GOLF / MAL FLORENCE : Bolt Wants It Known He Was More a Swinger Than a Flinger

Tommy Bolt is on a mission to shed himself of nicknames that have identified him during his golfing career.

He insists that headlines including such descriptions as “Terrible-Tempered Tommy” and “Tempestuous Tommy,” are greatly exaggerated.

Bolt, who became a legend for his club-throwing tantrums, is trying to set the record straight, or, at least, modify it.

Even though he won 15 PGA tour events in a distinguished career, his reputation as a hothead often obscured his accomplishments.

Bolt, now 76, is the honoree for the Nissan Los Angeles Open that will be held Feb. 25-28 at the Riviera Country Club, an event he won in 1952.

“They (presumably sportswriters) never said how good I played, just how mean I was,” Bolt said in a reflective interview. “It was really blown out of proportion. Yes, I’ve been temperamental on the golf course, but so has everybody else.

“Bobby Jones threw more clubs than I ever saw. But Grantland Rice (famed sportswriter of another era) protected him.”

Bolt said that his “puggy looking face” has contributed to his reputation.

“Why, I’m the biggest-hearted guy in the world. I wouldn’t hurt a fly,” he said.

Perhaps, but he damaged a few golf clubs in his time.

Some Bolt stories, true, or apocryphal:

--At a clinic, he turned to his son and said “Show the nice folks what I taught you.”

His boy picked up a nine-iron and threw it as far as he could.

--There was a time when he was 125 yards from the green, and his caddie told him he had better use a two-iron.

When Bolt questioned the club selection, his caddie replied, “Tommy, it’s the only one left in your bag.”

--On a miserable, rainy day at Pebble Beach, Bolt stood outside Bing Crosby’s house shaking his fist and called for the tournament founder to come out and play his own damn course.

Bolt lives in Cherokee Village, Ark., about 150 miles from Little Rock. He said he plays golf every chance he gets and still shoots par, or under at the local country club.

Bolt said he has played golf with President Clinton.

“I first met him in the early 1960s,” Bolt said. “He said he caddied in the same group with me in the Hot Springs Open. That’s why I voted for him, because he was a caddie.”

Bolt said that Ben Hogan is the greatest golfer he has ever known.

“I was impressed by his determination and concentration,” he said. “You see, concentration is 75% of golf. I said this 15 or 20 years ago and now they’re putting it into golf magazines.”

Bolt said he was 34 when he joined the tour in 1950. Earlier, he had been in construction work.

“I didn’t know how to play golf until 1955,” he said. “I won tournaments, but I really didn’t know how to play until I went to Hogan. He changed my grip. I was a hooker before. He was the greatest teacher I’ve ever been associated with.

“He told me to put my left hand on top (of the club). He watched me play at the Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth. I’d catch him peeking out behind a bush, seeing if I did what he told me.”

In his victory at Riviera in 1952, Bolt beat Dutch Harrison and Jackie Burke in a playoff.

“I was five under going to the 18th hole, where I made a seven,” he said. “I still won by three shots.”

As for the current tour, Bolt said, “I think those guys should be very thankful they’re playing for so much money. Television created it. You can understand why those guys don’t fool around like we used to. We had a lot of fun, but we didn’t win much money.”

Bolt earned $4,000 for his playoff victory at Riviera in 1952. First-prize money this year is $180,000.

Bolt said he is trying to get into the PGA Hall of Fame.

“I’m not in there because I’m the temperamental ogre,” he said. “I’m just an honest guy and I like to speak my mind”

Or, throw a few clubs if he feels like it.

Raymond Floyd is still in a quandary as to how to split his time between the regular and senior tours.

“I’m confused regarding which side I’d like to play,” he said. “I’m torn between the two. There are things I could accomplish on the regular tour, one being the Ryder Cup. That would be a strong commitment to play one side. I’d like to play the majors on both sides. I’ll have to play it by ear.

“It’s difficult to set goals when you don’t know which tour you’re going to play. If I play the regular tour, I don’t know that my goals will be as high as on the senior tour. Do I set half goals, or what? It’s the most difficult decision I’ll ever have to make.” Floyd is playing in the Senior Skins game this weekend with Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Chi Chi Rodriguez at the Mauna Lani Resort on the island of Hawaii.

Golf Notes

The West Coast portion of the PGA Tour is jammed in February, with four events beginning with the AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am starting next Thursday and followed by the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in the Palm Desert area, the Buick Open of California in San Diego, and the L.A. Open. The Hope tournament is usually held in mid-January but swapped dates with the Hawaiian Open this year. Sid Wilson, director of public relations for the PGA Tour, said course availability was one of many reasons for the change in the schedule.

Eldrick (Tiger) Woods has been chosen as the amateur to play in the L.A. Open. Woods, 17, played in last year’s tournament and shot 72-75, missing the cut by six strokes. . . . Kirby markers, the unobtrusive yardage markers for golf courses, have been installed on all three courses for the AT&T; tournament--Poppy Hills, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. The markers are also in service at The Links at Spanish Bay and the Olympic Club in San Francisco, along with other courses in the United States and Europe.

Despite heavy rain and the flooding of Sepulveda Basin golf courses, play on 13 city courses in 1992 surpassed the million mark for the 12th consecutive year. The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Dept. reported that 1,137,039 rounds were played last year, a decrease of 120,309 from 1991. . . . An 18-hole links course is being designed by Pete Dye in Rancho Palos Verdes. . . . Mike Haynes, former defensive back for the Raiders, will be the host of a tournament Feb. 22 at Brookside Golf Club. . . . The National Senior Sports Assn. will hold a tournament March 28-April 1 for senior golfers at the Singing Hills Resort in El Cajon.