Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 4, 1995 TAG: 9504050038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: AUSTIN, TEXAS LENGTH: Medium
Harvey Penick provided sage and simple advice to some of golf's best players, and Monday he was remembered fondly by them.
Penick, a mentor to Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Kathy Whitworth, Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls and many others, died Sunday at 90 after a lengthy illness.
``Harvey's simple philosophies about golf and life will stay with us for as long as the game is played,'' said Crenshaw, for whom Penick was his only golf instructor since age 6. ``He was a major influence on my life and career. Anyone who had the chance to know him was truly blessed.''
Crenshaw, 43, whose PGA career includes the Masters among his 18 tournament victories and more than $5.6 million in prize money, visited with Penick on Wednesday, receiving advice for a minor adjustment in his putting stroke.
Kite, 45, who began working with Penick at age 13, went on to become the leading money-winner in PGA Tour history, earning a little more than $9.2 million. After winning the 1992 U.S. Open, he sent the trophy to Penick.
``He's in a better place,'' Kite said. ``He's probably up there changing somebody's grip right now.''
Crenshaw and Kite, who were in Augusta, Ga., preparing for the Masters on Thursday, were expected to return to Austin and serve as pallbearers Wednesday.
With advice such as, ``swing the club like you would a weed cutter,'' and ``swing it like you would a water bucket,'' Penick put golf into simple terms.
He refused to teach methods or group lessons, instead applying his wisdom to the talents of an individual player.
``What's good for a pro on tour is not good for a 90 or 80 shooter,'' Penick said. ``That's why I don't like methods, why I teach fundamentals.''
Those fundamentals were outlined in ``Harvey Penick's Little Red Book,'' a collaboration with author Bud Shrake, whom Penick had given the pages of a journal kept in a red notebook that he carried for 60 years.
The book has sold more than 1 million copies since its 1992 release, becoming the best-selling sports book of all time. The book combines common-sense instruction with anecdotes about golf and life.
A second book, ``And If You Play Golf, You're My Friend,'' has sold nearly 1 million copies. A third book, ``For All Who Love the Game,'' has just been published.
Penick, who was nearly deaf the last several years of his life, had walked with a cane since undergoing back surgery in 1972 and gave lessons from his golf cart.
Penick served as head golf pro at Austin Country Club for 48 years and coached the University of Texas golf team from 1931 to 1963.
Penick briefly considered a playing career.
``I saw Sam Snead take one swing and decided I had better specialize in teaching,'' Penick said.
Penick is survived by his wife, Helen; a daughter, Katherine Lee Powell; a son, Tinsley Penick; four grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
by CNB