"He's intent about the game," Dudley, who helped Ike eliminate a chronic slice, reports. "He takes every shot seriously. Let him blow one and he'll get pretty sore at himself. That's because heís such a competitor. But he has wonderful self control. No cursing. No club-throwing."
The President is constantly berating himself, but his most profane oath is an occasional "darn!" Actually he plays better golf than the scoreboard often shows.
"He has a few very good holes and then runs into a bad one that pushes up his score," Dudley said. "It's due to little practice and also the fact that he has to favor a trick knee injured in football at West Point."
Following a trip to Augusta, Eisenhower lamented: "There ought to be a law against asking a person what he shot." Sympathy welled in the hearts of the duffing editors at Golf Digest. As a gag, they prepared some mammoth lapel buttons for the President reading, "Don't Ask What I Shot!" Ike flashed his new button during a morning round at Augusta National Golf Club following the Masters.
Ike's own words on golf
Here, in the President's own words are his sentiments about golf. It's the text of a letter he recently wrong for the program of the annual PGA Tournament to be held this year at the Birmingham Country Club, near Detroit, from July 1-7.
To Golfers and Fellow Duffers:
While I know that I speak with the partisanship of an enthusiast, golf obviously provides one of our best forms of healthful exercise, accompanied by good fellowship and companionship.
It is a sport in which the whole American family can participate -- fathers, mothers, sons and daughters alike. It offers healthy respite from daily toil, refreshment of body and mind.
For it's promotion of golf throughout the country the Professional Golfers' Association of America deserves grateful recognition. Among its members I am fortunate to count many good friends.
Its championship tournament evokes the fine virtue of good sportsmanship and brings to golfers and spectators alike a warmer appreciation of the great outdoors and of keen and fair competition.
Sincerely,
Dwight D. Eisenhower
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