Question:
Allen, I think you may be correct about it being at the inaugural TPC event. With Jerry Pate having been somewhat of a flash-in-the-pan, you can see how I might tend to lump all of my memories of him into a single recollection.
A flash in the Pan?? Given that I only started playing golf in 1981, and Jerry Pate became one of my first golf heroes ot stands to reason that he must have had a successful career spanning at least 6 years (from ‘76). Regards Mark Q.what is the definition of Mixed Emotions? A.You mother in law driving her car off a cliff, with your brand new Mizuno blades in the trunk.
Response:
Allen, I think you may be correct about it being at the inaugural TPC event. With Jerry Pate having been somewhat of a flash-in-the-pan, you can see how I might tend to lump all of my memories of him into a single recollection. At least someone remembers him for something, which is more than some other less-than-stellar/short-career players left behind. But, I suppose it’s hard <not to leave a lasting impression when people world-wide are making fun of your balls. :^) Joe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Pate won the US Open in 1976, which I think was before the orange balls were released. You may be thinking of the Player’s Championship. Pate won the first one played at TPC Sawgrass and then did go into the drink, taking Beman and Dye with him. I believe that Jerry Pate won the US Open with an orange ball. If I remember correctly, he also threw Commisioner Beaman (and course designer Pete Dye) into the greenside lake at the trophy presentation. May have been back in the early 80’s(?).
Response:
Pate’s dive into the lake – at least one of them; there may have been others – was at the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (now the Fedex St. Jude Classic) in 1981. It was at Colonial Country Club about 2 miles from my house. No….we can’t have the next Elvis Cup event there – I can’t afford a membership 
— http://home.midsouth.rr.com/joecartpath RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/reedj.htm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe that Jerry Pate won the US Open with an orange ball. If I remember correctly, he also threw Commisioner Beaman (and course designer Pete Dye) into the greenside lake at the trophy presentation. May have been back in the early 80’s(?). I dont beleive Jerry could have won the US Open with a Coloured ball, as he did this in the 70’s, and coloured balls did not arrive until around 1981,(with the Wilson Pro staff being one of the first, to hit the australian market anyway) He jumped into a lake beside the 18th green after winning a tour event, not the open. Jerry Pate’s was the first with a hole in one with a coloured ball, and as far as i can recall it was that 260 odd yard par 3 at Cypress Point along the cliff edges, which occured sometime 1981-82. Regards Mark Q.what is the definition of Mixed Emotions? A.You mother in law driving her car off a cliff, with your brand new
Mizuno blades in the trunk.
Response:
Pate won the US Open in 1976, which I think was before the orange balls were released. You may be thinking of the Player’s Championship. Pate won the first one played at TPC Sawgrass and then did go into the drink, taking Beman and Dye with him.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe that Jerry Pate won the US Open with an orange ball. If I remember correctly, he also threw Commisioner Beaman (and course designer Pete Dye) into the greenside lake at the trophy presentation. May have been back in the early 80’s(?).
Response:
Trivia question…. 1. Has a PGA event ever been won, by a pro using a colored golf ball? 2. If so, who, when, what color?
I can’t recall the year or the tournament, although for some reason the San Diego tournament (I think it was still the Andy Williams then) rings a bell, but Wayne Levi did win one tournament playing an orange ball. I am sure someone out there has more info on this one.
Response:
I believe that Jerry Pate won the US Open with an orange ball. If I remember correctly, he also threw Commisioner Beaman (and course designer Pete Dye) into the greenside lake at the trophy presentation. May have been back in the early 80’s(?).
I dont beleive Jerry could have won the US Open with a Coloured ball, as he did this in the 70’s, and coloured balls did not arrive until around 1981,(with the Wilson Pro staff being one of the first, to hit the australian market anyway) He jumped into a lake beside the 18th green after winning a tour event, not the open. Jerry Pate’s was the first with a hole in one with a coloured ball, and as far as i can recall it was that 260 odd yard par 3 at Cypress Point along the cliff edges, which occured sometime 1981-82. Regards Mark Q.what is the definition of Mixed Emotions? A.You mother in law driving her car off a cliff, with your brand new Mizuno blades in the trunk.
