Lord Byron Nelson – Golf Lesson I Will Never Forget – Part 1

Richard Knorville from Oklahoma

With the US Open Looming in a week or so, it brings back memories of another big tournament, albeit an amateur one. The United States Amateur was hosted by the most historic Merion Golf Club. This golf course with lush greens that would make your own rugs seem like a hardwood floor, was serving another of it’s majors in 1966. How could I ever forget the first and last big tournament that I would caddy in.

My man was from Oklahoma and his name was Richard Knorville. I don’t remember much about his playing ability, except he was defeated by Jack Nicklaus a little earlier in Jacks amateur career. It wasn’t the fact my player missed the 1966 cut by a shot or two, it was what happened shortly before the tournament took place.

My home was just a mile and a half from the Merion Golf Club and the same distance to the driving range. Then it was known as The City Line Driving Range, for it sits just off the road with the same name. My mom, who was so kind and understanding of my desire to practice my golf swing, would take me and bring me from this golf range. This one particular early evening, maybe around 7 0’Clock or so, I was hitting my driver and saw this man hitting line drive after line drive. I should say, arrow like shots that were dead straight. One after another, I couldn’t believe how accurate he was. I went back to hitting my wild tee driver shots all over the range.

I looked up again and noticed something that was unusual to me about this man. He was wearing a long sleeve shirt and a tie. It was fairly warm on this June evening. I also realized this man was quite a bit older than I was. Being just 17, anyone was practically older than me. I was a good 10 booths away and could not get a good look at his face. I stopped what I was doing and went over to watch this man and his seemingly perfect golf swing. Because I knew about the upcoming tournament, that I was caddying in obviously, I was speechless when I realized I was watching one of the most gifted golfers in the history of the game.