Question:
Back in the 70’s, the father of a well-known pro on the PGA Tour died of cancer of the mouth (lips or tongue?). It is believed that the cancer resulted from him licking his golf balls prior to clean them. Exosure of membraneous tissue to the toxic chemicals used to maintain the course (fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) is to blame. I seem to remember that this was Raymond Floyd’s father, but I am not positive. Does anyone remember who this person was or where I could find this information? I need it for an article I’m writing. Thanks! Stuart Winsor
Response:
Back in the 70’s, the father of a well-known pro on the PGA Tour died of cancer of the mouth (lips or tongue?). It is believed that the cancer resulted from him licking his golf balls prior to clean them. Exosure of membraneous tissue to the toxic chemicals used to maintain the course (fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) is to blame. I seem to remember that this was Raymond Floyd’s father, but I am not positive. Does anyone remember who this person was or where I could find this information? I need it for an article I’m writing. Thanks! Stuart Winsor
It was Johnny Miller’s father. I can remember Johnny talking about it on a couple of telecasts. Miller claimed that his father probably got the cancer from cleaning his golf balls the way you described above. It stuck in my mind so well because I think he was with Dick Enberg at the time and Miller got very choked up (understandably) at the time. Sorry I can’t provide you with more than a place to start, Stuart. Good luck. Scott
Response:
Geeeze, just from lickin golf balls?? I guess chewing on tee’s during a round can’t be much better, anyknow know of the nearest chapter of TeeChewers Anonomyus?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It was Johnny Miller’s father. I can remember Johnny talking about it on a couple of telecasts. Miller claimed that his father probably got the cancer from cleaning his golf balls the way you described above. It stuck in my mind so well because I think he was with Dick Enberg at the time and Miller got very choked up (understandably) at the time. Sorry I can’t provide you with more than a place to start, Stuart. Good luck. Scott
Response:
I recently read something like that about Davis Love’s Father in the book "A Good Walk Spoiled" when it talks about the deathof his father briefly. RSG Role Call http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/mclaughlins.htm
Response:
Geeeze, just from lickin golf balls?? I guess chewing on tee’s during a round can’t be much better, anyknow know of the nearest chapter of TeeChewers Anonomyus?
Mike, "My name is Jens, I chew on tees…" 
Best, Jens
Response:
DL, Jr. died in a plane crash, not from licking golf balls. — John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently read something like that about Davis Love’s Father in the book "A Good Walk Spoiled" when it talks about the deathof his father briefly. RSG Role Call http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/mclaughlins.htm
Response:
Thanks everyone for the responses. Since Scott remembers the telecast in such detail, he’s probably right. I will send a letter to Johnny Miller’s agent for verification, of course. DL3’s dad died in a plane crash. Golf seems to have more than its fair share of tragedy involving noted professionals dying in plane crashes – Tony Lema, Payne Stewart, DL2, and many others….. Again, thanks everyone! Stuart Winsor
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Back in the 70’s, the father of a well-known pro on the PGA Tour died of cancer of the mouth (lips or tongue?). It is believed that the cancer resulted from him licking his golf balls prior to clean them. Exosure of membraneous tissue to the toxic chemicals used to maintain the course (fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) is to blame. I seem to remember that this was Raymond Floyd’s father, but I am not positive. Does anyone remember who this person was or where I could find this information? I need it for an article I’m writing. Thanks! Stuart Winsor It was Johnny Miller’s father. I can remember Johnny talking about it on a couple of telecasts. Miller claimed that his father probably got the cancer from cleaning his golf balls the way you described above. It stuck in my mind so well because I think he was with Dick Enberg at the time and Miller got very choked up (understandably) at the time. Sorry I can’t provide you with more than a place to start, Stuart. Good luck. Scott
Response:
Actually it was Curtis Strange’s father who died of cancer of the mouth, which was attributed to his habit of cleaning his golf ball by popping it in his mouth. I remember having the same habit when I first took up the great game and being told of the dark side of that particular method of cleaning. Geoff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Back in the 70’s, the father of a well-known pro on the PGA Tour died of cancer of the mouth (lips or tongue?). It is believed that the cancer resulted from him licking his golf balls prior to clean them. Exosure of membraneous tissue to the toxic chemicals used to maintain the course (fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) is to blame. I seem to remember that this was Raymond Floyd’s father, but I am not positive. Does anyone remember who this person was or where I could find this information? I need it for an article I’m writing. Thanks!
