Evening star., 1960-03-25
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW 3, FRANCIS s1Apu
A Pro Turninq Pro

A. X. Z5.-
proS-ones who can play better but who live traiers
or cheap tourist cabins Double $4-heat) and punish
their digestive systems with endeSsly dubious hamburgers
envy Gerry Priddy Here is golf pro who's never
won dime on the tour and who isn't worrying
Its good life, this way" the one-tme second
baseman for the Yankees Senator'S Browns and Tigers
admitted during the recent ST. Petersburg Open 1--WE
been on the tour only since January and as shot
maker, I'm merely peasant. But the boss said to
do 1t
Until the St. Pete Open the ex-ballpayer never had
made the cutoff when the charmen separate
the wheat from the chaf. But he finally did here this
week, and one would have thought Priddy had lit
bases-loaded double on Labor Day at Yankee Sta6um
Priddy is the envy Of the Have-Nots-and of good
many of the Havesbecause Bob McCuloch Californian
who manufactures engines and power saws, underwrote
Gerry for $25000 year for two years. I'm one of his
sales representatives Prddy explained "One day he
said You play pretty we'll Why don't you go on the pro
tour for couple of yearS?"
IN HIS BAILPLAYING days the 4o-year-old Priddy
refused to be awestrcken matter the pressure the
pitcher or any other circumstance AS tyro golf pro-
however, he close to being as he'll ever be-
He speaks almost reverenty of Cary Middlecof Arnold
Palmer, Doug Ford and the other star golfers
ITS one thing to play well in club tournaments in
California, Gerry explained but when you play in
company it's entirely different
Sure 1t beats working in an ofice. That's what
was doing for Mr. McCulloch when he up with this
idea of joining the pros used to miss baseball lot
working inside. Now waving toward half dozen golfers
practice
way, sits not so bad. In fact it's not bad at all"
Prddy took four-wood and banged it about 22O yards
low and with the professionals slight hook I should
have saved that for later" he grnned T Just wish
weren't 40 and just starting in this game l could
get to like it lot"
OUT OF THE REPORTED s25,OOO Priddy alegedly is
getting to mingle with goldoms upper crust
come his expenses Gerry neatly avoids testfyng as to
both salary and expenses but he did put it this way
Some of these felows-real good golfers too, but
not quite at the topspend at least much as they earn
Some get by for 5000 week. but more accurate figure
Is $500 week, guess Personally, I'm thinking it's
tougher racket than breaking into baseball"
While he was playing in the St Pete Open the forth
right Prddy did not start out with large galleries. but
they distinguished Just about every day he PLAYED
the Yankees-Mickey Mantle Ryne Duren Elmer Valo
Andy Carey and otherS-followed him.
BY the time word was spread among the snowbirds
term widely used for tourists Prddy invariably had
gallery out of proportion to my ability" The yokels
didn't to Gerry play but beg for autographs
from Priddys baseball famous rooters.
PRIDDY HAD SHOT 72 on the first day. better than
many of the top pros galeswept This other
day, with the winds whipping his slacks Prddy said:
"The big difference between playing what you might
call pretty good club golf in California and big time golf
Is this sort of stuff" He waved to indicate the
wind lifted shoe to display the mud the spiked soes
Il never played in the rain, mud cold or high wind
until the tour" Gerry said "One day scheduled to
tee off at 730 showed up but it so cold and
playing today, are we?
He Just looked at me, like tough umpire in baseball
and said:
Priddy you're on the tee Get moving"
Gerry waved to his shag boy indicating the practice
session was when first started this tour" he
said Il think they poured it to little. Maybe they
were thinking I'd quit things moved from Cali
fornia. I can't blame EN-"
AS BEGINNER, Prddy invariably drew starting
eS Snorty after sunup, when the grass was wet and
the long shots stopped dead
peasants like me have got to expect it," Gerry sighed
"Theres caste system in this racket I don't mean
anything, SO either start day of tournament golf or
END It, The big wheels get the preferred times
But Kept my mouth shut" he added little proudly.
i didn't complain And lately I've been getting better
starting times"
Priddy says that he is dead serious about playing
OUT tne TWO years on the tour Some day. he put
1t, I may shoot SO and it'll be hell of a story"
And if he never shoots 68p
l may turn golf pro at the boss own club" he con-
tessed. Look I'm getting to like this game"