Two weeks after Hot Springs, New Mexico, was renamed Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, through an election of the town citizens, Ralph Edwards and his crew wanted to pull off one of the most amazing consequences ever performed on the quiz program... and gain loads of free publicity through the Southwest as a result. What would happen if someone was given
the consequence of hitting a golf ball from Los Angeles, California, to Truth
or Consequences, New Mexico? A golf course was presently under construction in
the town formerly known as Hot Springs and publicity for both the town and the
radio program would almost certainly be ensured. After ironing out the details (including legals and insurance), Edwards and his men
sent out free tickets for his show to golf clubs around the Los Angeles area.
On
the evening of April 15, during the course of the warm-up before the
show, Edwards asked if there were any golfers in the audience. Four men raised
their hands and were asked to come on the stage. Among the candidates was a
43-year-old real estate salesman named Al Baker, selected for both strength and
character to participate in a pie-throwing stunt. Little did Baker realize what
Providence had in store for him and if he had the gift of prediction, he would
have rejected that ticket handed to him days before at Griffith Park. During
the program, four men and Edwards were lined up and Baker was told that one of
the men on stage had a $100 bill in his pocket. If Baker hit him in the face
with a pie, he would collect the money. Baker hit the wrong man. (A trick challenge since it was Edwards
who had the bill in his pocket.) Baker was forced to take the consequence.
Armed
with golfing equipment is furnished by Wilson Golfing, which included a brand
new set of golf clubs, bag, and at least 18 dozen golf balls, Al Baker was told
that he had to hit a golf ball from NBC in Hollywood to the town of Truth or
Consequences, New Mexico. The distance was 823 miles (or 1,448,480 yards) and
par over this, the world’s largest golf course, was set at 25,000 strokes. If
Baker completed the course, he would win a complete set of Wilson clubs, a
Columbia Mountaineer trailer, and a brand new Nash Ambassador Airflyte sedan.
If he completed the course under par, he would receive an additional $500.
Baker was considered a top-notch golfer, a member of Local 47, a member of the
Musicians’ Golf Club, a former saxophone player and former member of Abe
Lyman’s orchestra, and recently supplemented his income by being a stuntman for
numerous films starring Alan Ladd, Donald O’Connor and Ingrid Bergman’s Joan of Arc. Numerous newspapers
reported Baker was an “unemployed musician” at the time and if this fact was
correct, there can be no question why Baker agreed to the assignment.
Baker’s
travel expenses were paid by the sponsors of the radio program, including all lodging and food. Following the broadcast, the exact route, mapped out by Arch
Arnold, was reviewed and approved by Baker. When asked how long it would take
to complete the course, Baker theorized it would take about four weeks. Every
week along the route, courtesy of NBC local affiliates along the
route, Baker, via remote, reported on his progress. The entire trip, as he would eventually
discover, would take about six weeks.
On Sunday, April 16, at 10:15 a.m.,
Baker hit the first ball down Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street to commence a
golfing adventure that had never been experienced by any man since. If he
played the course in par or better, he would be richer by approximately $6,000
in prizes and cash. Climbing into the trailer that was to be his home for the
next six weeks, the golfer who would make nationwide papers took after his
ball.
Baker was accompanied by
chauffeur-escort John Benson, a staff member of Ralph Edwards Productions, who
clocked the strokes and verified the authenticity of the game. Baker’s route
through California would pass through San Bernardino, Palm Springs, the
Coachella Valley and Brawley. Crossing into Yuma, he would pass through Gila
Bend, Tucson, Benson, Willcox, Lordsburg, Deming, Hatch and finally Truth or
Consequences. When Baker got tired of walking, he hopped on the running board
of the car and rode to the next stroke. For relaxation and sleep, he had the
trailer, decorated with banners to promote the radio program. Armed with spare
golf balls, loose cash, numerous caps and a pair of sunglasses, Baker was
prepped with the necessary bullet points for local press coverage along the
way.
The route took Baker through the
center of every major town on the map. The turf along the route was the asphalt
pavement. On the road, he used a putter so as not to get too much loft on the
ball and thus encounter such hazards as windshields. Out in the county along
the highways, he used woods and irons.
