welcome aboard, Bob Rickey

GOLFDOM is pleased to welcome such luminaries as , Tom four terms as president of the Robert D. (Bob) Rickey to its staff as Weiskopf, Johnny Miller, Hank Manufacturers and Distributors Assn., Director of Industry Relations and Aaron, Pete Rose, Rod Carew, Don which represents the exhibitors at author of a new monthly column, Schula and Bear Bryant. shows for golf professionals. "Inside the Industry." During the 30 years of his business Indicative of his fine work with this "Inside the Industry" is exactly career, Rickey has given unselfishly of organization, he was unanimously where Rickey has been since 1944 his time and efforts to many industry voted honorary president for life. when he joined MacGregor as organizations and has gained a Rickey points out that he is the third advertising and public relations reputation as a true friend of golf. He generation in sports. His father, manager. In 1948, he was given has served as a board member of the Clarence, was president of the original additional responsibility for pro golf National Golf Foundation for the past MacGregor Golf Company, and his sales, which led to his promotion in 25 years and as its president for the grandfather, Flint, was a first cousin of 1955 to vice president in charge of the past eight. Since his retirement from Branch Rickey and managed for him pro golf operation. He held this MacGregor, he has continued his work in the St. Louis Cardinal's chain. position until 1966, when MacGregor's with the foundation as a special Rickey's father is still remembered new parent firm, Brunswick Corp., consultant. In addition, Rickey has in the industry for, among other named him vice president of marketing been an officer of both the things, creating, along with Tommy for all products. and Golf Ball Manufacturers Armour in 1934, the first line of golf Until his early retirement from associations, serving as president of equipment sold exclusively through MacGregor June 1, Rickey served the former four times. golf professionals. He is also for four years as vice president- He has also been chairman for both the remembered for having signed three customer and industry relations. This Professional Golfers' Assn. of unknown Texans in one six-month position included responsibility for all America Relations Committee and the period—Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson sports promotions, which in turn Golf Assn. Relations and Jimmy Demaret. It is apparent to meant direct responsibility for Committee. At this year's PGA us that the son inherited his father's MacGregor's staff, which includes Merchandise Show, Rickey concluded eye for spotting golf talent. continued on page 54

play the club the pros pay to play

•Official PGA statistics compiled at five of the major tournaments during the 1974 season show Confidence the overwhelming choice of the pros among investment cast clubs being played on the tour. "And remember, Confidence is the club the pros pay to play".

There must be a reason!

1974 TOURNAMENTS

GLEN CAMPBELL LOS ANGELES OPEN 0 0 0 1 PHOENIX OPEN 0 0 0 1 J

ANDY WILLIAMS SAN DIEGO OPEN 0 1 0 1 HAWAIIAN OPEN 0 1 2 1

BING CROSBY NATIONAL PRO-AM 0 1 0 1

Figures available upon request. All statistics were compiled by the Darrell Golf Survey, the only recognized agency of the Professional Golfers Association

Circle No. 160 on Reader Service Card 10 GOLFDOM MAGAZINE 6/74 NEWS continued WELCOME from page 10 Company's Special Vehicle Div. has As a columnist for GOLFDOM, introduced a "prestige" golf car, Rickey actually will be returning to an which may be used by clubs as a VIP earlier career. After graduating from vehicle. Called El Presidente in honor Northwestern University's School of of Lee Trevino. the special electric car Journalism in 1943, he worked for the features personalized canopy, televi- Chicago Daily News and Dayton Daily sion set, eight-track stereo tape deck, News. an AM-FM radio and built in bar. Few people in golf can match "El Presidente . . . can also be a Rickey's credentials and his revenue-producing factor for any contributions to the industry. In country club," said Jim Munn. gener- CARBONITE EXPANDS addition to his duties on GOLFDOM, al manager of the division. "We see it GRAPHITE LINE Rickey will also be special projects being used by clubs for visiting digni- EL CAJON, CALIF.—Carbonite Corp. director for our sister publication, taries and on a reserve basis, by is producing a graphite shaft for irons GOLF Magazine. members for entertaining their special in addition to its line of no-twist graph- Both magazines are indeed guests. That's where the revenue- ite shafts for woods. The new shafts privileged to have Bob Rickey aboard. producing part comes in. Clubs can may be fitted for all lengths and help pay for the El Presidente by the cover both regular and stiff flexes. revenue they earn through rental of the Reportedly, the last eight inches of RICKEY from page II El Presidente to members." each shaft are not tapered, making it long time ago, I now can chuckle The car has the basic design of the possible to trim the tip end to fit each when I recall it. Perhaps you can ap- Otis golf car, but features strips of numbered iron. preciate now why I have had the chrome to accent the powder blue "The flex curve of each iron pro- unique experience of feeling sympathy Cycolac body, giving the car a racy gressively becomes stiffer to match the for competitors recently. . In addition, the car has a welded increasing weight as the irons go Unfortunately, I am afraid that this tubular steel frame, four-wheel stabili- higher in number," explained com- kind of thing will happen again, as ty, automotive type steering, battery pany president Bob Basso. "By long as golf is played competitively power for more than 54 holes of golf trimming the non-tapered tip from and as long as confidence in equipment and its own built-in battery charger, shafts that are identical in construc- is so heavily weighed by psychological as well as interior deep pile charcoal tion, a uniform feel is achieved for the factors and the intangibles of "feel" carpeting. whole set of irons." Similar to Car- and "click." As trying and frustrating A prototype of the El Presidente was bonite's no-twist graphite shafts for as this kind of experience may seem at driven by entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. woods, the new irons remain square to the time it occurs, it is one of the oddi- at the Greater Hartford Open last the line of flight before, during, and ties that makes the golf business so dif- Labor Day. after impact, thereby rewarding the ferent from other businesses and so golfer with better directional control, much fun to be a part of. • according to Basso. "Only pure (aero- space quality) graphite is used in all our shafts, which have a softer feel EDITOR'S NOTE: With all the self- than conventional steel but, unlike congratulations expressed on page 10, steel, absorb vibration and shock at you, our readers, may have felt impact." slighted at not having been mentioned. Tip diameter of Carbonite's iron Of course, we haven't forgotten; you shaft is .370 and butt diameter is .600. are the reason for the new column. The dimensions are identical in all "Inside the Industry," we think, fits shafts. in perfectly with our concept of the golf industry as a whole entity; we do TEUTONIX ACQUIRES not think each sector within it exists as NEW PLANT FOR MOODY BALL-O-MATIC an autonomous unit-nor do we think it COSTA MESA, CALIF.—Moody Sprin- SOUTH BEND, IND.—Teutonix, Inc., should. kler Company, Inc., has moved to manufacturer of Bucket Boy range We feel now is the time to pull back a new modem plant at 3020 Pullman ball dispensing equipment, has ac- a few paces and, from this longer Street here. The expanded manufac- quired the exclusive marketing and perspective, look at the shifting kalei- turing facility is geared to step up manufacturing rights to all Ball-O-Ma- doscope that is the golf industry. production of irrigation company's tic products. The terms of the agree- Participate with us in this venture. Customline and Rainmaster lines to ment were not disclosed. In making If something-a thought, a gripe or a meet increasing demands from turf- the announcement, Roland L. Eck- compliment-moves you, write to us. men throughout the country and mayr, president of Teutonix, stated We'll see that Bob Rickey gets the mes- abroad, according to the company. that the company will continue making sage. Warehousing and distribution are now the Ball-O-Matic products with the The address: Bob Rickey, % computer controlled for greater service same degree of quality as before the GOLFDOM Magazine, 380 Madison efficiency. takeover. Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017.