No matter how well you train your golf dog, they’ll still love messing up a bunker. That’s just one of the many observations I’ve made from a lifetime of playing golf with man’s best friend. Regardless of how much raking clean up I have to do, the extra effort is well worth it. Playing golf with a dog is one of the great joys of my life.

Some of my happiest memories on the golf course have been with dogs. I grew up playing with my dog on a small-town nine-hole course and now enjoy the practice at my friendly neighborhood club. It’s a wonderful way to experience the game. I’ve enjoyed hundreds of rounds with my dog and often get asked what tips I can share to help others do the same.

Training a golf dog takes time, but if you are willing to put in the work the rewards are endless. It’s hard for me to describe just how much I love walking a golf course with my pal Leon. We’ve done it so many times that it has become second nature to us both. It didn’t start that way though!

Leon is now 10 years old and it took a lot of long walks together to get to the level of comfort we now enjoy on the course. I’ve kept a few good notes along the way and I believe these tips can help anyone who wants to start enjoying the practice.

1. Get your pup acquainted with the course

   I always encourage folks who are interested in playing with their dog to start the training process by offering some tutorial walks without the clubs. Take your aspiring golf dog out to the course, have them on the leash, and go walk the routing together. Let your pup see what the place is like, enjoy the new smells, and mark some territory. You want them to be comfortable there and a few orientation sessions can make for a strong foundation. Once you’ve walked the course together a time or two, you might try taking just one club and start hitting a few shots. It’s probably best to do these test walks early in the morning or late in evening when the course is quiet. Let your pro shop staff know what you are doing too. You’ll have to get them comfortable with the arrangement as well.

2. Start with a leash

   When you first begin training your golf dog, it’s best to start them on a leash. A short one is preferable. You want your golf dog to get used to staying near you while you play. By staying close, your pup will also learn the preferred routes around the course. They’ll get used to the cadence of the game too. When you stop, they should stop. When your bag is on the ground, your dog should sit. When you are on the green, your dog should lay down. Keep them on a tight leash to start and these good habits will start to form. Once they have the hang of the basics, you can offer them a bit more freedom.

3. A water bowl is essential

   We all get thirsty when out for a long walk, especially dogs. Make sure your first purchase as a golf dog trainer is a collapsible water bowl for your pup. You can find these online pretty easily and I’d recommend getting one that can clip on to your golf bag. Most courses offer a fair amount of watering stations across the course but you’ll want to make sure you have them mapped out in your head. If your course doesn’t offer watering stations, then be sure to bring an extra water bottle with you when you play. You can always cup your hand or let you pup lick their way through a paper cup but a bowl will make both your experiences better. Most clubs that are dog friendly will keep one at the clubhouse too. That may also be a good gift for your club if you are trying to start a golf dog culture there. The more you normalize the habit for all involved the better!

4. It’s best to fly solo at first

   It’s a lot of fun to have your dog tag along with you and your friends on the course, however, it’s probably best to learn this routine as a single. If you introduce playing partners too soon, there’s a good chance that your dog will get excited and flock to the others in your group. While you want your dog to have fun interactions with friends down the road, you don’t want them to be a big distraction to your playing partners. Once you have gotten a dozen or so rounds under your belt with just your dog at your side, then you can start branching out with new partners. Find a few friends who won’t care if your pup slips up and take some test runs together. You’ll need to train your friends on these interactions too.

   

5. Practice makes perfect

   Like anything in golf, you’ll need reps to master this way of playing. Walking the course with your dog is the only way to improve his performance. Of course, that will be on you to facilitate. You need to get your dog into a golf routine if you ever want them to truly flourish in that environment. The more you take your dog to the course the more they’ll get used to the experience. That’s how you’ll build a rapport with each other and all other parties involved. If you club is iffy about you bringing the dog, these regular reps will be your best strategy for normalizing the practice. Show your dog and everyone else around that this practice is safe, acceptable, and enjoyable and you’ll be on the way to living your best golf dog life.

6. Reward good behavior

   Every dog loves a treat. Keep a stash in your bag so that you can reward good golf course etiquette. Just like any other elements of training your dog, rewards will help memorialize good behavior. While the treats are always helpful, don’t forget about how you talk to your four legged friend. Be sure to offer confirming compliments to them as they learn their way around the course. You want your golf dog to be confident in this environment. The more they feel like they belong there the better their comportment will be in the long run. Give your pup a big belly rub from time to time too. Make them love being on the course with you and the rest of the process will fall into place.

7. Mind the crowds

   Golf clubs and courses can get pretty busy. You need to make sure that your dog is well behaved both on the fairways and back at the clubhouse. If your club has a strong dog culture, there will likely already be some rules( written or unwritten) in place. If not, you’ll need to help form those by championing good behavior. Your mission should be to set the standard for golf dog etiquette at your club. What happens on the course is incredibly important, but it will be what happens around the clubhouse and near others that ultimately determines if you’ll get to keep coming back around with your pup.

8. Have fun with your friend

   Golf is a pastime and it’s meant for having fun. Your goal for every trip to the course with your dog should be to make sure both of you are having a good time. Keep things light with your pup. Understand that a later afternoon round with a dog probably won’t be your record score. In fact, just leave the scorecard out of it and you’ll both have more fun. Many of my best golf outings are just me and my dog walking with a half set of clubs and going for a short loop. It’s up to you to create the routine and the more fun and relaxed feelings you can weave into the experience the better it will be for both of you.

9. A little freedom goes a long way

   Once your golf dog has established a high level of comfort on the course it’s time to let them off the leash. Most of us go to the course in search of freedom from work, family duties, and other stresses in our lives. Let your dog enjoy that same feeling. Being in the house or on a leash all the time is not what dogs were born to do. Just like us, they were meant to roam. It won’t happen overnight, but if you put in the time to properly train your golf dog you’ll eventually get to a place where you both can go out and enjoy the freedom that comes from a long untethered walk on the golf course. Let your friend off the leash and go have a walkabout. Both your souls will benefit from the experience.

When you show up to the golf course with your dog, you might get some funny looks. Don’t worry though. It’s just a blend of curiosity and envy. When folks see you tee off with a four-legged golf companion, they are going to wonder why they aren’t doing the same with their pup. As a seasoned K9 golfer, I can assure you the experience is well worth a few weird looks at first. However, it’s up to you to put in the work required to get there. The keys to becoming is a good golf dog owner is patience and practice. I’m hopeful these tips can help you get there.

While we are on the subject of golf dogs, I recently had the chance to talk about mine on Golf Channel. It was part of a fun discussion with Damon Hack and Eamon Lynch on Golf Today about my new book Swing, Walk, Repeat. In the book, I of course write about how Leon and I spend many late afternoons on the golf course together. I like to think of Swing, Walk, Repeat as a guide for igniting your golfing soul…playing with your pup is a great way to get started.

Check out our discussion below and get your copy of Swing, Walk, Repeat here.