By the second day, April 17, Baker
made his way Northeast to Pasadena, avoiding the major freeway, Route 210. Much
to the amusement of motorists, Baker was knocking the ball eastward along
Walnut Street, which ran parallel with the 210, while off-duty Motorcycle
Sergeant Gerald E. Wright tried to untangle traffic jams. The Pasadena Star-News reported the earliest
statistic: 221 golf strokes from Hollywood to Pasadena. Baker lost seven balls
down sewers. By April 18, in the heat of afternoon, Baker went through Monrovia via Foothill Blvd. to the wide-eyed
amazement of many local residents. Stating he got his second wind along about
the time he arrived in the city, Baker told reporters to sit back and relax and
follow the reports weekly on the quiz program. “Be thankful you are not in my
shoes,” he told reporters. “I hope to eventually take home the prizes offered.”
Progressing
East from East Foothill Blvd to Huntington Drive and to West Foothill Blvd,
Baker worked his way to Azusa. On April 19, the Azusa Police Department
cooperated in entertaining the visitors on the Civic Center Lawn. Azusans gaped
while tired and grateful contestant Baker leaned back in an armchair under a
beach umbrella and gulped refreshing orange juice, resting momentarily before
continuing his long journey down “the Main Street of America” that led him to
fleeting fame and probably a lot of blisters. Under the supervision of Chief
Kendrick, a detail composed of Captain Fred Williams and Policeman Bob
Torrance, conducted Baker as he putted down Foothill Blvd., through the center
of town. Opposite the city jail, the police surrounded the perspiring golfer.
They provided him with an easy chair. Chief Kendrick personally poured iced
orange juice for him. Captain Williams personally guarded the ball so no
souvenir seekers would steal what would become a valued piece of memorabilia.
Policeman Torrance produced a towel to wipe the sweat from Baker’s brow. Lucky
Lager, a local brewery, produced a couple of cases of thirst quencher for the
desert roadway. (Perhaps Azusa wanted to get a plug over the airwaves as a
result of their hospitality.) Scotty Maxwell and Cliff Wynn of the Wynn Oil
Company, local manufacturer of Wynn’s Friction Proofing Oil, provided Baker
with the new Nash Ambassador sedan that the golfer would receive as a partial
reward if he completed the trek. On April 20, Baker was seen whacking a golf
ball down the middle of Highway 66 behind the police escort. It was reported
the number of strokes totaled 777. Staying on Foothill Blvd., he passed through
Fontana around 8:15 a.m., playing golf towards San Bernardino and Colton.
By April 22, Baker had progressed
southeast, avoiding the San Bernardino National Forest, bidding goodbye to
Redlands, headed for Palm Springs. Capt. Frank Freeman of the State Highway
Patrol also kept his eye on the ball. Baker was reportedly going along Highway
99 at a speed that averaged between two and three miles an hour. Over the next
four days, he progressed through Riverside where local residents lined the
curbs on Highway 99 to watch Al Baker. (It took him approximately 1,200 shots
from Los Angeles to Beaumont.) On the evening of April 22, Baker reported in
via remote on Truth or Consequences,
letting the public know he was just reaching Palm Springs.
Caddies
enroute were being provided by the States of California, Arizona and New Mexico
in the persons of Highway Patrolmen who escorted the party for safety reasons
along the road. Sometimes the official police vehicles, sometimes a motorcycle,
sometimes the familiar white-painted patrol car, followed Baker as he chopped
away uphill along Highway 99 from Redlands Friday afternoon, reaching a point
about 3 ½ miles west of Beaumont before stopping for the night, resuming his
journey Saturday morning enroute to Palm Springs. The group stayed at El Rancho
in Beaumont overnight after digging their way through steak dinners at the
Rusty Lantern. Baker said the greatest difficulty to date was the backwards
progress he constantly encountered either when his uphill shots did not carry
to the crest of the grade or when a truck or car coming Westward socks his
little white pill closer to the point of starting than from where he had teed
off. One of the more sensational features of the gag, according to John Benson,
was that very few people along the route paid much attention to what was going
on. Southern Californians, he said, appeared to accept even the most unusual incident
during a day as commonplace and not noteworthy.
He
drove through Indio on April 24, Monday morning, clipping his 2,000th
stroke in front of Roosevelt School just before 5 p.m. The photo in the
newspaper showed him ready to tee off just at the city limits on Highway 111
and Monroe, while John Benson held a parasol above Baker to shade him from the
sun.
