This Day Ike Wages War On A Golf Course Tree (1956)
Dec 22, 2024
In a light-hearted look at history, the hosts delve into President Eisenhower's quirky obsession with a troublesome tree on the Augusta National Golf Course. They explore how this vendetta reflects the interplay between politics and leisure. Through humorous anecdotes, they reveal the absurdity of a leader battling an inanimate object. The discussion also touches on the challenges leaders face in balancing personal interests with pressing societal issues, making the story relatable and entertaining.
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Ike and Golf
- Eisenhower was invited to Augusta National in 1948 and became a regular member, even during his presidency.
- He loved playing golf, despite being notoriously bad at it, even wearing a button that said, "Don't ask me what I shot."
Ike vs. The Tree
- Eisenhower repeatedly hit a specific tree on the 17th fairway, causing him great frustration.
- He even tried to bribe someone to cut it down and demanded its removal at an Augusta National board meeting.
The Loblolly Pine
- New York Times writer Dave Anderson described the tree as a "big, wide loblolly pine" that blocked the fairway.
- Eisenhower continually hit this tree, leading to extrajudicial attempts to have it removed, like offering a caddy a bribe.