Chico

On the 2nd hole Bernie Pallant's son (11 yrs old)  tees off first.  His drive passes the fairway trap on the right. I hit next, hit a good drive for me, short of the same trap. I think, he's not stronger than me, I need some lessons.  Bill Melhorn, a noted pro from the old days says, Howard you're dropping your right shoulder which causes you to slice and lose distance.  After a few lessons, its still a  habit.  So I take a lesson from the new pro from Pittsburgh who tells me at the end of the lesson,  I'm dropping my shoulder. And then I go to Sonny Rouse, a tour player and good instructor.  Habit stays. 

Chico and Maxine

I'm on the practice tee, I'm admiring Bobby Shave who is getting ready to play in the Doral Open. He is hitting ball after ball that bounce in front of the 250 marker.  Chico is giving a lesson  4 spaces down.  He finishes his lesson and is walking off the practice tee when Bobby says, "Hey Chic", and waves him over.  I can't hear what they are saying but Chico slaps a part of Bobby's anatomy and demonstrates with the club in his hand.  Bobby puts a ball on the tee.  Wham!!   Ball flies over the 250 marker.  He puts another ball down, wham!!  Over the marker again.  Says, thanks Chic, and now ball after ball fly over the marker.  Right there I make a decision. 
Chico says, hit a ball.  Ball slices.  He tells me  to hit the ball with a raking feeling, which I did and the ball went straight. It wasn't that easy but his method was to have you do something which would prevent you from doing the bad habit.  The shoulder was never mentioned and I stopped slicing.  .  One year in Chicago, where the pro tour was at that time,  he sees Hal Sutton doing something on the practice range and starts telling him about it. This results in the two of them spending much time before the tournament starts. Hal wins the tournament.  His comment to the press was to credit and thank Chico and say if Chic would just not talk about other things . . . Yes, Chic talked about other things.  My handicap went under 20, than under 15, then under 10 and finally to a 7.  Thanks Chic. And thanks for all the kids you helped.

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