Finally, my friends at the Golfer’s Journal recently published a story of mine about one of my favorite hidden gem golf destinations. The story is about World Woods, a long-time under the radar golf hang in Central Florida, and the man who has kept it going despite 30 years of uphill battles. Earlier this year, the Mike Keiser backed Cabot company bought World Woods and will soon begin the work of re-imagining it as an upscale resort called Cabot Citrus Farms. My story chronicles that journey and shares the struggles of the man who has been along for the whole ride. The story is titled Back to the Future and you can read it here. Come for the words and stay for the stirring images by my good friend Carolyn Allen.

Happy reading and good luck training your golf dog. Thanks as always for stopping by.

Until next time,

-Jay

I’m spoiled. My favorite golf course on earth is only three blocks from my house. Living that close to your vice can be dangerous. As you can imagine, having only a seven minute walk between me and paradise make’s it pretty hard to manage my addiction.

Despite the challenges this proximity to golf presents in my marriage, those walks to the course are some of the most important moments in my life. It’s during that downtime when I can unplug my thoughts. Like on Sunday mornings while I’m out for stroll with my dog Leon and a pitching wedge.

Armed with a few poop bags and and handful of shag balls, I march from my home to the golf course with great enthusiasm. Leon leads the way down this familiar and peaceful path. Our pace is quick and my smile is wide. Along the walk, we see the same neighbors at the same time each week. Routines make life worth living.

As if the golf course wasn’t enough an attraction, our neighborhood is beautiful. Trees shade us from the sun and their is always something in bloom. The homes in this historic district have a delightful patina too. After passing the park we wind down a canopy road and there is a small gated path used by the maintenance team. That’s where we find our links.

When we enter the golf course, I stash Leon’s leash in the fork of a live oak tree. We like this corner of the property, because there is a little wedge game range there. Tucked in between the fourth, twelfth, and thirteenth holes, this open space has a few flag targets so members can come practice away from the crowded range at the clubhouse. Leon and I usually have the place ourselves.

With five balls in hand, it takes me about 20 minutes to hit them down and back on the wedge range. It’s one hundred and forty yards each way. Plenty of steps to figure out all the questions of life.

With the proper spousal approvals in place, I can do this dance three times before having to report back for dad duty. One hour and fifteen minutes is the desired pace of play. I meditate on life and let my golf dreams go wild. It’s fun for my imagination to wander while I try to make every swing count.

On some mornings, my walk to the wedge range is great practice for my fading golf game. Meanwhile, there are other days when all I can do is sort through the pressing issues crowding my mind. Either way, I walk down to the course concerned and come home relieved. It always makes some part of my life better.

As much as I enjoy walking 18 holes, the truth is that my quick jaunts to the golf course on Sunday’s might even be better. Because time is limited, the value of each step and swing is greatly inflated. This scarcity makes the good shots feel all the more better.

It all takes me back to the nine-hole course I grew up on. In the waning daylight of late summer evenings, I would slip out behind our house and hit 4 irons down the fourth fairway. Back and forth until the cover of darkness or sting of mosquitos ushered me home. My Sunday morning walks with a wedge are the closest I can still get to those old summer nights.

I didn’t know what I had back then. I loved it, but there was no way to understand how precious a resource those one club golf outings were. These days, with two kids, a dozen clients, and a campaign for public office in full swing, I fully understand the value of a brief golfing interlude.

Each swing on that wedge range is like a metronome helping keep my thoughts in rhythm. That kind of clarity is hard to find off the course. Make some swings, take some steps, discover a few truths. Even in small doses, I’m so fortunate to have this game in my life.

One hour and fifteen minutes is the perfect amount of time for me to escape reality. With all the wonders of golf just a few blocks away, I’m never more than a short walk to finding the answers I’m looking for. It’s a damn fine way to spend a Sunday morning.

***

I’ve been a bit busy!

Unfortunately, my golf writings have been just as scarce as my low scores this year. However, I’ve got some fun ideas up my sleeve. Stay tuned! In the meantime, I’ve been working to get the word out about my latest book — Swing, Walk, Repeat.

Recently, the book got a few nice shout outs by Golf.com and Tour Junkies . Even my hometown newspaper has golf on their mind. Working with my friends at Back 9 Press, we’ve got some other cool appearances and reviews in the works too.

If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy of Swing, Walk, Repeat I hope you’ll do so. I like to think of it as a guide for your igniting your golfing soul. You can grab a copy at either of the links below:

Back 9 Press

Amazon

I also added a new video series on my youtube page where I share some of the stories behind the passages in Swing, Walk, Repeat. You can check that out here:

I should also mention how much fun I had hosting the Golfer’s Journal for an event at my home course last month. It was pretty cool to have so many subscribers come visit Leon and I for some golf on our home track. Catch my event recap column for the Journal here — Even Harder to Leave

Thanks as always for reading. Now go find a place to take a walk with your wedge and sort out all the questions of life!

Until next time,

-Jay

In celebration of the new year, please enjoy 10% off your purchase of my new book Swing, Walk, Repeat with the code NEWYEAR10

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Hey there friends,

I hope your holiday season has been a bright one. Perhaps you’ve even been able to enjoy some golf during this time of reflection. While I haven’t been able to play(or write) as much as I’d like this December, I’m excited for the new year and the rounds with friends that lie ahead.

I’ve always found that the turn of the calendar brings great anticipation for where golf might take me next. There are already a few trips being scheduled and I can’t wait to see what will transpire as the game pulls me in new directions.

Before I dash on into 2022, I do want to take a few moments to reflect on the year we will soon leave behind. In 2021, I was able to play a lot of golf. Way more than I deserved to. All those rounds, both here at home and far away, brought me great peace and joy. For that I am incredibly grateful.

I’m grateful for the travel I was able to enjoy. Two outings to Pinehurst and an unexpected weekend at Streamsong made for some special memories. There was a mixture of business and pleasure during each trip and plenty of adventure along the way. Just thinking of all those swings and laughs with close friends makes me smile.

I’m grateful to have fallen deeper in love with my home course — Capital City Country Club in Tallahassee. Between the dozens of Friday better ball matches, winning a member-guest flight with my brother, and spending lots of days laughing with my family it was always a joy to spend time at my club. To top it off, I was also able to share the Capital City story with thousands of golfers via a fun appearance on No Laying Up’s entertaining show Strapped.

I’m also grateful for all the support you all have shown for my new book Swing, Walk, Repeat. So many folks have bought the book and sent me lovely messages about how they’ve found themselves in my words. What a cool feeling. It was such a treat to work with the talented folks at Back Nine Press to bring this crazy idea to life and I’m just thrilled to know that readers like you have enjoyed the book.

Finally, I’m grateful for my growing family and how that will certainly shrink my golf schedule in 2022. Last August, we welcomed my son into the world and everyday since has been one filled with more love than I ever thought possible. It’s so fun to take my daughter to the course with me now and I can’t wait to have him there with us in the coming years. However, while he’s still an infant and my wife and I are juggling all our duties, the clubs may get a bit dustier this coming year. That’s just fine too.

The funny thing about golf is that it is always there when you need it. In 2021 I needed it badly. 2020 was a tumultuous year for our family and some career changes made me revaluate much of what I was doing with my life. When the uncertainty of 2021 arrived, golf was there to help me find the answers.

During those golf trips, the rounds with friends on Fridays, and even while making a few winning putts with my brother at the member-guest I remembered many of the qualities that make me who I am. I found some time to love myself and those around me. I was able to blaze a few new trails and soak up all the little wins along the way. It was such a good year.