By
April 28, 11 days and 2,024 strokes later, reached Brawley, California. While in town, Baker was one of the
guest speakers at the Soroptimist club meeting at the Planters Hotel. Other
guests included John Benson of the radio program, Dick Andrus of the Pittsburgh
Paint company, Maxine Dottson and Zella Clayton of Brawley, Irene Bradford was
chairman of the program and Neil Eldridge, acting president, presided. Baker
told of several amusing incidents that have happened to him since leaving Los
Angeles, of the minister who met him on the highway with a card with three
scriptures written on it for him to look up in the Bible, a woman who baked a
cake in the shape of a golf ball, a little boy who brought his ball back to him
and the dog that ran off with the ball.
He
crossed the Arizona border and reached Yuma on May 2, 17 days and 4,205 strokes
after starting the game. He drove his ball over the Colorado River bridge in
the early morning, and stopped over in Yuma to have his car serviced before
continuing his game.
On May 12, Baker arrived in Tucson,
staying at the Westerner hotel, with 542 of his 823 miles completed. His score
was presently 7,472. Fred Briggs, manager of the Westerner Hotel, heard about
Baker’s up-coming arrival and provided free hotel accommodations for both
Benson and Baker, and took advantage of the publicity by posing for a comical
photo with the manager bathing the feet of Al Baker. By this point Baker was on
his 11th dozen golf balls. He was still averaging three hits per
mile.
Baker remained in Tucson for a
couple days to recoup from the desert heat, appear on the Saturday night (May 13) broadcast via local NBC affiliate
in Tucson, meet up with a new caddy from the quiz show, and partake in a
scheduled golf tournament at the Randolph Park Municipal Golf Course. Played
against 18 Tucson opponents on May 14, selected by the Chamber of Commerce, for
an 18-hole route. The competition began 9:30 Sunday morning. Caddies were
furnished by local High School beauties from The Sunshine Model Club. The match
at the Randolph was arranged through the co-operation of Dell Urich, pro at the
municipal course.*
* Seventeen of the
eighteen players named to compete against Baker: Ed Conway, Col. Lawrence M.
Thomas, deputy commander at Davis-Monthan Air Base, James F. Houston, James C.
Grant, Billy Bell, Jr., Charley Lamb, Harry Chambers, Jack O’Dowd, Eddie
Belton, Ricki Rarick, Fred Gerletti, Joe Niemann, Max Klinger, Tom Valdespino,
Mac Beaudry, Jack Eyman and Steve Ribble.
By
May 18, Baker had already passed through Riverside, Palm Springs, Indio,
Coachello, and El Centro, California; Yuma, Gila Bend, and Tuscon. From Benson
the last part of their journey would go venture East to Willcox and across the
New Mexico border. On Saturday, May 20, Al Baker and John Benson arrived in
Lordsburg, New Mexico, where they were greeted by a parade with a high school
band taking part. Progressing
East, they arrived in Deming on Monday, May 22, where they were entertained at
an exclusive dinner. Working north towards Truth or Consequences, they arrived
in Hatch shortly before noon on Wednesday, honored with a dinner by the Valley
Chamber of Commerce. Baker was greeted by signs reading: “Hatch, N.M., the
friendly little city of trees and flowers welcomes Al Baker on route to our
neighboring city, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.” Hatch, by all accounts,
went all-out to extend Baker a welcome. “Baker’s cross-county trek was telling
on him yesterday as he plodded between Deming and Hatch,” reported the
Associated Press. “To that time, he used 10,480 strokes and 16 dozen golf
balls. Chet Iden, president of the Truth or Consequences County Club, plans to
challenge him to a nine-hole game. Then he can rest.” Hatch was located 38
miles south of Truth or Consequences.
The Arrival
A
delegation of citizens from Truth or Consequences with signs on their cars
welcoming Al Baker to Highway 85, first met the golfer at Hatch. He worked his
way north towards the village of Williamsburg, adjoining Truth or Consequences,
where he and John Benson met with a delegation in celebration. John Benson
later recalled how every town along the route gave them police protection
voluntarily. (In San Bernardino, the police inspector thought the idea of driving
the ball to Truth or Consequences was a great idea and asked Benson if he could
get on Ralph Edwards’ program sometime.) Some of the best police protection
along the entire route of Baker’s cross-country golf game was attributed to the
Sierra County Sheriff’s Posse, John Benson told a reporter for the Hot Springs Herald. They met up with the
Posse twenty-three miles out of Truth or Consequences, down the highway on
Thursday afternoon and there were six Jeeps along the route to help retrieve
the balls. Stock was getting low and Baker was aware of the risk of a delay if
he needed to acquire additional golf balls. The Sheriff’s Posse was divine as
the road was lined with thousands of cars and many enthusiastic spectators were
trying to grab a ball for a souvenir. They were prevented from doing so by the
men in uniform. According to Benson’s recollection, not a single ball was lost
within town limits (although one souvenir hunter almost got away with one). As
a kind gesture, one of the Sheriff’s Posse offered to get them a fresh box of
golf balls, at his expense, if the call of duty was needed.