Response:
I’ve played with some people who would use a colored ball on whichever hole(s) bordered the driving range to make it easier to pick out. I figured that I was dooming myself to hitting into the range by doing this, so I’d use a regular ball and procede to hit it into the driving range. Nothing like some dodgeball to get the adrenaline going! Adam – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the early 80’s, tour players briefly played with colored balls (bright Day-glo). What with its sudden advent and sudden demise? Did PGA ban them? I personally thought it’s a great idea – easy for caddies to find them, etc I’ve played with most of the colored balls you speak of… white is actually the easiest color to find overall under all conditions. dsc – acssysdsc
Response:
I believe Pate won the US Open before the fad of colored golf balls… which he was definitely the most recognized player to use. It was in the short window of time when Pate could actually could play good golf. I’m sure he won a tournament or two with the orange golf ball. I suspect the fad faded because it was difficult to see orange on TV. It was kind of a blur. Also, traditional golfers absolutely hated it. Personally, I just did not care. I’d play them if they were a dime cheaper a dozen. I did like them in the fall. You could find them better in leaves. Bob
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe that Jerry Pate won the US Open with an orange ball. If I remember correctly, he also threw Commisioner Beaman (and course designer Pete Dye) into the greenside lake at the trophy presentation. May have been back in the early 80’s(?). Joe ______ Trivia question…. 1. Has a PGA event ever been won, by a pro using a colored golf ball? 2. If so, who, when, what color?
Response:
I believe that Jerry Pate won the US Open with an orange ball. If I remember correctly, he also threw Commisioner Beaman (and course designer Pete Dye) into the greenside lake at the trophy presentation. May have been back in the early 80’s(?). Joe ______ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Trivia question…. 1. Has a PGA event ever been won, by a pro using a colored golf ball? 2. If so, who, when, what color?
Response:
I don’t think they were banned…I just think like all fads, they stopped being a fad. In the early 80’s, tour players briefly played with colored balls (bright Day-glo). What with its sudden advent and sudden demise? Did PGA ban them?
There was never any real use for them in pro tournament play, where lost balls can happen, but only rarely. The players that used them back then, I suspect, were probably on the player staff at the company that made them. Someone let me know if they were not, but I think the orange ones were Wilson Prostaffs. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I personally thought it’s a great idea – easy for caddies to find them, etc best, Kevin
Response:
Oh, and seems like Hale Irwin won one (or more) when he was playing the yellow balls, too. Can’t remember where or when. Joe _____ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe that Jerry Pate won the US Open with an orange ball. If I remember correctly, he also threw Commisioner Beaman (and course designer Pete Dye) into the greenside lake at the trophy presentation. May have been back in the early 80’s(?). Joe ______ Trivia question…. 1. Has a PGA event ever been won, by a pro using a colored golf ball? 2. If so, who, when, what color?
Response:
In the early 80’s, tour players briefly played with colored balls (bright Day-glo). What with its sudden advent and sudden demise? Did PGA ban them? I personally thought it’s a great idea – easy for caddies to find them, etc best, Kevin Before you buy.
Response:
In the early 80’s, tour players briefly played with colored balls (bright Day-glo). What with its sudden advent and sudden demise? Did PGA ban them? I personally thought it’s a great idea – easy for caddies to find them, etc
I’ve played with most of the colored balls you speak of… white is actually the easiest color to find overall under all conditions. dsc – acssysdsc
Response:
Trivia question…. 1. Has a PGA event ever been won, by a pro using a colored golf ball? 2. If so, who, when, what color?
— In the early 80’s, tour players briefly played with colored balls (bright — Day-glo). What with its sudden advent and sudden demise? Did PGA ban — them? — — I personally thought it’s a great idea – easy for caddies to find them, — etc — –I’ve played with most of the colored balls you speak of… white is –actually the easiest color to find overall under all conditions. — –dsc – acssysdsc — What you do speaks so loudly that I can not hear what you say….Ralph Waldo Emerson Roger… home page URL given upon request.