With Jack Fleck and Jeremy Moe at Hardscrabble CC in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Remember I am on a journey to search for the “Olympic Spirit of Golf,” something that has not been experienced in the last 112 years. The beginning of this interview of the Head Golf Professional Jeremy Moe at Hardscrabble CC by Jack Fleck was remarkable if you think about it in terms of revealing the internal makeup of a champion golfer. I put it right up there, on the 7th day of my travels, with the spirit of Bobby Jones in Atlanta, the Olympic Flag flying high at Glen Echo CC, and Dennis Berkholtz’s statement “once an Olympian, always an Olympian.”
Why so remarkable? Here is the 1955 U.S. Open Champion, nearly 60 years after beating Ben Hogan at the Olympic Club, a few weeks his of his 92nd birthday, taking the time to introduce me to his friend Jeremy Moe. Not only that but the way he did it—unscripted, and with excitement and gusto! Don’t you wish you can live to your 90s and be like that? I certainly do!
With Jack Fleck and his Olympic Gold Golf Medal. Mr. Fleck will always be an Olympic Golfer to me!
As far as the definition of the “Olympic Spirit of Golf,” somehow I need to tie in the Olympic Club and the sense of selflessness exhibited by Mr. Fleck. Established on May 6, 1860, three decades before the modern Olympic Games were resurrected in 1896, the Olympic Club is the oldest athletic club in the United States. The United States Golf Association recognizes the Olympic Club as one of the first 100 golf clubs established in the United States. That is an Olympic connection in my mind. Maybe Jack Fleck played in the spirit of the Olympics when he won there? When I gather all my thoughts and write about what the “Olympic Spirit of Golf” is I will include something about being outside of oneself, one’s ego and representing their country and sport without any sense of self-promotion or brand building. Thank you Jack Fleck!
CLICK here for an article on Jack Fleck, 1955 United States Open Champion.
CLICK here for a Video Interview with Jack Fleck in his home in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Here is the beautiful 16 green with the 17th behind it at Hardscrabble CC, Jack’s home.
Mr. Fleck passed about five months after I visited with him in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I will always remember the warmth and the wonderful feeling of welcome I experienced as a guest in Jack and Carmen’s home. I missed seeing him and his friend Ed Tallach at the 2014 Masters and again this year.
Jack had so much respect and enthusiasm for life. i hope you live today like Jack lived yesterday… have a TROML Day today and please make a difference in the life of a young person…
I am looking for 100 new friends in the next 100 days to make a $100 donation (or any amount that you are able to make) to The First Tee. Each day I will be reliving the original “Journey to Olympic Golf” and hope to find a new friend in golf. Is that you? Please join me in giving back to the game we all love.
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