Korns is a wealth of golf knowledge

MIDWAY — Billy Korns moves a little slower than he used to, but his golf mind remains a computer hard drive.

The six-time Utah State Amateur champion (1941, '42, '46, '48, '50, '51) showed up this past weekend at the 108th affair at Soldier Hollow. I heard his voice behind me on No. 17 green as he talked to a friend about some medical situation, his health and his challenges at age 84.

He's lost some weight and some of his strength.

But ask him a golf question, beg for some tips, and you see a transformation take place. From some locked safe in his mind, some conduit to his heart, the cylinders click in and a light blasts on. His eyes narrow and his brow furrows about a half inch.

Then, he speaks the words he's preached thousands of times. It is remarkable and satisfying to see and hear this knowledge fly.

Korns is a legend and you always want to hang with these guys, especially when they are as gracious as Billy.

After one of the best amateur careers ever in these parts, Korns turned pro. That career choice as a professional golf instructor took him to Riverside Country Club from 1965-77; Lake Hills in Billings, Mont.; Caldwell, Idaho, and he was the first head pro at Rexburg, Idaho.

Korns has lived in Provo for more than 40 years.

At Soldier Hollow, standing on No. 17 and 18 on Saturday during the quarterfinals and semifinals of the storied tournament, I asked for half a dozen of his best golf tips. He hesitated for a second and then spoke as if perched behind a lectern at a Harvard Business School symposium.

This is when you scramble for a notebook, a tape recorder. And listen.

Tips from one of the best golfers to ever pick up a club in Utah:

• THE LEGS: "When you walk, your arms naturally move in action or rhythm, but you can stand there all day and move your arms and the legs don't move. The golf swing is like dancing, and the arms and the rest of the body take movement from the feet. In golf, it is the pivot moment that's important. Your legs make your arms move, so, key to a good golf swing is to get your legs involved and let the natural movement of the body get involved."

• THE LEFT ARM: "More people are fouled up by keeping the left arm stiff instead of straight. The left arm has to be flexible. Keep the elbow flexible."

• THE CLUBHEAD: "Lift the weight of the clubhead with the wrists and hands, not the shoulder or arms."