Lon Hinkle is an American professional golfer….who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour (prior Seniors Tour)…..who won three tournaments in his career on the PGA Tour …..which all came in the late 1970’s. In 1979, he earned $247,693….while finishing 3rd on the money list….and winning two Tour events, including the World Series of Golf.
That year in the first round of the U.S. Open at Inverness Club….Lon Hinkle took a shortcut by cutting the dogleg on the par-5 8th hole by hitting onto the 17th fairway….which was basically perpendicularly left of the tee box….when overnight, the USGA officials planted a tree to block access to the 17th hole….and that tree is forever known as The Hinkle’s Tree. Simply put, only at ImaSportsphile are you likely to find a video “golf aside” quite like this one…..which makes this little piece of golfing history another “golden nugget” in our treasure chest of vintage memories…..for this one is historic.
 
