Sixty five golfer braved rain delays at the Ben Hogan Legacy Golf Series Friday, June 3 at PAR Country Club in Proctor.
Beautiful Texas golf weather eventually welcomed 24 teams playing in the annual fundraising event for Dublin’s Ben Hogan museum.
Hogan, a world-renowned professional golfer with a triumphant come-back story, spent his childhood in Dublin. After starting his professional golf career, he was called to serve in World War II. After returning home and reaching the peak of his career in 1949, Hogan was in a head-on car wreck with a Greyhound bus almost claiming his life. Hogan survived, but with massive injuries to his legs.
In what is considered one of the most impressive comebacks in sports history, Hogan learned to walk again and the following year, won the U.S. Open at Merion, Pennsylvania. In 1953, he won the Triple Crown of the golf world: the Masters, the U.S. Open and the British Open, all in the same year. It is a record that stands alone even today.
As part of the Legacy Golf Series, a downtown party was held Thursday, June 2 with attendees from the Ben Hogan Foundation and the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company as well as golfers from across the country.
One of the highlights was an in-depth presentation comparing Hogan and Tiger Woods on a medical level since both had suffered traumatic car injuries.
“Hogan was in the news a lot after Tiger Woods’ accident,” Hogan museum founding member Karen Wright said.
Though Friday welcomed the players with muchneeded rain in the area, they were in good spirits about a rain delay—It has become a tradition for the golf tourney over the past three years.
“We did lose a couple of teams who simply couldn’t wait and had flights to catch which is understandable,” she said. “We are sorry they traveled and didn’t get to play.”
As part of the event, Cestone Golf School from Tampa, Florida offered free classes during the tournament. After the conclusion of the tournament, on June 4-5, Michael Cestone and his twin sons Michael Cestone Jr. and Frank Cestone, offered one and two day Ben Hogan Intensive classes at PAR, based off Hogan’s Five Lessons.
“We were so honored that during the tournament they offered free classes and traveled all this way,” Wright said.
As part of the tournament, golfers experienced a specially labeled drink “Hogan’s Secret” from Dublin Bottling Works. According to Arnold Palmer, Hogan swore by drinking ginger ale while playing golf to help alleviate excess fluid and make hands feel more flexible.
Though fundraising totals were not available at press time, Wright anticipates the tournament being on par with previous years.
“We did OK for sure,” she said.
Golfers traveled into Dublin from California, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Florida and from all over Texas, bringing in additional sales tax dollars and hotel occupancy tax funds to aid the city.
“We had a few new golfers and many that come back year after year,” she said.
For those interested in touring the museum in downtown Dublin, it is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and by appointment. To set up a time to tour the museum call 254-445-4466.