As any visitor to Dublin’s Ben Hogan Museum knows, the beloved golfer left a long legacy behind and it could be felt in the guest speakers present to address the golfers at the Ben Hogan Legacy Golf Tournament dinner Thursday, June 6.
His legacy can be seen in the very name of Chris Ballard’s nonprofit organization, Fifty Three Golf. The Fort Worth-native firefighter chose the name in honor of 1953the year that Ben Hogan achieved the Triple Crown by winning three major championships, capping off an epic comeback story that started with a 1949 auto accident which resulted in multiple fractures (including on the pelvis) and near-fatal blood clots.
Ballard was working toward being a professional golfer before he became a firefighter. It seemed a natural fit to Ballard to marry the two in Fifty-Three Golf as he seeks to help first responders dealing with PTSD through lessons and centering on the golf course.
“My long-term goal is to introduce people to Hogan and golf,” Ballard said. “My initial exposure to Hogan was his clubs. My very first clubs were hand me down Hogan Apex pc [irons].”
This fascination with Hogan led Ballard to downtown Dublin and the museum where he met Karen Wright.
“Fifty Three all started with my visit to Karen and Dublin,” Ballard said.
The museum also brought in Michael Cestone, the owner of Cestone Golf Academy who along with his twin sons, Michael Jr. and Frank, were offering lesson before and after the tournament at Proctor’s PAR Country Club on Friday.
The sons offer lessons on the ‘Hogan Method’ and began by studying Hogan’s “Five Lessons” book and carried on from there, down to getting custom spiked shoes close to what he wore and noting the way he rotates his body in a swing.
Michael Jr. and David learned of the museum and wanted to see if they could study the grips on Hogan’s own clubs so they loaded up and drove from their home in Florida to Dublin.
This has resulted in a long-standing respect and partnership as the family has offered lessons at several tournaments.
Hogan tournament organizer Charlie Finegan reported a third speaker was intended as he had approached Kris Tschetter, professional golfer and author of “Mr. Hogan: The Man I Knew.” Tschetter was playing in a senior LPGS tournament and couldn’t attend but was able to provide a contact who shared a video interview she filmed about her relationship with Hogan and the support he provided in pivotal moments in her career.
“He gave back to the game in so many ways,” Tschetter said of Hogan in the video while describing a touching years-long relationshipthat’schronicled in her book.
Ferron Lucero, the auctioneer who presided over the benefit auction following the Friday tournament, closed the meal with words on Hogan’s legacy.
“It’s hard to argue what this man brought to golf,” said Lucero. “This museum is important to Dublin and every golfer everywhere.”
The 15th annual Hogan Legacy Tournament, offering two formats of play for the first time, was held the next day at PAR where golfers played to benefit the museum while earning bragging rights and prize packages.
Winners will be provided in the June 20 edition of the Dublin Citizen.