Hall Of Fame Golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez
Dead At 88
Daily Caller,
by
Dana Abizaid
Original Article
Posted By: JoElla Bee,
8/9/2024 7:41:48 PM
Charismatic Hall of Fame golfer Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez died Thursday in his native Puerto Rico at the age of 88, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Rodriguez, who reportedly learned how to play golf by using a guava tree stick as a club, became one of the sport’s most popular players known for his colorful character and antics on the links, according to The AP. “Chi Chi” was born Juan Antonio Rodriguez into a family of six children and spent his childhood helping his father harvest sugar cane before becoming the first Puerto Rican to make the PGA Tour, the AP reported.
Post Reply
Reminder: “WE ARE A SALON AND NOT A SALOON”
Your thoughts, comments, and ideas are always welcome here. But we ask you to please be mindful and respectful. Threatening or crude language doesn't persuade anybody and makes the conversation less enjoyable for fellow L.Dotters.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
rytwng 8/9/2024 7:52:07 PM (No. 1775512)
He made golf fun and people laughed..
21 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 8/9/2024 8:08:09 PM (No. 1775518)
Rest in Peace, Chi Chi. You were one of the great ones.
20 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Birddog 8/9/2024 8:34:28 PM (No. 1775530)
My stepfather was partnered with him at a couple of pro-ams, he came to our home outside of houston for dinner one night. Charming, verrrry funny, and fun guy.
18 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Mizz Fixxit 8/9/2024 9:35:00 PM (No. 1775552)
Chi Chi Rodriguez played his best golf during the golden age of the PGA Tour. A unique character and a very good player. R.I.P.
14 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Italiano 8/9/2024 9:39:09 PM (No. 1775555)
"I asked my caddie for a sand wedge and he brought me a ham on rye."
RIP.
19 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
mifla 8/10/2024 4:04:38 AM (No. 1775613)
As I kid, the only time I watched golf on TV was when he was playing. I loved his antics.
3 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Calvinesq 8/10/2024 7:01:55 AM (No. 1775668)
The Les Nessman sports report is a classic. Chai Chai RODrigeeze won by nine strokes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WmTsLO-hUI
RIP Chi Chi!
6 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
NYBruin 8/10/2024 10:15:35 AM (No. 1775787)
Chi Chi was great and accomplished all with his work ethic and God-given talent - not due to DEI policies!
1 person likes this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
franq 8/10/2024 10:18:08 AM (No. 1775791)
His prime was back when sports were about sports, not advertising revenue.
Look (I didn't, just read about it) at the Olympics today. I predict a rapping event in 2028.
2 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
paral04 8/10/2024 10:46:23 AM (No. 1775812)
I met Chi Chi when he was the golf pro at Ft Buchanan in Puerto Rico. He gave me my first lesson. Then his cohort Juan Gonzalez taught me to chip. They were fun to learn with and the best thing that happened to them is when Chi Chi got into it with a colonel and was fired. He got a job at the Dorado Beach Hotel and he had the opportunity there to move ahead in competition. Juan did very well also.
3 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Hazymac 8/10/2024 11:39:34 AM (No. 1775851)
Mr. Rodriguez was closely associated with the Tampa Bay area. His academy is in Clearwater, and he has another facility across the bay. In many golfers' opinions, he is one of the greatest human beings ever, always generous with his time. His love of the game, and of people, was infectious. We loved him.
His nephew Rodolfo "Rudy" Martinez was one of the original players on my mini-tour (The Florida Tour) back in June 1984. During the post-competition long drive competition, Rudy, who weighed 120 pounds soaking wet, same as his uncle, smoked one out there about 310, measured with a walking wheel. Then Randy Stewart, a big fellow who weighed 250 and swung really hard, stood up there and hit one 381! Rudy, sounding just like Chi Chi, said, "He eats steak. I eat rice and beans."
A few weeks later Rudy invited me to a tournament with one male pro and one female pro in each group, playing with two juniors at a short course in central Clearwater somewhere. His uncle was the organizer and the central cog in the wheel. There was even live UHF television on several holes. Chi Chi really did it right. (Bear with me now; this is an amazing story, and Chi Chi and I right in the middle of it.)
After having much trouble finding the course, I pulled up about twenty yards from the first tee just as my group was teeing off. Embarrassing. I was in the group ahead of Chi Chi. Rudy called to me, "Don't rush. My uncle will hit your first shot for you!" So Chi Chi Rodriguez hit my opening shot! We played around to about the 12th, a 180 yard par 3 with a grove of trees to the right of the long, narrow green and a lake to the left. I drained a seagoing fifty foot putt for a birdie from the front to the back of the green, then turned around and gave Chi Chi a look that said "Beat that!" Our group walked off the green and turned around to see what Chi Chi had for us.
With a medium iron, he hit an awful shot, a push slice, heading for the deep dark. Possible double bogey from in there. His ball, sounding like multiple woodpeckers, bounced off three trees before being ejected leftward back toward the green. The ball bounced three or so times then rolled like a putt ... right into the hole for an ace !!! Incredible. It was such an honor to have met this great man and see some of his magic.
In the 1970 Masters, the announcer on the first tee called out, "On the tee from Puerto Rico, Juan Rodriguez!" The player did a double take, and said, "Who the hell is Juan? Better known as Chi Chi." I used to love watching him after making a good putt. He'd grip his putter from the wrong end, turning it into an imaginary saber which he would twirl around like a sword fighter. Then, after the ultimate stab, he would take out a handkerchief and wipe off the "blood" before returning the club to his bag. Rest in peace, Mr. Rodriguez. It was such an honor to know you.
4 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Hazymac 8/10/2024 11:54:53 AM (No. 1775865)
One slight correction: When Chi Chi did his sword routine, after the stab, he would return the "sword" to an imaginary scabbard located on his right belt loop, held by his left hand. Then he would take the "sword," wiped clean of blood, in his right hand, hold it high, and ram it down into the scabbard.
He was a showman, although not every pro cottoned to his clowning around on the course. Sometimes he took it too far. He and Dave Hill had a contretemps about that, but soon made up and resumed their friendship. If I tried clowning on the course between shots, I would have shot 100. Some can do it. Most can't.
3 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
FLCracker 8/10/2024 11:55:53 AM (No. 1775866)
88 years old, even after being struck by lightning 3 TIMES!
A good run.
3 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
JoElla Bee 8/10/2024 12:01:28 PM (No. 1775870)
Thank you so much for sharing your up close and personal inside experiences, #s 11, 3 & 10!
I always enjoy hearing personal stories about people I’ve admired from afar.
Beautiful and hilarious, #11! Chi Chi Rodriguez was always a joy to watch. It made my day!
3 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
Hazymac 8/10/2024 12:26:53 PM (No. 1775877)
One other story. Jack Nicklaus called Rodriguez "that 118-pound elastic band from Puerto Rico," and liked to tell the story of how, under the proper circumstances, say, a sun hit course, Chi Chi could outdrive him. Jack would hit his drive in his accustomed long-carrying, high trajectory fade, and Chi Chi would shake his wonder out loud how the poor golf ball could TAKE a blow like Jack's hole after hole. Then Chi Chi would step up, knowing what he needed to do, and send a quail high frozen rope out there, maybe with a hint of draw to mazimize the run out. No, Chi Chi's ball wouldn't carry as far as Jack's, but Jack's soaring ball would come down like a short iron and roll two steps while Chi Chi's hot low one would scamper past Jack's ball, sometimes by forty yards of more. Jack said that could get to you. Chi Chi knew what he was doing on a golf couse.
3 people like this.
Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "JoElla Bee"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)