Golf has always been my favorite tool for reflecting on my position in life and in many ways 2021 felt like one long evening walk. Each shot I took was proof of what can be found if I just keep swinging.

2022 may not have as much golf in store for me, but I have no doubt that the rounds I do play will bring me great joy. I’ve got some new ventures to pursue and a growing family to fill my heart. Sprinkle some golf on that and it will be another banner year.

I hope golf finds you wherever you need it in 2022. Thanks as always for reading.

Cheers,

-Jay

P.S.

Be sure to check out the latest episode of my podcast, Mid-Am Crisis, featuring Akbar Chisti - Founder of Seamus Golf. We had a great chat about how he built his company, golf in Oregon, and how the internet has made brands like his possible.

If you enjoy the show, be sure to leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts!

See you in 2022.

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Listen to the Mid-Am Crisis Podcast

There have been a lot of upstart golf businesses that have launched during the game's most recent boom. One of the most fascinating ventures is a new publishing company called Back Nine Press. Based out of Chicago, the company is on a mission to publish books about golf that they believe the game deserves. According to founder Jim Sitar, Back Nine Press is seeking to publish great stories that define golf today, personal reflections on the meaning of the game, and compelling writing about the people who are forging the future of golf.

Back Nine Press hit the ground running this Summer with the launch of their first book, The Secret Home of Golf - the official history of Sweetens Cove Golf Club by author Jim Hartsell. Their follow up effort is none other than my new book Swing, Walk, Repeat! This week on the Mid-Am Crisis Podcast, Back Nine Press founder Jim Sitar joins me on the show to discuss his new publishing company, what the business has been like so far, and of course the process of publishing my new book which is now available for pre-order.

Pre-Order Swing, Walk, Repeat.

Getting to know Jim Sitar has been a great pleasure and I've loved every minute of working with him on my new book. Swing, Walk, Repeat is a collection of over 230 love letters to golf that I wrote during the height of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020. In many ways these mini-essays are like my golf manifesto. I'm thrilled to have the work complete and to share it with the world soon. Having the chance to reflect on that journey with Jim Sitar on the show was a lot of fun too.

You can follow Back Nine Press on Instagram and Twitter at @backninepress

You can pre-order my new book, Swing, Walk, Repeat at https://www.back9press.com/swing-walk-repeat

If you enjoy the show, I would love for you to leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Cheers,

-J

I’m excited to share that my new book — Swing, Walk, Repeat — is now available for pre-order via Back Nine Press!

The book is filled with observations from my lifelong golf obsession. The truths I explore in the Swing, Walk, Repeat are shared through a collection of over 230 love letters to the game. These mini-essays were all written during the height of the COVID19 pandemic and are evidence of how golf helps me live a fuller life.

In the pages of this book, you’ll find reflections on how I like to play, the friendships golf inspires, and how the game has been an essential part of my family. I included passages that document lessons I’ve been taught, truths I’ve discovered, and emotions I’ve experienced. There are even some ramblings on what I think about the current state of the game and how it operates as a business. In many ways, this is my golf manifesto.

Because the book is broken into dozens of short reads it is presented as an everyday golf devotional. Each page offers an example of how the lines between golf and life are so often blurred for the better. Those pieces are punctuated with some amazing illustrations by the talented artist Dave Baysden. I can’t wait for people to get to read it!

Get your copy ordered today at www.back9press.com/swing-walk-repeat

All pre-orders for Swing, Walk, Repeat will be shipped in time for the holidays and I believe this book will make a great gift for any golf lover. I also know this will be a book many golfers will want to keep by their bed, in the office, or anywhere that a small dose of golf might be helpful. I like to think that you’ll be able to pick up this volume, open it to any page, and find some words that remind you why golf is such a special game to so many.

The feedback I’ve gotten on Swing, Walk, Repeat has been really cool to read. It seems like the work is hitting a nerve for many of my fellow golf tragics. See below for a note from Golf in the Kingdom author Michael Murphy.

I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to work with such talented people as Jim Sitar at Back Nine Press and my good friend Dave Baysden. The book we’ve partnered to create has been a real labor of love and I’m thrilled to now begin sharing its contents.

Thanks to everyone of you for your continued support of my golf writing. I can’t tell you how much it means to have you all read my words about this amazing game.

Stay tuned for more details on my new book, Swing, Walk, Repeat.

Cheers,
-J

Order Your Copy of Swing, Walk, Repeat

My Dearest Son,

There are so many thoughts that have raced through my head since your birth earlier this week. In only a few short days, I’ve already begun to explore the endless possibilities of what your life will be like. While my daydreams of your life range in scope and scale, all of them are rooted in my unwavering love for you and deep fascination with the man you will become someday.

A father’s imagination can run wild in these moments. It is easy for me to start thinking about all the great achievements you may record in your life. I’ve tried to remain grounded, but it is difficult for a dreamer like me to remain sensible when someone as wonderful as you arrives in the world.

While I certainly have many big hopes for your life, I do realize that it will be up to you to chart your own course. At best, I can only be a guide for the journeys you choose to undertake. However, I would like to suggest one pursuit that I believe will greatly enhance your existence.

You see son, you come from a long line of golfers. Beginning with your Great-Great-Grandfather, many in your family tree have taken up and fallen for the game. While we have all experienced ups and downs playing golf, I can’t fathom a better way for you to spend your days than getting to know yourself and others on a course you love.

Golfers are a funny lot. We tend to be a bit self deprecating and even eccentric at times, but those of us who play are mostly good hearted and hopeful. I have found great pleasure in surrounding myself with such folks. We like to laugh a lot and the bonds we build together only seem to strengthen with every round. Nothing would please me more than to see you join our ranks.

I think it would be fair to say that golf has shaped my life in a profound way. It has the potential to do the same for you. While I would love for you to eventually become an impressive golfer, I primarily just hope that you enjoy playing. I think you will find that golf can inspire many a grand adventure and push you to succeed in other fields.

Through my own experiences, I can confidently say that golf can take you to incredible places and introduce you to spectacular people. Your grandfather once told me that “golf will open more doors than you can possibly imagine” and that has proven true in so many ways. Golf has helped advance my career and serves as the foundation for some of my most important relationships. Above all else, golf has given me a venue for which to get to know and challenge myself.

I’ve found the time I spend walking golf courses to be some of the most significant hours of my life. That’s where I go to sort through my deepest thoughts and explore my personal ambitions. Perhaps golf can serve the same purpose for you.

As much as I’ve treasured all the days I’ve spent playing golf with friends and family, it has often been the quiet times while playing alone( or with a dog ) that have meant the most to me. It will be important for you to find similar spaces that allow for self reflection.

I believe it is critical to your success in life to carve time out of your schedule for the regular contemplation of your actions. Hitting a ball with sticks through a field and to a hole seems well suited for the task. The challenge of getting around a golf course in as few strokes as possible will test your thinking and abilities greatly. This form of escapism not only helps pass the time and be near kindred spirits, but it will force you to confront your failures on a regular basis.