Arriving
in Truth or Consequences on Thursday evening, the golfer celebrated in
traditional fashion by enjoying a bath in the hot springs, eating local food,
receiving fre drinks in local bars and resting for two days before officially
concluding his long-distance game on Saturday afternoon, for the radio
broadcast.
Saturday
afternoon, people lined the route Baker took through the city, escorted by the
Sierra County Sheriff’s Posse, in completing his course through the downtown
streets from atop Carrie Tingley Hospital hill, out Date Street and then west
to the Country Club (now presently located along Ralph Edwards Drive). Through
traffic was re-routed over other streets and traffic halted at the west end of
Main Street was only delayed for five minutes while Baker was traversing the
distance between Carrie Tingley Hospital and the Broadway-Main intersection. On
each of his drives through the city there were loud cheers to greet and
congratulate him on his accomplishment, and a spontaneous rousing welcome
greeted him when he made his last drive onto the country club green.
 |
| Golf Course as it stands today. |
On
the afternoon of May 27, at 5:00 p.m., exactly 42 days since he teed off from
Hollywood, California, Baker arrived at the Truth or Consequences Country Club.
Five thousand people were lined up along the streets, waving flags and
displaying signs of congratulations from their porches, and along the ninth
fairway and the surrounding green waiting for Baker to make that last shot. The
golfer played up to the green and was on ten feet from the pin. By this time,
the program was on the air and Baker had to stall for a while as he had lines
to read on the broadcast. Finally, at a signal from the announcer, he stepped
up to his ball and dropped the ten-footer to complete the longest golf course
in history – both for time and distance. Instantly, a tremendous roar and cheer
came from the gallery – a great ovation to a tired and gallant golfer. The goal
was the first hole of the new Truth or Consequences golf course overlooking
Elephant Butte Lake, and the course was dedicated when Baker arrived. At 5:42
p.m., live on the air, with a perfect putt he sank his ball in the cup of the 9th
hole of the new country club golf course. (The ninth hole on the
course was the closest to the parking area, road and clubhouse, which is why
this particular hole was chosen. Sandwiches and cold drinks were sold at the
club house. Hole number one was located on the opposite side of the golf
course. While advance publicity cited hole number one, for practical purposes,
hole number nine was chosen instead.)
The
broadcast included also the official welcome of the city made by Dr. T.B.
Williams, mayor, who told Baker the city was his and the mayor hoped Baker
would stay for a long while and enjoy the fine mineral baths they were known
for, as well as some lake fishing. Senator Burton Roach, manager of the Chamber
of Commerce, likewise gave his greeting of welcome and expressed appreciation
for the fine publicity Baker, in carrying out his consequence assigned him by
Ralph Edwards, had given the city.
 |
| Panoramic view of the golf course today, still in operation. |
Al
Baker, a muscular outdoorsman of slightly more than five feet was in top notch
physical condition upon his arrival. After about 36 hours rest after his
arrival and some relaxing indulgence in hot mineral baths, was also in
top-notch spirits, having earned his right to a real celebration. Also
partaking in the celebration was John Benson, and Dick Gottlieb, production
director for the radio show; the latter of whom flew to Truth or Consequences
on Thursday to meet Baker and Benson and prepare for the broadcast Saturday
evening. NBC producer Greiner and engineer Joe Kay handled the technical
hookups. Gottlieb had charge of the six minutes of the broadcast that was made
from the country club. Others in town for the broadcast were Carl Gruener, NBC
producer, Joe Kay, engineer and Norma Hambay of the Gila Bend Trading Post,
Gila Bend, Arizona. Taking part on the radio program were Mayor T.B. Williams,
who officially welcomed Baker and dedicated the golf course; Burton Roach,
manager of the Chamber of Commerce; Dick Gottlieb, Al Baker and John Benson.
