Golf_Digest_USA_-_May_2019

my rebirth

as a

golfer

begins now.

oy, wish

i’d

stretched

more.

wait, is it

straight left

knee or

right knee?

damn,

that’s

a new ball,

too. eh, it’s

not even

really golf

season yet.

tee-quila

time

▶ Let’s raise a

glass to thawed

hands, booked

tee times and

Cinco de Mayo.

—coleman bentley

el tesoro paradiso

A collaboration be-

tween master distiller

Don Felipe and

French cognac blend-

er Alain Royer, Parad-

iso is a slow summer

evening in a bottle.

Aged five years in co-

gnac-soaked French

oak, this old/new

world hybrid is gold-

en, butterscotchy,

and perfect for porch

time. $130

avion reserva 44

The Reserva 44 is a

labor of love, resting

43 months before

transferring to spe-

cial “petite barrels”

that are then rotated

daily for an additional

month. The amber

extra añejo (meaning

it has aged a mini-

mum of three years)

is then poured into a

fire-polished crystal

bottle and shipped to

you, aka the luckiest

SOB alive. $130

herradura ultra

Ultra begins as a

blend of añejo (aged

at least a year) and

extra añejo before a

rigorous filtering pro-

cess. The result is a

crystalline añejo that

goes down silky

smooth with notes

of agave, vanilla,

honey and toasted

almonds. $60

golf’s unsung-

hero employees

course ranger who blames the

guys in front of you.

cart girl who actually has

change for a $20.

golf-shop clerk who absent-

mindedly thinks twilight rate

kicks in at noon.

maintenance guy who silences

weed wacker while you putt.

head pro who manages your

expectations.

range picker who doesn’t gripe

to management even though you

are obviously aiming at him.

maintenance guy who brings

you the wedge you left on

the last hole.

starter who refrains from say-

ing, “which one of you is going to

break the course record?”

snack-shop guy who is actually

there.

guy who doesn’t call you out

for changing your shoes in the

parking lot.

caddie who pretends to care

about the match you have with

your buddies.

THE BETHPAGE BLACK

WARNING SIGN:

WHAT IT REALLY MEANS

▶ if you’re

wondering

if you’re

good enough

to play this

course, you’re

not. if you’re

still not sure,

this will be

apparent

when you’re

hitting 4 out

of the rough

with 230 yards

to go. don’t

even think

about the

back tees.

may 2019 | golfdigest.com 47

first swing thoughts of the season

please,

just

don’t miss.

by sam weinman & alex myers

maintenance guy:

andrew

redington/getty images • medal: tom and steve/getty images • bethpage:

ross Kinnaird/getty images • swing: 4x6/getty images • tequila: herradura

short shorts

▶Because you don’t

skip leg day, and the

cart attendant needs

to know it.

tennis shorts

▶ You were an

11th-hour invite to

the member-guest.

bermuda shorts

▶ Polished penny

loafers and a wicked

sock tan complete

the club uniform.

cargo shorts

▶ You don’t need no

stinkin’ golf bag.

knickers

▶ They might as well

remember you for

something.

what your shorts say about you