Golf is a game that despite being endlessly frustrating, can teach you a great deal about life. The one lesson that stands out most to me is on perseverance. I’ve found that one of the most important measures of someone’s life is determined by how well and how often they bounce back from disappointment and failure. Golf will prove this truth to you time and time again.

When you play golf, you are constantly faced with decisions about whether or not to take chances. Often times, you will choose to go for it and come up short. However, on many occasions you will rise to the opportunity at hand and do something spectacular. The lesson here is that you can’t succeed if you don’t try and despite all the times you’ll miss, it is the trying that counts most.

Along with a love for golf, it is that perseverance that I am most proud to pass down to you. I’ve learned some tough lessons in life and God knows I’ve failed many times, but everyday I wake up with a desire to try again. I’ve developed that small but important ambition through the guidance of our family, some wise words from a few good mentors, and of course while playing lots of golf. Of all the hopes I have for you, the greatest is that you never stop trying.

Golf is a good place to practice that approach to life. In this heart wrenching yet beautiful game, we must face the fact that most of our swings will yield results which fall short of our desires. I hate to tell you this, but the same is true in life. Despite frequent shortcomings, you will find success if you keep trying. When your swing visions and bold dreams come to fruition, you’ll find great satisfaction in knowing that giving it one more try was what got the job done.

Some will think I’m silly for suggesting that golf is a good training ground for the challenges you’ll face in life. Don’t mind the cynics though son. Golf can give you a familiar place to focus on bettering your faults. It’s a safe and reliable space for you to practice self improvement. Someday you’ll see just how important that really is.

You’ll also soon come to realize that your dad can be a bit long winded. This is especially true when I wax poetically about golf. So, I’ll conclude my note to you with this final thought. Whatever you choose to do in your life, I hope that you keep choosing to do it until you figure out how to do it well. I hope golf will be part of your life, but no matter what interests you choose to pursue it is most important that you never stop trying to improve.

I won’t be a great dad for you all of the time, but do know this my son — I’ll never stop trying to get better. The best lesson golf has taught me is that perseverance clears the path to great reward. When you get out on the course someday, no matter if I’m with you or not, just remember that if you keep swinging, eventually you’ll get it right. That lesson holds true no matter what you are pursuing and it has made all the difference in my life. I hope you will discover the same.

Until then, I’ll be here to love you and guide you the best I can.

With all my heart,

Dad

Thanks for reading Mid-Am Crisis. If you enjoy these reflections, be sure to subscribe to our podcast as well. It’ available on all your favorite listening channels. The show has taken a couple weeks off for the birth of my son, but will be back soon.

In the meantime, check out the latest episode with legendary golf broadcaster Steve Melnyk below.

While you are chasing golf content, if you are looking for a fun golf read that will spur on some daydreams about the game, be sure to pick up a copy of my book, The Nine Virtues of Golf !

Every time I play in a golf tournament my competitive fire get’s reignited. I may not be playing at any elite level these days, but the thrill of trying to win a golf event is still my favorite kind of rush. As much as I love my career and family, I can’t help but wish there were more chances to chase those old feelings.

Like most similarly crazed golfers, I don’t care if it’s an individual event or team outing because when there is some cash, a trophy, or bragging rights on the line my blood starts pumping and I love it. Whether on the first tee, standing over a must-make putt, or staring down a long iron to a par four on Sunday, that nerve racking sensation of tournament golf still makes me tingle.

For a serious weekend golfer( whatever that means), there is no better feeling than putting your limited skills on the line in pursuit of a win. Club tournaments, regional amateur events, and even some charitable outings all have the ability to yield a dopamine super hit when things get rolling. These tournaments create what feels like a runners high for amateur golfers. It’s why I’m sad to see my participation in such events continue to fall.

With the birth of our second child imminent, my tournament playing days are dwindling quickly. I’ll be able to participate in a few here and there, but there is a big difference between one child and two when it relates to playing golf tournaments. I just don’t see many full weekends away from the family happening for some time. It’s the culmination of a trend that has been ongoing since I dropped to a knee with a diamond in hand one evening on the beach in my late 20’s.

Before my wife said yes that night, I was probably playing in close to 20 events a year. When I got married that trimmed to 10. Now with one child in pre-school and another set to be born any day, I’ll be lucky to play five in the next twenty months. That’s still more than most golfers get, but the die hard in me wishes I could go chase that small time personal glory every week.

Life is about trade-offs though. I decided to trade my selfish love for playing golf tournaments in for the rewarding embrace of my family and satisfaction of building a business. However, when I get the chance to go play a tournament It’s hard to suppress how much I love the competition.

When I was growing up, golf tournaments were my life. Through junior events and high school matches I lived to go out and hit it. I was a solid player in those years and won a fair amount of times. Not good enough to go play Division 1 college golf, but I could have held my own on most smaller school teams. Today, I’ve still got some avid golfer skills layered with lots of swing flaws, but I can get it around well enough to compete locally.

Being just good enough to hang around the top third of the local leaderboards is a fairly frustrating existence though. I know that if I could practice more I could threaten a win or two, but to do so would probably require a divorce attorney’s involvement. I love golf tournaments but not that much. What I can do is take the game I have and give it all I can when I get the chance to compete.

In some ways, that approach makes me want to win even more. If I can grab a trophy under these conditions it just makes the story that much better. I can hear Jim Nantz telling the audience in my head how amazing my performance is considering I had to get to kid’s birthday party later and didn’t hit range balls that day. It’s the sort of thought that regularly emerges during the few tournaments I play now.

Such was the case last week, when I traded in all my available hall passes for a two-day fourball tournament at a challenging course here in town. Playing with one of my oldest golf pals, we threw all we had at the place for 36 holes. Set up at 7,200 yards in length, the course hit us with thick rough, cavernous bunkers, and delightfully firm greens. It was quite the challenge. The sun was blisteringly hot, pars were at a premium and after 48 hours focused on golf my wife’s patience was severely tested. Despite all that, I must say I loved every minute.

We didn’t win anything last weekend, but up until the last handful of holes we certainly believed we could. Rolling in putts that feel like they matter and hitting shots to set up scoring feels so good at this point in life. It’s a brief reminder of what I can still do as a golfer. That’s the magic of competing that I long for most.

It has been a few years since I’ve won a tournament. Even with a loose definition of “tournament” I still haven’t seen the podium. I’ve had some nice chances and come quite close to hoisting hardware, but the spot atop the final leaderboard has eluded me. That’s a big reason why I’ve had to change what I see as winning.

When I tee it up in a tournament nowadays, I certainly want to beat everyone else and still believe I can, but really I’m competing against myself. I want to be able to play an event and be proud of how I competed. To me, that means having a plan for how I want to play, striving to execute it, and finding joy in the results when I do.

In last week’s event, after all the playing was done, I sipped on a few cold beers with my partner and had a big smile on my face. We finished middle of the pack, but I felt damn good. I hit the ball great, pursued the course the way I wanted to, and made a number of really clutch putts. It wasn’t enough to take home the trophy, but I was proud.

The older I get the more I realize how important it is to define winning on my own terms. In business, my relationships, and certainly in golf I come up short far more than I win. That’s life though. Those shortcomings are only failures if I don’t learn from them. In that vein, I love competing against myself and trying to get better every time I go out.