Response:
Geeeze, just from lickin golf balls?? I guess chewing on tee’s during a round can’t be much better, anyknow know of the nearest chapter of TeeChewers Anonomyus? Mike, "My name is Jens, I chew on tees…"
I swallowed a tee at RSG-HERSHEY one year (97?) Somebody made me laugh, I breathed in too fast – gulp! The human body is very versatile, handled it quite well and painless… ummmm well, when ummmm… it, you know, exited. Didn’t learn… still chew on tees. — — — David "Thor" Collard — http://ttsoft.com/thor
Response:
Back in the 70’s, the father of a well-known pro on the PGA Tour died of cancer of the mouth (lips or tongue?). It is believed that the cancer resulted from him licking his golf balls prior to clean them. Exosure of membraneous tissue to the toxic chemicals used to maintain the course (fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) is to blame. I seem to remember that this was Raymond Floyd’s father, but I am not positive. Does anyone remember who this person was or where I could find this information? I need it for an article I’m writing. Thanks! Stuart Winsor
Maybe in "Urban legends, past and present" ? R
Response:
ROFL! You have GOT to be kidding about this one. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Geeeze, just from lickin golf balls?? I guess chewing on tee’s during a round can’t be much better, anyknow know of the nearest chapter of TeeChewers Anonomyus? Mike, "My name is Jens, I chew on tees…" I swallowed a tee at RSG-HERSHEY one year (97?) Somebody made me laugh, I breathed in too fast – gulp! The human body is very versatile, handled it quite well and painless… ummmm well, when ummmm… it, you know, exited. Didn’t learn… still chew on tees. — — — David "Thor" Collard — http://ttsoft.com/thor
– John Pflum, Jr. PKG Consultants, Inc. 5533 Fair Lane Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 Web: http://www.pkgconsult.com
Response:
LOL! Glad everything came out ok there Thor
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I swallowed a tee at RSG-HERSHEY one year (97?) Somebody made me laugh, I breathed in too fast – gulp! The human body is very versatile, handled it quite well and painless… ummmm well, when ummmm… it, you know, exited. Didn’t learn… still chew on tees. — — — David "Thor" Collard — http://ttsoft.com/thor
Response:
Nope. Full story was posted here I think. ROFL! You have GOT to be kidding about this one. I swallowed a tee at RSG-HERSHEY one year (97?) Somebody made me laugh, I breathed in too fast – gulp! The human body is very versatile, handled it quite well and painless… ummmm well, when ummmm… it, you know, exited. Didn’t learn… still chew on tees.
– — — David "Thor" Collard — http://ttsoft.com/thor
Response:
‘Golf balls’ that is 8^) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – DL, Jr. died in a plane crash, not from licking golf balls.
Response:
Same reference was applied to Arnold Palmers dad.Arnold didn’t think this was so. Kurt Klein
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Same reference was applied to Arnold Palmers dad.Arnold didn’t think this was so. Kurt Klein
Huh? What are you referring to? It would be helpful to include a short snip of the previous post as a reference. Bruce RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/newmanb.htm http://go.to/bruce_newman
Response:
Back in the 70’s, the father of a well-known pro on the PGA Tour died of cancer of the mouth (lips or tongue?). It is believed that the cancer resulted from him licking his golf balls prior to clean them. Exosure of membraneous tissue to the toxic chemicals used to maintain the course (fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) is to blame. Scott wrote in part: It was Johnny Miller’s father. I can remember Johnny talking about it on a couple of telecasts. Reply- Same reference was applied to Arnold Palmers dad.Arnold didn’t think this was so. Kurt Klein
Response:
Not anurban legend. I read it in an interview with the golfer taken in the 70’s. That’s just too far back for this guy to remember. Heck, I wouldn’t remember my own name if I didn’t have a drivers license….. Stuart Winsor
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe in "Urban legends, past and present" ? R