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"Challenge Golf"
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RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB
This episode of the popular ABC-TV series "Challenge Golf" starring Arnold Palmer and Gary Player was aired April 6th, 1963 and was the 13th and final match of the first year of Challenge Golf on television. Featuring the challenging team of Dave Ragan and Joe Campbell, this match has one of the most spectacular finishes of the series! With an introduction by Bill Fleming, who explains the USGA rules of play used on Challenge Golf, the show is hosted by Palmer and Player, who play a different twosome each week. Arnold and Gary are both miked during the match and comment on both the golf course and the action as play progresses hole by hole. You'll also see slow motion shots of the players in action during the match.
Ragan and Campbell get off to a slow start on the first hole when Joe's second shot lands below the green in a rut. Two pitches from off the green still leave him with a long putt, which he misses to bogey the hole, and they fall one stroke back of Palmer and Player. On the 423-yd par 4 5th hole, Campbell's 4-iron second shot from 175 yards away puts him on the green in two. Palmer's 6-iron from 165 yards leaves him a 28-foot birdie putt which he just misses, but Campbell misses two putts to bogey the hole, and Palmer and Player take a two-stroke lead. Both twosomes halve the unusual 154-yd par 3 6th hole which has a trap in the middle of the green! On the 7th tee Palmer has an interesting conversation with match referee and long-time Riviera Club Pro Willie Hunter, Sr. Hunter talks about Tommy Armour's disaster at this hole in the 1948 US Open. One under after six, Armour took a 12 at this 7th hole, hitting 3 balls out of bounds! After Ragan and Campbell make par at the 7th, Gary Player's 15-foot birdie putt takes the hole, putting Palmer and Player 3 strokes up on Ragan and Campbell after seven holes.
At the 310-yd par 4 10th hole Ragan and Campbell begin their comeback. Arnie comments after his drive lands in a bunker. Campbell's tee shot leaves him a difficult second shot, but his wedge shot to the green is a nice recovery, his ball rolling only about 15 feet past the hole. After Player misses a birdie attempt by only a foot, Campbell sinks his 15-foot putt to birdie the hole and gain back a stroke. At the 395-yd par 4 12th hole Dave Ragan's second shot stops within inches of the cup. Palmer's attempt to match Ragan's birdie fails and Dave and Joe gain back another stroke. At the 13th, Campbell reaches the green about 30 feet short of the hole on his second shot and his beautiful 45-foot birdie putt again puts pressure on Palmer and Player who can't match his birdie. Ragan and Campbell have come back from a three-stroke deficit in four holes to tie the match! They keep their streak going on the 170-yd par 3 14th hole as Ragan's 3-iron is the only drive of the four to reach the green. His 20-foot birdie putt now puts him and Joe 1-up on Arnold and Gary and has turned the momentum of the match.
The contest is close down to the end, when a spectacular shot on the 18th hole ends the match with an exciting finish!
To get your copy of this 50-minute historic golf TV show never before available on video, send only $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping (Illinois residents must add $2.00 sales tax).
"RARE SPORTSFILMS N",
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Naperville, IL 60540
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