Through that same lens, I see each golf tournament as a test. Not some multiple choice farce or heaven forbid a mathematics exam, but more like the old fashioned blue book essays of my undergraduate days. Every tournament offers me a bunch of blank pages and when I play it’s an opportunity to fill them up with the best expression of where my game is. Sometimes, the answers are really good. Others not so much. But just like back in college, it is those type of tests I enjoy taking the most.

I love filling those pages and showcasing what I can do. If I could, I’d play in every oddly named fourball, city championship, and two-man scramble around. That thrill of going after a win never gets old and as I mature, it’s the chance to outplay my current abilities that motivates me the most.

Sooner or later( whenever my wife allows), the best version of my game will align with the opportunity to compete and I’m going to get that win I’ve been hunting. Despite a middling finish last week, my confidence is pretty high after punching above my current weight class for a few days.

Baby boy is due soon so I’ll likely miss out on the final exams of this Summer’s golf season. However, maybe come Fall I can have enough chips to cash in for another tournament or two. I can’t wait to get out there and test my game again.

Until then, I’ll have to find some other ways to tend the competitive fire that still burns so hot inside me. It’s a good motivation when washing the dishes and changing diapers. I can only imagine what Nantz will say about it all.

Thanks as always for reading my friends. If you are enjoying these posts please do share Mid-Am Crisis with your friends.

I’ve had some fun podcast guests of late so if you haven’t had a chance go check out the show on any of your favorite listening platforms. Here is my chat from last week with Sean Martin, Senior Editor, Pgatour.com

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Hit ‘em well wherever you may be playing this week!

Cheers,

-J

Be careful telling the golf gods your plans. They have a twisted sense of humor. Last New Year’s Eve, while drinking too much red wine, I uttered to myself that 2021 was going to be the year I took the governor off my golf game. I was going to go low and do it a lot. I wanted to win again and I believed I had found the game to do it. Want to guess how that turned out?

It’s creeping up on late July and the golfer I was last Summer is now just a mirage in the rearview window. Other than not scoring well, life is pretty great though. My business is growing and we have our second child on the way next month. Not a bad set of excuses for poor swings and missed putts. However, it has been a frustrating first half of the year on the course.

In 2020, I played the best golf of my life. The pandemic helped to fuel a renaissance in my golf swing and for the first time in a few years I became a solid competitive golfer again. Naturally, I had high expectations for my game in 2021.

Last year, my handicap index plummeted and I found myself shooting under pars scores regularly. A feat that as of early July 2021 had escaped me during this trip around the sun. I’ve been grinding to get back there though.

It’s hard to pinpoint what has gone wrong exactly, but the most obvious culprit seems like a lack of practice. During the pandemic, I was able to spend many more days on the range and working on my game in the late afternoon. As bad as things were around the globe, for my golf game it was a magical time. This year, I’m self employed and an expectant father again. Those are blissful titles, but not nearly as conducive to scoring under par.

2021 hasn’t been a total wash though, I’ve certainly played my fair share of golf and have even taken a few fun trips to some wonderful golf destinations. It’s just that I had higher hopes for my scores. Lately, I’m reminded of why I quit keeping score for some time after our first child was born.

Like a bad addiction, I couldn’t keep myself from measuring the state of my game. There is something about hitting the ball well that makes me want to know that number again. It always starts as good ol’ fashioned excitement from playing better, but every time I sniff scratch the slumbering competitor in me starts waking up again. I still want to see if I can find that next gear and perhaps even win a few tournaments. It’s a mindset that is primed for disappointment.

I don’t get to enter too many tournaments these days, but our weekly club fourball is a nice substitute for proving my abilities. It’s real golf and there is certainly real money on the line. After a whole bunch of disappointing golf this year, it has been those weekly games that have provided me motivation for some needed swing changes. I had a hunch that if I could learn to release the club again then I might be able to score better. Turns out I was right.

I’ve always liked hitting a cut but sometimes that little fade mutates into a bad slice. I can usually control it, but it’s not so much fun to play with when things go awry. Going to that shot shape was a way to develop a swing that doesn’t need much maintenance and I’ve found all sorts of ways to make it work. Every so often though, my deep swing flaws buck their head and I get stuck going sideways.

With our baby due in only a few weeks, I figured now is as good a time as any to try some swing changes. Due to my lack of practice time, that means working through those tweaks while I’m playing. My attempts to release the club and turn the ball over have yielded some nice results, but there is a Frankenstein’s monster snap hook in there that flares up when I experiment with hitting draws.

Even though that snap hook has cost me some double bogeys of late, I’m seeing some serious improvement through my irons and wedges. My handicap is trending down again and entering into last weekend I could sense a red number may be within reach once more.

There are few things I enjoy more on a Friday afternoon than playing golf and when the ball starts going in the hole it’s a fun way to kick off the weekend. During last week’s outing, my swing changes started to click into place and my trusty old Scotty Cameron began to get hot again. Despite some iffy tee balls that went a bit too far left, I was flagging it all day and making lots of putts. My game was good enough to linger around level par all day.

At my home course, the routing has an interesting flow to it. For the first six holes you have to hold on tight as they are undoubtedly the hardest, then there are some some opportunities to score before coming to a risk/reward filled finale. With a few good breaks and some bold swings there is a chance to make a run deep in the round. After keeping things steady all day, I knew I might be able to get my score under par coming home.

With a birdie on the 15th hole, I got back to level par again. Good things were happening and I was intent on letting that continue. In recent months I’ve been listening to audio lessons on an app called Imagine Golf and it has helped restore my confidence. Having that extra level of self belief is so important for shooting low scores. When I made pars on the challenging 16th and 17th holes I came to the last with full focus and determined to get the birdie I needed.

Our 18th hole is a long uphill par five. It’s as straight as a string but in order to score well there you must navigate an avenue of towering live oak trees. It’s a cool way to finish the round and birdies are certainly gettable there. Finding the fairway is half the battle and when I did so I could sense my odds of being under par improving with every step.

I smashed a three wood towards the flag for my second shot. I had a feeling it was just short of the surface though. Arriving at the green I found my ball in a good lie in the front bunker that was guarding the pin. With a confident blast from the sand, I hit my ball to inside five feet. I had an uphill right to left roll for my lowest round of the year.

I don’t take practice strokes with my putter anymore. I can’t remember if it was Dave Stockton or Bob Rotella that authored the tip, but I just try to see the line and get up and roll it on intuition. That approach has paid off handily over the years and it did so last Friday too. I made five birdies that day and the best of them was that slightly breaking five footer at the last.

When I made that putt for 71, I realized the my latest swing scheme might just pay off. It was a fine feeling to birdie the last hole, but the implications were bigger than just a more enjoyable post round beer. With that short putt dropping, I finally felt like my premonitions from New Year’s Eve may still yet prove true.

My son will be here in just a few weeks so there is certainly a looming golf hiatus on the horizon. However, when I rolled that ball last Friday, I felt like I had found something. If I can just get a few more reps I might be able to go low another time or two before the baby comes.

This is a golfer’s never ending sense of hope. One little taste of success makes me want to go chase it for months on end. I don’t have that much time right now, but there is a big four-ball tournament in town next week. Now that things are on the mend, I may just have to ask my wife for one last chance to compete. You never know what can happen out there.

