GOLF FROM THE INSIDE—MIKE LUCAS

JIMMY DEMARET

                Jimmy Demaret was Ben Hogan’s nomination for the most underrated golfer in history. He gave his fellow Texan credit for teaching him how to hit many shots and claimed Demaret was the best wind player he had ever seen. The mystic of Hogan, or of Harvey Penick, would not be complete without Demaret. It was Demaret who was Penick’s main source of feedback on what worked.

                Demaret won 31 official events between 1938 and 1957. Another thirteen were unofficial. He was a three times Masters winner and competed unscathed in three Ryder Cups. He and Gene Sarazen co-hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.

                Jimmy earned many nicknames. Most were true to his character. He was called “the Wardrobe,” for he was the first to bring glitter to the greens. Lavender, plaid, polka dot and other shockers were his style. He sent swatches of pants colors to shoe manufacturers for matching. “If you’re going to be in the limelight, you might as well dress like it.”

Grantland Rice called him the “singing Texan,” for he also made nightclub appearances. The “swinging Texan” was another. Those who knew him best say he was a jet setter before there were jets.

    I first meet him in 1947. I was eight. The pre-Masters warm-up was in Aiken then, before it moved to Greensboro. My Dad was head professional at Highland Park GC there and had known Jimmy, Hogan, Nelson, and the rest from the years they were trying to eke out a living on the tour together.

Jimmy won the warm-up and the Masters that year. He became the first Masters winner to record four consecutive sub-par rounds. The event’s first nine hole score of 30 marked his first Masters win in 1940. His final win there was 1950. It was the only major he would ever win. He was a US Open bridesmaid a couple of times and showed well in the PGA and British Open, but was unable to add them to his collection.

    He passed away in ’83 after seventy-three good years. I remember a ready and handsome smile, stovepipe arms, and golf wisdom. Someone said that golf lost a lot of charm in his passing. I believe it.

                English golf legend Henry Cotton said that Jimmy loved golf, but not as much as a good time. Demaret agreed, saying he could have won more events if he hadn’t been so busy enjoying himself.

                One of his escapes was the Concord Hotel in the Catskill Mountains where he kept an apartment. He would hold court with celebrities like comedian Buddy Hackett in attendance.

                Hackett, in his book The Truth about Golf and Other Lies, says he got married on account of Demaret. He claimed his future wife was in pursuit but despite her persistent telephone calls he would not be deterred from keeping the charismatic professional's company. “Then one Friday Jimmy didn’t show up and I got married.”