Early Lessons
Today I’m reflecting on some of the experiences I’ve had and the places I’ve played in the world of golf.
My introduction to the game came from my father. This is one of the very few positive things he passed along to me. We would watch tournaments on TV, and he would even drag me out with him on weekends to be his caddy. Truth be told, I wasn’t strong enough to actually pull the trolley.
My First Set of Clubs
I’m guessing I was about four or five in this picture with Mr. Don Walls, who was an absolute legend for his commitment to bringing people into the game. He built me my first club — a 7 iron.
Growing Up on the Course
As a kid, I would hop the fence at the Stony Plain Golf Course (with Kyle Embree). We’d fish lost balls out of the water hazards and sell them back to the players. I never really tracked the money we made, but one weekend I kept my share. It was enough to buy my first seven-piece set of clubs from the now-defunct Masters Golf on Jasper Avenue in Edmonton.
I loved those clubs. Even though I couldn’t really afford to buy a round, I would spend hours hitting balls in the fields around Meridian Heights School (my elementary school). In high school, the course had a deal to play nine holes before 8:00 a.m. for $10 — the 8-9-10 deal. I took advantage of that many times, which also meant I missed a lot of first-block classes.
Dream Courses and Distant Lands
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to play some unbelievable courses: Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Spanish Bay, Pasatiempo, Kapalua, Carnoustie, TPC Sawgrass, TPC Houston, Redstone, Cabo del Sol, and on and on. I’ve played in India, Iran, the Abu Dhabi, Asia, Europe, and all over North America.
Family, Friends and First Dates
Some of my best friendships were developed on the golf course. Over the years, I was able to golf with my Grandfather, father and son. The closest I got my daugher to golf was once or twice on the range. I even had a few first dates at the golf course.
A Day With The King
One of the greatest experiences of my life came in 2007 when I played a hole of golf with the King himself, Mr. Arnold Palmer, along with Peter Jacobson. It was a day I’ll never forget — and yet, in some ways, I don’t fully remember. Let me explain.
I can recall almost everything leading up to the moment: arriving at the course, meeting Peter and Mr. Palmer, the interviews in the banquet room, and watching the first groups. Around the sixth hole I excused myself to warm up on the range. Alberta radio legend Dave Rutherford was there; we exchanged pleasantries and had a meaningful conversation about what was ahead.
“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented”-Mr. Arnold Palmer
I can recall almost everything leading up to the moment: arriving at the course, meeting Peter and Mr. Palmer, the interviews in the banquet room, and watching the first groups. Around the sixth hole I excused myself to warm up on the range. Alberta radio legend Dave Rutherford was there; we exchanged pleasantries and had a meaningful conversation about what was ahead.
But from there, my memory blurs. I don’t even remember getting to the 9th tee. I remember making a joke that made Mr. Palmer laugh. I remember hitting my first drive so far right it could have circled back, and then crushing my mulligan down the fairway almost to the green.
Beyond that, not much stuck. I know I walked and talked with Peter, but I can’t tell you what was said. I was so amped up that nothing registered. From the time we walked off of the tee until about 30 minutes after our hole was done the best description of my memory that I have of that time is: gray.
They made a birdie. We made a par. They carried on to the 10th, while I went to the clubhouse, had a drink, and rejoined them on 12 through the finish.
It was a day I’ll never forget, but also never fully remember.
Then, The Game Changed
Golf was obviously a huge part of my life for a very long time.
I always believed in the ethics and honor for which golf was known. It was one of the only sports where players would call penalties on themself. To me, the game itself was always bigger than any single player. Whether it was Palmer, Nicklaus, or Woods — the game was paramount.
My perspective started to shift with the rise of The Golf Channel. At first it was amazing — imagine, 24-hour golf! But after NBC took over, it started to feel more like reality TV than sport.
Former players turned broadcasters like Johnny Miller and Brandel Chamblee seemed more interested in making the broadcasts about themselves than in enhancing the coverage. Paul Azinger (another person I had the chance to meet) once explained his philosophy: only to add to what viewers were already seeing, and never make the players look bad.
By contrast, Miller and Chamblee often said things like: “This putt is about 15 feet. There’s not much in it. I’d expect them to make it 95% of the time.” Statements like that only serve the broadcaster. If the putt drops, they look right and the player really didn’t accomplish anything because it was “easy”. If it misses, the player looks incompetent.
The more I noticed it, the less I enjoyed watching.
It got worse when The Golf Channel became full-time Tiger Woods cheerleaders. Even after his peak, they practically handed him the win before he teed off — only for him to sometimes miss the cut entirely. After a while, it became all to predictable.
To a lesser extent, they became overly nationalistic. It’s fine to be proud of your country, but golf is a global game. Listening to commentary that sounded more like propaganda than analysis was frustrating.
Watching Patrick Reed get away with cheating (again) at Torrey Pines around 2021 was the breaking point. That was one of the last tournaments I watched.
Walking Away
Combine that with declining broadcasting standards, the erosion of ethics, and the PGA/LIV fiasco, and I was done. I no longer wanted to support a game that no longer reflected what I believed in.
Over the past few years I’ve stopped following the social media accounts of players, tours or networks that are golf affiliated. Candidly, I haven’t missed it at all.
When I heard about the Ryder Cup controversy last weekend, I was disappointed, but not at all surprised. For me, it was just another reminder that the things I once loved most about one of the greatest games mankind ever created are long gone.