Thanks as always for reading Mid-Am Crisis. If you enjoy these musings be sure to subscribe to the Mid-Am Crisis podcast as well! It’s available on all your favorite listening channels.

This week I had a chance to chat with golf artist Lee Wybranksi. Lee is best know for his stunning paintings that become event posters for all the major championships. He’s been particularly busy with seven majors in the past year due to the pandemic. We had a great discussion about his artwork and passion for the game. You can check that out below!

Cutting out of work for golf has always been one of life’s great temptations. Every golfer I know perks up when an opportunity arises to punch the clock and head to the tee. As fun as it is to trade typing emails for walking fairways, unfortunately not every professional environment is conducive to such early office departures. However, I like to think that a standing tee time after lunch on Friday is one of the best things to ever happen to my productivity.

Maybe it’s the millennial in me, but I can’t help but think every office should close at noon come Friday. We all become clock watchers when the weekend is only a few short hand rotations away so why not carve some personal time in then. I firmly believe there is no easier way to boost moral and supercharge employee loyalty than to give folks their time back at the end of the week. In many cases, the COVID19 pandemic proved that true.

In 2020, when the stay at home orders sent everyone home from my former workplace, we all gained a new appreciation for our time. It was a trend experienced by workers around the globe. Working remotely didn’t click for everyone and there was indeed some magic lost by not having folks in the office, but it didn’t take long for folks to realize that gaining some hours back for your life is a good thing. It’s important not to abuse that kind of freedom, yet during those months I couldn’t help but rethink how my work week was structured.

While I only took a few business management classes in college, my professional experience has led me to the realization that the best way to inspire an employee is to understand their motivation. As a golf obsessed husband and father, there is no greater way to stimulate my work performance than to dangle some guilt free hours on the course in front of my face. I’ll chase that carrot all damn day.

That’s why when our club started a Friday fourball during the pandemic golf boom, I suddenly had a reason to have my desk cleared by noon on the last day of the week. This new outing was something that had long been kicked around the grill room, but it wasn’t until everyone’s office closed that we pounced on the idea. The game is simple, two-person teams playing a net best-ball format. Low team score takes the cash pot. We play fast, have fun, and everyone is done in time for dinner with family to start the weekend.

With so many of our young members seeing the Friday time slot as preferable to skipping out on family time each weekend, it only took a few weeks for that game’s popularity to explode. On many Fridays in 2020, we would see as many as twenty teams signed up to play. It became a can’t miss event each week. Over a year later, much of the working world has returned to regular hours, but there is no doubt most employees have gained more flexibility in their schedule. Thanks to that reality, our Friday game carries on and is now one of the best recurring outings on our golf club calendar.

The Friday game has become an important part of my schedule for a number of reasons. To start, it has completely replaced playing on Saturdays for me. My growing family has become the top priority for my time on the weekends so having a standing game on Friday allows me a window to continue playing in a competitive environment without infringing on that. When I started my own businesses as a self employed consultant, keeping the Friday tee time also became a huge motivation for me to pump out my work at a high level all week. By eliminating the conflict of asking my wife for golf on the weekends and creating a sense of urgency for my work flow, the Friday game has turned into an incredible win/win for me.

There are certainly some challenges with playing golf while most of the world is working, but with modern technology it’s not that hard to answer an email or take a call during the round when necessary. Playing a fourball also means you can throw it to your partner if you get in a work jam. Even with those occasional conflicts, I’ve been impressed by how many of our guys have found a way to get their weekly work done in time for Friday golf.

For some of the self employed lads like me, it’s easy to build the game into their schedule. Others have to do a bit more maneuvering with the higher ups at their place of employment. However we come to the tee Friday, there is one thing that everyone seems to have in common — a really big smile.

The world has probably never been more conducive to finding a work/life balance than it is right now. I like to think the pandemic was an aggressive accelerant for many underlying trends in society and none have been better for my personal and professional happiness than getting more time to do what I love. When I get to my office on Monday morning and plan my week it starts with blocking out Friday afternoon for golf. Working backwards from that tee time, I can reverse engineer my schedule so that everything I need to get done has a bow on it before it’s my turn to strike the first shot.

Since we started the Friday fourball, I’ve never been more productive and my home life is as good as ever. That time for golf helps me be better a better businessman and much improved family guy. There are plenty of days where the stresses of my life and self-employment rattles me, but having that weekly outing keeps me focused on why I do what I do. A little freedom can have that affect on you. Some weeks it doesn’t work out for me to play, but most Fridays you can bet I’m going to be there.

I can’t help but think what more Friday golf rounds would do to boost the moral, motivation, and performance of the working golfers around the globe. Most of us aren’t looking to split for the course in the middle of the week, but Friday afternoons are a different story.

I can attest to the personal happiness and career benefits of playing golf to close out the work week. Based on our tee sheet each Friday I know I’m not alone. There is nothing wrong with making time for yourself while balancing client needs, customer calls, and office expectations. The pandemic has shown the world that productivity looks different for everyone and I am happy to see that benefiting golfers like me who otherwise have a hard time finding a game.

There are many reasons for going to work each day. Having a purpose driven career is important to me. That’s why I love the professional path I’m on. As my wife and I are growing our family, it’s also pivotal that I make time when not at work to be with those I love most. By carving out a window for golf on Friday, I’m able to do all of that much more and far better. That makes for one hell of a tasty carrot.

Thanks as always for reading Mid-Am Crisis. If you enjoy these musings be sure to subscribe to the Mid-Am Crisis podcast as well! It’s available on all your favorite listening channels.

Last week, I had the chance to catch up with my friend Ru Macdonald who is part of the European Tour’s social media team. He is one of the world’s top experts in Scottish golf travel as well. You can listen to that discussion below.

Stay tuned for more musings next week. Until then, please feel free to share Mid-Am Crisis with your friends and golf pals.

Cheers,

-Jay Revell

Oakmont would be a hell of a place to play in the U.S. Amateur. Unfortunately for me, with a second child coming in a few weeks, my game is in no condition to attempt the challenge of qualifying. In fact, this Summer, my handicap has slipped upwards beyond the 2.4 index limit for those seeking to play in the championship. With one of the USGA’s 36 hole qualifying tournaments taking place right here in my hometown that was a hard pill to swallow this year. However, I did find another route worth pursuing.

My good pal Dalton Melnyk had told me he was coming to Tallahassee to try his hand at qualifying. He’s a damn fine player with a robust resume as an amateur competitor. When I realized my index would not allow me to give it a go, I called up Dalton to offer my services as his caddie.

Knowing the course where qualifying was being staged, I figured I could help him get around the place and perhaps save him a shot or two along the way. With Dalton playing some excellent golf this year, it seemed that carrying his sticks was a much more likely path to Oakmont than swinging my own.

Dalton was one of thousands of golfers seeking to make the national championship for amateurs. Unlike most, he had a special connection to this year’s host site though. His father, Steve Melnyk, won the U.S. Amateur at Oakmont in 1969. Like his dad, Dalton played his college golf at the University of Florida and this year he was seeking to run down a spot in the Am where his dad once found glory.

