Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-06
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SEGH AT LARGE
Las Vegas Isn't
For Amateurs
By MORRIS slEcEC

-r MONEY TALKS IN Las Vegas but two years ago the
moneybags who supply the loot for the towns biggest
cultural spurge $4,000 golf tournament, talking
to themselves
a.. Jack Nicklaus then an Ohio State student with
nack for picking up trophies and medals in golf tourna
ents was about to win the National Open championship
with comes automatic invitation to the Tournament
Of Champions at the Desert Inn.
Going into the final round the big blond better had
two-stroke lead Arnold Palmer with talent
for picking UP cash well trophies and medals Palmer
baed out himself and the Desert Inn people by throwing
IS at Ncklaus the final round leaving Jack runnerup
ahonors. " asst|t .& q '
. Why would it have been catastrophe for If Nickaus
had won the Open? = H#u
"You don't understand Las Vegas" wilbur Clark an
severed at breakfast here yesterday 0ut there we're not
pet up for amateurs" 80
IN THE ,1o-YEAR HISTORY of the big golf outing
held in the gambling capital of the world there
has been amateur in the affuent field Las Vegas
shudders the possibility of non-pro playing and
winning. .
what would we do with the $4,000 first prize2" Clark
asked IL it would be shameful for the tournament to
be Stuck with the money
Clark is the all-purpose pro at the Desert Inn He
pioneered gambling for the bearing his name and he
pioneered its entry into the gofng business The
latter unlike the championship in the casino is
strictly .non-p profit. 81. e..t, ..e..
In the first decade Of the Tournament of Champions
select gathering of shooters who have at least
ibig golf event. prize money has toaled than $780,
.soon," Clark added gleefully
e
! CLARK is PROUD OF his gofng contribution to Las
vegas I'VE the first hotel on the strip where guests
.could either shoot dice golf" he smiled "Of
make at dice than do at golf, but like
.guests to have fun"
So do the guests but few of do Often they learn
THAT green fees can be awfuy expensive at Las Vegas,
particularly when golfers have to walk through the casino
ITO get to the golf shop.
Like everything else these days. the Tournament Of
champions isn't what 1t used to be- The USGA the watch
.dog Of American golf thinks it's better than ever, but
shats only because the USGA isn't in the gambling bust
mess
Until a couple of years ago there was humdinger
aof Calcutta Pool connected with the annual Tourney OF
Champions shoot-off The pot got up high 100000
hats lot of money even for Las Vegas" said Clark the
visiting nnkeeper.
THERE HASN'T BEEN Calutta for two years. 1t was
eliminated chiefly because the tourney sponsors suspected
"a couple Of players in the field playing hanky
1--WE may not know too much about the game OF golf,
sCa declared but you'll have to give credit for being
liable to smoke out something which doesn't look kosher
with all that money around" ~
The biggest winner of all at the tournaments
has competed frankie Lame. who rode Mule Train" to
"a vocal bonanza found the annual Las Vegas golf wing
sdng almost as rewardng Lame bought Gene Lter three
years in in the late Calcutta and Lttler came
Through every time. LANES total take from the pool
shas been estimated conservatively at $270O00
The gambling prone tourists taking to the golf
,bt in big way Vegas Today there five champion
ship layouts all operated by hoteleasinos This is five
shines many Vegas had is years Why the
-late startP No water in the arid country2
NO." Clark replied, mo people, When first came
there 1887 opened the first big gambling Joint in
town I went busted" *'
CLARK AND THE OTHERS have rebounded rather
.ncely So WE'LL in fact that they spend many hours of
research trying to discover to give away money
The Runyon Cancer Fund for example get $SS0OO an
,nualy from the Tournament Of Champions contribution
sfrom the sponsors.
Last year the champions" teevised nationally for
she past five years. the first golf tournament beamed
the coaxal cable in living color peacock and ALL
ut made gorgeous sight" Clark beamed the golfers in
sheir loud geups and the fans with their colorfu clothes
The green fairways also photographed well, but the
Spectacle which had more appeal then anything
1.-THE color of all that money awaiting the winners.