Upon
his arrival Thursday evening, Baker, John Benson and Dick Gottlieb were guests
of honor at a covered dish dinner given by the American Legion in the new
Legion Hall. Each of them gave short talks expressing their warm thanks for the
kind reception they were receiving in Truth or Consequences. Baker mentioned, “I
hear some of you still calling the town Hot Springs. Isn’t this the town that I
knocked a golf ball to – Truth or Consequences?” His answer from the audience
was a resounding applause. Legion spokesmen agreed with him. “It takes a lot of
courage to knock a ball all the way from California, especially when there is
so much desert to cross, so hats off to Al Baker, for the fine job he did of
it.”
Baker
was extravagant in his praise of people encountered all along his route,
stating that he never knew people could be so wonderful. He expressed
particular appreciation for the full cooperation and courtesy extended him by
the State Police of California, Arizona and New Mexico. “All along the route
people were wonderful and demonstrated real hospitality,” he explained. For
many people along the route, Baker posed cheerfully for pictures, as well as
local photographers. It was estimated that he shook hands with more than 1,000
people – half of them during the last day of the course.
“The people of
Truth or Consequences seemed to be more sincerer in their reception than any
other town. But, I think I was just about as proud to see them as they were to
see me.” Baker admitted in the Hot
Springs Herald that the contest was a grueling affair and that he was proud
it had been completed. “I cannot begin to thank the people of Truth or
Consequences for what they have done for me. I appreciate so much the many
compliments they have given me.”
 |
| Hole No. 9, Al Baker's destination |
Looking
back at the adventures Baker and Benson had during their trip, the men were
greeted by Gov. Dan Garvey of Arizona. In Brawley, Baker finished third in a
moonlight golf tournament. In Tucson, he beat 18 different members of the golf
club 2 up. (He beat the president of the club 3 up.) During the first week,
Baker became alarmed at the loss of seven pounds of weight. However, he gained
that amount back later which he attributed to the fine steaks along the route.
Then he added that he got the best steak on the entire trip in Truth or
Consequences at the Ritz. “My biggest trouble was people and dogs picking up my
golf balls,” Baker remarked. “One afternoon an owl swooped down and picked one
up. Everybody wanted those balls and each time I lost one, it cost me a stroke.
We figured out that I lost over 100 that way.”
Baker’s
trailer was another center of attraction in Truth or Consequences, as the
thousands of spectators looked it over, noting the multiple thousands of
signatures that had been inscribed on the big sign that told who and where it
was going.
Al
Baker won the $500.00 in cash, a complete set of Wilson clubs, a Columbia
Mountaineer trailer, and a Nash Ambassador Airflyte sedan. Estimated total was
$6,000. He also made many friends. He was made honorary Deputy Sheriff of Yuma
County; and in the days that followed he received mail from all over the
country.
The
final score? Al Baker went the distance of 11,469 blows, bettering par by
13,531 strokes. He was on his 19th and final box of golf balls when
he arrived in Truth or Consequences; having used up a total of 222 golf balls,
beat, strayed or stolen, and having a reserve of but six balls when he finished
his assignment. Seconds after Baker sunk the final ball on the green of
the course, some spectator made a dash for his ball hoping to acquire a
souvenir, but Baker was too fast for him. Grabbing it from the cup, Baker
announced emphatically, “That one is mine.”
Following
the broadcast on Saturday evening, the guests were entertained by city and
Chamber of Commerce officials which included an outdoor barbecue. On Sunday,
Dick Gottlieb, production manager for Truth
or Consequences and liaison officer between the show and the city, was
escorted on a fishing trip up Elephant Butte Lake by Robert B. Smith, president
of the Chamber of Commerce, who demonstrated the three methods of fishing
practiced on the lake.
Only
after the conclusion of the golf game did it become known that Al Baker was a real estate dealer, not just an unemployed musician as previously referenced, and just before his golfing trek sold 20 new homes in
Lakewood, California, a new community near Los Angeles. The town was composed
of 35,000 acres and already had churches of all denominations, schools, country
club and all other things that go to make up a good town. A press release
claimed that Baker’s real estate business was in connection with the large G.I.
project that was now under construction in that state. Baker told reporters
that he might event write a book about his experiences. If he wrote of his
six-week adventure, it was never published.