When I signed on to caddie for Dalton, I told him I only had one condition; If he made it through to the Championship he had to take me with him to Oakmont. We had a deal.

It had been a few years since I had carried the mail for anyone. When I was in college I spent a some fun weeks looping for my uncle during his final years on the KornFerry Tour. He had some successful outings while I was on the bag and to this day I can’t remember why I didn’t do that more. It was a blast to caddie at that level and sometimes I wonder if my persona wasn’t tailor made for the job. Being on the bag for Dalton was a great way to dust off those memories and put my sidekick skills back to work again.

With qualifying taking place on a Monday and Tuesday, I had to “take off” from work to help Dalton chase his dream down. Being my own boss has a lot of perks, but the biggest is being able to set my own schedule. If I want to go play caddie for two days I can. Armed with a good towel, some course knowledge, and a push cart I showed up ready to aid my man on his quest.

The qualifying tournament featured 86 players seeking three spots in the field at Oakmont. The competition was being held on one of Tallahassee’s sternest courses and thanks to the ongoing Summer storms of late, it was playing long and wet. Pars were valuable commodities and any circle on the card was a big win.

For two days, I pushed Dalton’s sticks around that track and watched with great hope as he made every swing. He hit a whole bunch of good shots too. The man has an excellent short game and it was a thrill to see someone take on every chip, pitch, and bunker blast with a look to make it. He’s also a grinder and in a competition like that those skills were critical to finding success.

Dalton is a big boy. He’s tall and has a towering presence compared to my more modest stature. Walking around the course we looked like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in bucket hats. It was fitting appearance for two lads on a mission to make birdies. Those 36 holes were quite the journey too.

My guy had a few bad holes on his opening nine, but really turned things around the rest of the way. After a wayward swing or two led to a four over 40 to start things off, he managed to play the next 27 holes at two under par. After being behind the eight ball early, he really played some great golf to get himself back in contention. Dalton carded 146 for two days and it took 143 to get in the playoff for Oakmont.

Walking down the last fairway knowing we needed more birdies than we had holes left was not ideal. Despite that reality we were having a ton of fun. Dalton and I had put an emphasis on making the trek a fun one and my main job for those two days was to keep him laughing and relaxed. I think we cleared that bar with flying colors. Still, I had forgot how helpless it feels to be a caddie rooting hard for a desired outcome that was slipping away.

After the final putt dropped we had a big hug and handshake before marching in to measure our fate at the scoring table. After a quick review, we saw there were eleven names between Dalton and a spot at Oakmont. Golfers get used to that kind of disappointment after awhile.

As much as that stings when you are a player, there is something even more disappointing when you are a caddie. I spent a few hours thinking through some of the advice I had given and wondering where we might have found those missing three shots over two days. That’s the sort of pondering that can drive you nuts. I’m sure Dalton was doing the same, but at least the player gets the satisfaction of knowing if he gave it his all on each swing. For the caddie, the lingering questions are more like a coach wondering if he called the right play.

Despite not making it to Oakmont, Dalton was in good spirits as we debriefed over a few beers. Every golf tournament ends with far more disappointed players than pleased ones and as the other folks who came up short paraded into the clubhouse, everyone began to share their shortcomings. My pal was all smiles though.

There is something about those gripe sessions that are good for the golfers soul. The grill room is like group therapy for those with dashed dreams. Listening to the commentary, I smiled as quite a few guys started talking about where they were going next.

The amateur golf circuit is an amusing carousel filled with players of every background and as long as you can afford to stay on it and stomach a lot of losses it’s fun to ride on. Every week there is a tournament somewhere and these guys in the grill were the sort still running after those trophies. As for me, my rising handicap, growing family, and list of clients to call back was not going to allow me to stay on for the next ride. I miss it though.

Watching Dalton make a run made me want to get back to that game though. As much as I enjoyed caddying for him, I was left wondering what it would take to get my own game back to scratch. The answer is hard work and more time for practice. I can do the work, but the time requirements are an increasingly big question mark.

We will see how it goes, but this time next year I’ll either be signing up to play a qualifier or calling Dalton to see if his push cart has an opening for me. I don’t know what my game will be like, but I’m confident we can find those missing shots we needed for him this year. Assuming he’ll still have me on the bag.

Like most golfers, I get a little cranky when I don’t get to play. It’s a real problem at this stage in life. With baby number two on the way and Fall soccer sign ups for my daughter just around the corner, I’m seeing my windows for golf shenanigans start to close again. It’s cyclical of course, but my mood doesn’t know that.

Of all the obstacles to golf that leave me cranky, it’s probably visiting my in-laws that makes me the most irritable. That has nothing to do with them. They are awesome people. It’s more a concern about my own selfish tendencies and how three days away at their place means I lose any control of the schedule.

Those trips do occasionally involve golf, but it’s certainly not a priority for anyone but me. They don’t belong to a club and for those in their family who do play it’s less than a handful of rounds each year. So when we visit, it usually means by day two I’m pacing around like someone waiting on the cable guys to show up. Clearly I need therapy.

Despite the reality of not playing much there, I do always bring my clubs. Rule number one for struggling golf dads is to never leave home without the sticks. You just never know when an opportunity may pop up. Best be prepared.

As I write this dispatch, sitting at my mother-in-law’s kitchen table, I find myself in a particularly chipper mood. That’s because on this trip, I was indeed gifted a small opening for golf. Considering it has been two weeks since I’ve last played, that little blessing turned out to be a big help.

Going stir crazy in their living room yesterday, I told my wife and her family that I was going to go walk the trails behind their neighborhood. We had a baby shower to attend later in the day so my time frame for blowing of steam was short. My wife nodded, knowing that I was probably about to start pouting. It wasn’t golf, but at least it was exercise.

I had only recently discovered the network of trails that connected their neighborhood to the dense pine woods surrounding the Pensacola International Airport. A little unrefined, they were a nice place to get lost for an hour. Walking through that sandy terrain under a hot Summer sun, I couldn’t help but think that this whole area would be much better suited as a golf course.

I could see potential par three’s popping up all around me. Maybe the city needed a new short course? With each step I was routing the holes I needed to be playing. My deprived golf mind can’t help but see the game everywhere I look.

I reached a fork in the trails where my knowledge of where to go came to an end. Like a man stuck in a Robert Frost poem, I decided to plow forward and discover what lied ahead down the path less traveled. Then, as I came around the next corner, I saw something that made me wonder if I was hallucinating.

Peering through the pine barrens, I saw what appeared to be a grassy field with wavy terrain. I pondered to myself, “why does that look golfy to me?” Surely the heat and lack of playing was getting to me. I had spent most of the last decade deciphering all the local golf options in Pensacola and knew there was no course nearby. Yet, with each step, I was having to adjust my eyes as I saw more and more evidence of the game start to appear.

When a gap in the trees opened I saw the unmistakable glimmer of a steel shaft swishing through humid morning light. I yelled to myself, “Holy shit, that is golf!” It appeared to be some sort of secret driving range and it was no more than a quarter mile from my in-laws house. The mission of my walk immediately changed and I struck out from the trail in search of a closer look at this golfing oasis.

