OT-Golf: Father's Day Edition
Father's Day is a pretty special day for golf as US Open is usually held on this weekend, so I figured I would post this today instead of Thu.
Do you have a special father-related golf stories? Most people take up golf due to their parent(s) playing it. This would be a good excuse to talk about some special bonding moments you had with your father on the golf course (or even just watching it together on TV).
I have played several rounds with my father and also with my daughter, but I really don't have any special memory to share other than the fact that golf is the only sport played by my father, my brother, myself and my daughter. It is definitely one of the very few topics that our entire family can talk about when we get together.
What is yours?
I’ve been teaching my youngest and he loves it. My older daughter likes driving the cart and putting so that’s a win.
I do a golf podcast (right click, print money) and every Monday when I go to record my son says tee it high and let it fly dad and that gives me warm fuzzy feelings inside.
My grandfathers were both golf junkies. My dad never really got in to it. But he's a great dad and is in to other things.
Cool story, bro: yesterday a buddy of mine and I were playing a course near Cadillac. On the Par 5 11th hole, we caught up to a dad coaching his adorable young daughters. Very clear they were going to move slowly, and this good dad quickly waived us through. We hurried to the tee, where I thanked them all by just hitting an utter bomb right up the middle. 280 yards, middle of the fairway.
I'll show myself out...
I got to play at Pebble Beach with my dad about 20-something years ago. And by play, I mean I got to ride around in the golf cart and my dad would occasionally throw a ball out on the green for me to putt. I couldn’t have been more than 9 or 10 years old at the time.
I went with my dad to play Bethpage Black in my mid-teens. I obviously played horribly but it was the first time I got drunk, thanks dad!
Ten years ago my brother, stepbrother, myself and our Dad played 18 holes the day after Dad's 90th birthday. It was the most memorable round of golf I've ever played. Also the last time he was able to play 18 holes. The next couple of years he would play 9, then 4 or 5 till he could not play due to health reasons.He passed away in 2017. Happy Father's Day, Dad.
My Dad did not play and neither do I. He did build a ski tow on a hill next to our house and I learned how to ski. My son does not golf, but he snow boards and skis.
The influence of Dads!
Anyway in a way I do love golf. It has an agrarian pace to the game, and quiet announcers so I can take great Sunday naps!
My dad was fairly decent although he never really played that much. He was a good athlete but never played a lot of golf but he did get me into it. His father, however, was an excellent golfer and so are my aunt and uncles. My grandfather hurt his shoulder in a car crash and was so pissed he couldn't play for a while that he got a set of lefty clubs and played left-handed for a few years.
I was playing a ton over the last few years because it's great to play with family but the last year has just spiked my interest in golf into the ground. I weirdly have like no interest in playing again (probably because I'm not going to get any better and I got annoyed with all the dudes who came out of the woodwork to pick up golf again during the pandemic, pissed me off).
I think the sport of golf is great.
I just can't stand the elitist culture, especially compared to other outdoor activities that are more inclusive and far less expensive. I shouldn't be expected to dress nicer than I do for church to go outside and play a game. I know it's been toned down some over the years, but enough of the country club atmosphere still persists to make it an annoyance.
My dad sucks at golf and so do I.
I'm reallly fortunate to have played a lot of golf with my Dad over the years (including today, as a matter of fact). Nobody I would rather spend the day with. Got in quite a bit with my grandpa growing up, too. We've played some nice courses, though not very many that would be considered "great". Taken some trips, though not to too many places that make golf magazine hot lists.
The sport is enjoyable, but the time and talk is priceless.
1985 Walking with my dad on the final day at Oakland Hills. Was across the fairway and saw TC Chen double chip.
When I started playing golf at 12, my dad had been playing for years. We were a blue collar family, and I had to mow lawns in the neighborhood and do chores to pay for my green fees, but if I could beat my Dad he would pay. I spent most of my first year hitting whiffle balls to soup cans in the yard. Finally, after about a year I beat him and never looked back.
I played golf in college, then focused on career, grad school and starting my own consulting practice, so we didn’t get to play much over the years. This past Christmas we went to Palm Springs together. I took him to PGA West (Stadium) and paid for him for the first time. Given the history it meant a lot to both of us.