East Indies
Il estimate that have walked after golf ball some
$4,000 miles
STRAFACTS HIGHEST SCORE ever would satisfy most
dubs 1t o. His lowest is hard to believe he shot
the old Marine and Field Club in New York in 3324-57
There a record Sc ST. Adams, too a
Cold Stream, now decommiSSoned golf course.
Il estimate that have rs per cent of than 500
matches Frank wrote ." know that have IS tourna
ments including the Metropolitan New York title times
Most golfers dread the practice tee This is when golf
becomes drudgery The practice where
tiers mirage too After 10 or Is minutes he thinks he has
discovered the loose relaxed when he prac
tees and feels he is ready for all
The tight hooks and the shanks and the pushed puts
and the peeking Nightmares of the past until he
steps up golf ball in real match.
I'VE HIT q MILLION practice shots" strafac claims
He matter facty like any craftsman has put
in years to learn his This in addition playing
1000 rounds 10000 holes And he adds taking $4,000
shots"
As fine golfer he is, Strafac to take
lessons when his game turns
Il guess I've had hundred lessons" he says land I
know when I'll take my At least so different
professionals have helped to work my game. must
have changed my style rs times"
About the only statistic Frank hasn't put in writing is
the distance of the clubs he's used placed end to end Il
know We used more than hundred different sets OF Clubs
he SAYS And putterS we'll more than 300.'
In st Pete he had been asked why he had not turned
Il like to eat for thing he said Mere parshooter
among the pros eat hot dogs for dinner.
Another reason he added. blandly lis that if
pro wouldn't have enough time to give my business