"If it goes right, it’s a slice. If it goes left, it’s a hook. If it goes straight, it’s a miracle” is a jocular golf saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1989, when it was printed on T-shirts.
20 August 1989, The Advocate (Newark, OH), “T-shirts’ messages range from hilarious to raunchy” by Sue Sheets, pg. 4B, col. 1:
Humorous “tees” for golfers include: “If it goes right, it’s a slice. If it goes left, it’s a hook. If it goes straight, it’s a miracle”
20 January 1990, Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), “Did you know?” by Heather Macdonald, pg. 3, col. 2:
Smile: Dreaming of warmer weather, I read about the golfer who said: “If it goes right it’s a slice. If it goes left it’s a hook. If it goes straight it’s a miracle.”
22 January 1990, St. Louis (MO) Post-Dispatch, “Eye Openers” by Dan Caesar, pg. 6C, cols. 2-3:
NORM FROSCHER of the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun sums up his tee shots:
If it goes right, it’s a slice.
if it goes left, it’s a hook.
If it goes straight, it’s a miracle.
Google Books
Golf, It’s Just a Game:
The Best Quotes & Cartoons About Golf
By Bruce Lansky
New York, NY: Meadowbrook Press
1996
Pg. ?:
If it goes right, it’s a slice.
If it goes left, it’s a hook.
If it goes straight, it’s a miracle. —T-shirt
Twitter
Luca_de_Monte_Carlo
@LarnacaLad
I’ve finally figured out Golf: if it goes right, it’s a “slice.” If it goes left, it’s a “hook.” And if it goes straight, it’s a miracle!
11:09 AM · Feb 20, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Facebook
TGC Golf
June 21, 2019 ·
If it goes right, it’s a slice.
If it goes left, it’s a hook.
If it goes straight, it’s a miracle.
Twitter
Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife
@HRHtenerife
If it goes right, it’s a slice.
If it goes left, it’s a hook.
If it goes straight, it’s a miracle.
Let´s play some golf today!!
#HardRockHotel #HRHTenerife
Image
6:45 AM · Jul 28, 2019·AgoraPulse Manager
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.