GOLF / THOMAS BONK : Casper’s No Ghost of Himself as Senior

Billy Casper won the U.S. Open twice and the Masters once, he won at least one tournament a year for 16 consecutive years and he won a total of 51 tournaments on the PGA tour--more than anyone but Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Byron Nelson. But with nine victories, Casper has won more money on the senior tour than he did in his ‘other’ professional golf life.

Casper, 63, who lives in Chula Vista, acknowledges that he is experiencing the good life.

“If I can keep from falling out of a golf cart or stepping in a hole and hurting myself, I can probably make $10,000 a week, maybe more,” Casper said.

The San Diego native turned pro in 1954, joined the tour a year later and in 1956 began a career that included a streak of tournament victories each year through 1971. The only golfers with longer such streaks are Nicklaus and Palmer, who won at least one event a year for 17 years.

The era was marked by dominant players, including Nelson, who set a Joe DiMaggio-like record of 11 consecutive victories, from early March to early August in 1945. Those days are long gone, Casper said.

“There are so many fine players now--they’re great players--but I don’t think anyone will win 50 tournaments again,” Casper said. “It’s parity. You have a nucleus of potential superstars, but whether they gain the prominence of the Nicklauses and Palmers, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Casper said he is active in charity work and will be the host professional for the first Jackie Robinson Invitational golf classic July 18 at Riviera Country Club. Dodger owner Peter O’Malley, ARCO chairman Lodwrick M. Cook and Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow, are in charge of the event.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation awards college scholarships of up to $5,000 a year for four years to top minority high school graduates with financial need.

Scheduled to play are Dick Butkus, Don Newcombe, Joe Morgan, Johnny Mathis, Al Downing, Walt Hazzard, Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns and Ann Meyers Drysdale. Casper will conduct a clinic and will play one hole with each foursome.

For details, call (619) 632-7770.

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Golf shrink: Donna LaTreill is a Newport Beach hypnotherapist and psychologist, and she also has studied parapsychology. In short, she could be the perfect person to cure tormented golfers.

“There are desperate people out there,” she said.

Many are on the golf course, according to LaTreill, who has released a self-help video called “Mental Golf,” which carries the message that the key to successful, enjoyable golf is to think positively and avoid stress.

LaTreill said she realized the need for her video after watching the golfers on a par-four hole from her home along the fairway.

“I’ve seen 90% of the people going miserably by, throwing clubs, yelling obscenities,” she said. “There are some things that are very undesirable in their games.”

LaTreill, who is also on the test panel for Callaway Golf, said golf relates to broader areas.

“If you can improve your golf, you can improve your life,” she advises.

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Nice drive: Colleen Walker’s hole in one in the final round of the Youngstown-Warren LPGA Classic last weekend was the right shot on the wrong hole. She could have won a car if she had aced another par three.

“I didn’t get a car,” Walker said. “All I got was a couple of ‘Nice shots.’ ”

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What about Rider Cup? Should senior golfers be allowed to ride golf carts in USGA events?

Arnold Palmer doesn’t think so, at least in major tournaments.

“I think if you are going to play in championships such as this, you should walk,” Palmer said at the U.S. Senior Open.

“When you physically can’t walk, then you go ride the golf cart (elsewhere) and go enjoy the game and the hitting of the golf ball but not in a major championship--not one you would consider putting up on your wall,” he said.

According to the Associated Press, a majority of the senior golfers ride carts during Senior PGA Tour events.

“I love golf carts. I use them myself,” Palmer said. “But in a major championship, you have to hoof it. That’s part of the physicalness of winning the golf tournament.”

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Simon says be happy: After winning the U.S. Senior Open, Simon Hobday kissed his golf ball, then got down on all fours to kiss the green at Pinehurst three times. Hobday also kissed the trophy and gave USGA officials high-fives during the awards ceremony.