After winding down a somewhat hidden street lined with aging apartments, I came to a sign that said “Pensacola Golf Center - Driving range and instruction.” On the sign was a cartoonish image of local golf hero Bubba Watson. A quick google search revealed that the two-time Masters champ had recently bought the old range and was soon to be renovating it for the enjoyment of his hometown golfers. In dire need of some swings, I went closer to fully inspect the situation.

What I found was a place that lacked any bells and whistles, but did offer $10 large buckets. It wasn’t much, but to a man losing his sanity from lack of golf it was a miracle filled temple to the game. The small “clubhouse” was under renovation, but a cash register kiosk had been propped up. There were dozens of old beat up clubs for sale and three varieties of Gatorade available. The mats looked new and there was no line to jump in. I had found the gateway to nirvana.

I was overtaken with excitement. Sweating from my hike, I approached the kiosk and asked the woman running the show there how long this place had existed. “We’ve been here thirty years” she told me. She didn’t seem as excited to be there as I was, but she had what I needed so to me that made her an angel. I told her I had to get back home, but she would be seeing me later.

About that time, my wife called wondering if I had got lost. In some ways that was true. I sprinted back and got off to our family obligations for the day. Sitting through the baby shower and other fun, I kept thinking about Bubba Watson’s little slice of hacker heaven.

Late in the afternoon, I mentioned to the family how I had found this driving range just around the corner. They were aware of it, but clearly had never been. Further evidence of how normal people don’t comb maps for golf like I do. After being a good boy all day, I asked my wife if I could go slap balls for an hour. She begrudgingly agreed and I was off like a rocket.

I got to the golf center near the end of the day. I was one of the final customers on what seemed like a busy afternoon for the bucket slingers. Smiling at the attendant I said, “Told you I’d be back!” I’m not sure she remembered my earlier enthusiasm or not but she did take my cash and graciously supply me with the medicine I needed.

With the sun sinking down over the trails I had hiked that morning and airplanes flying over head, I plugged in some tunes, threw in a dip, and smashed a hundred golf balls into the evening. The range had a smattering of colorful targets, a handful of customers hanging on to the fading light, and one very happy dad at the end of the line smiling with each swing. Sometimes it only takes a bucket of balls to bring me back to center.

I don’t know what Bubba is planning for that little driving range, but I’d be delighted to write a check to the cause. Finding that field for practice meant I now had a one-hour option for golf only five minutes from my in-laws house. I’m not always cranky when visiting, but sometimes while on a golf drought, I need to hit a bucket to smooth out my nerves. At least that therapy was now an option.

By discovering Bubba Watson’s Pensacola Golf Center, I had found an important outlet to pursue my most pressing obsession while away from home. My mood swings and other issues that result from not playing golf are something I need to work on, but what better place is there to practice self improvement than a driving range? At least I know that therapy exists next time we visit with in-laws. In the meantime, I’ll be rooting for Bubba with hope that his tour winnings will mean more investment for my new favorite golf hideout. He’s in the final pairing today and I’ll be paying more attention that usual.

It’s Sunday morning. Per usual, I’m sipping my coffee and thinking about golf. My wife is making me some pancakes to celebrate Father’s Day and the rain that so often dominates a Florida Summer is falling outside. Many golf dads are likely getting their clubs and gear together for a round of golf, but even though the clouds should clear soon I’m out for today. My son will be here in seven weeks and the nursery needs a fresh coat of paint. Up until today, said nursery was actually my golf office. For the last few days I’ve been taking down one chapter of my life and preparing for another.

A few weeks back, my wife gave me the to-do list containing all the items I needed to complete before the birth of our second child. The first bullet was cleaning out my office so it could become a beautiful space for our incoming young lad. Not an easy task when you’ve spent four years curating a lifetime’s worth of golf memorabilia.

Since she handed me the list, I’ve spend hours painstakingly taking my favorite room apart. My wife has noted the anguish so clearly visible on my face. Gone are the hickory clubs my grandfather gave me, the photos from golf trips gone by, and dozens of balls with sharpie written notes about personal bests and other achievements. Flags, badges, trophies, and trinkets are all now neatly tucked away in boxes. The process felt like a funeral for my misspent youth.

It’s not really that sad, but it has triggered a lot of reflection. I couldn’t be more excited about the arrival of our second child and lord knows I can’t wait to have a little boy, but it’s also hard to pack up all my golf memories and stuff them in the garage. It’s not that I’m unhappy about it, It’s just that I don’t know what do with all my favorite stuff and the smiles it often brings me. There is also a worry that with a second child my golf collecting days(both the physical items and memories that come with them) may become fewer and fewer soon.

Yesterday, I went and got the paint and other supplies needed to cover all the nail holes that my personal golf museum once hung on. Dove White sounds like a nice color. The new crib came in too. The room is going to look awesome because my wife has great taste. However, as all those wonderfully warm items come marching in, I can’t help but sigh a bit as I long for all my golf toys.

My wife doesn’t have much sympathy for all the “junk” that now sits in storage. Women don’t seem to hold on to relics the same way men do. Guys like me love to hold on to little symbols of our past. Most of it looks destined for Goodwill, but I can’t help but hold on to these little items that mean so much to me. Golf makes that pack rat habit even worse it seems.

I’m not sure what it is about this bewildering game that makes men cling to such talismans, but every die-hard golfer I know has a room, office, wall, or garage corner dedicated to their experiences in the sport. They are like little shrines to good shots and grand weekends. The only thing missing are little candles. I can imagine me lighting a small flame in honor of the one time I managed not to embarrass myself in a member-guest shootout. Saying reminiscent prayers to honor the 68 I once shot on a beer soaked Saturday. “Ommmmmmmm” is the sound I make when praising my ball collection. What a weird game.

As odd as my wife surely thinks this is, the room I put together for my memories did mean a great deal to me. There were an awful lot of smiles baked into those displays. Despite the glory that once covered those walls, this coat of paint, crib, and dangling animal mobile for my son will undoubtedly bring me much more happiness soon. I can’t wait to collect new smiles while talking to my little boy about his mom, the Florida State Seminoles, and of course, golf.

Being a dad has been the best gift of my life and to have another crack at that is a blessing beyond comparison. Yet, I still will miss my trinkets. Clearing them out will lend room for new memories though. As my son grows up, he will collect his own items to swoon over. Perhaps, if I can do my job as a dad to a decent degree, he will even have a few golf trinkets of his own to hang on those walls I’m about to paint.

My stuff will be just fine sitting in the boxes I taped it all up in. They are stacked up next to all my old clubs, some lawn equipment and the water heater. If I get a few minutes between changing diapers, having princess tea parties, and doing yard work, I may sneak back to that corner and open up a box for good measure. I just hope my wife, daughter, and son don’t catch me lighting candles over the boxes in the garage. That would be a terrible way to set the smoke alarm off.

I’m going to miss my golf office. I had a lot of fun collecting all that crap and it truly brought me joy to sit in there, write some stories, and read a few good ones too. However, like all good things, time and other constants mean change keeps coming. I’ll spend my Father’s Day covering all those recollections up with new colors and nicer stuff. Turning the page on my story once again. If you need me today, I’ll be in my son’s room. Those walls aren’t going to paint themselves.

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Cheers,

-J

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