you’d think he was preparing for a major. There
are an increasing number of people like that in
my life who inspire me. Sam Reeves, a fellow
member at Seminole and mentor to so many,
won the pro-member with Nick Watney a cou-
ple of years ago at age 82. I’m 60 and fairly ac-
tive, but I always feel so inadequate, unworthy
and sloth-like when I’m around Sam. Guys like
those two inspire you to think young and get
after it, doing good for yourself and the world.
● ●●
one of the coolest things about being
CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas was helping
the company’s entry into golf. In 2003, the
first year of our sponsorship of our PGA Tour
event in Boston, I got a call from Jay Monahan,
whom we’d brought in as tournament director.
We had a sponsor exemption left to give out un-
der the foreign-player category, and we agreed
that Justin Rose, who’d struggled early on in
Europe, would be a great choice. Neither of us
had met Justin, but early that week at the pro-
am draw party, which was at the Massachusetts
State House, I met him for the first time. After
several of us, including then-governor Mitt
Romney, gave our speeches, I walked into an
adjoining room and saw this tall, skinny kid
standing alone, nibbling at a tray of shrimp.
I approached him and said, “Excuse me, but
aren’t you Justin Rose?” He replied that he
was. As we made a little small talk, I learned he
was staying down in Providence, R.I., a good
90-minute drive away. I said, “It’s nice to meet
you, but why in the world are you here?” Justin
said, “Well, Deutsche Bank was so nice to invite
me, I just thought I should thank somebody.”
That blew me away.
● ●●
justin and i became good friends—stayed at
each other’s houses; we’ve won the Seminole
pro-member three times together as partners.
In one of the great honors of my life, I’m the
godfather to his and Kate’s daughter, Char-
lotte, who lights up my life. I know that in my
new job I’m not supposed to play favorites—
I’m lucky enough to call many tour players a
friend—but you can guess which one has a
special place in my heart.
● ●●
westhampton country club on Long Is-
land, 1985. Big member-guest with some pres-
tige and a lot of bragging rights. I was a very
raw 12-handicapper or so back then. My great
friend and host, Tim Thornton, and I play our
way into contention and wind up in a sudden-
death playoff. On the par-3 third hole, both our
opponents are on the green. Tim hits into a
greenside bunker and whispers to me, “I need
you, partner.” With maybe 40 people watching,
I hit a shank into the forest. Silence. We lose.
There was no hole big enough for me to crawl
into. The embarrassment was overwhelming.
After everyone had gone home, I took a bag of
50 balls and hit them into the ocean, trying to
cleanse myself. It didn’t work. I was sotraumatized, I couldn’t sleep.
I sought out Ed Kelly, the pro at
my home club, Cherry Valley,
for a lobotomy. Ed not only was
sympathetic in the way only a
special club pro can be, he truly
cared. He worked with me, in-
vested himself in me. He gave
me a game and changed my life.
It was the hours I spent with Ed
that made me fall in love with
the game. Over the years that
followed, I’ve been honored to
have many extraordinary pros
and human beings like him in
my life, but Eddie will always be
my first love.
● ●●
when tiger was at the peak
of his powers, he revealed some-
thing about his game to me I
think is so telling. He said he
devoted 80 percent of his prac-
tice time to his short game. Of
that parcel, 80 percent he spent
chipping. He said he ended his
sessions by throwing 20 balls
randomly into crappy lies.
When the 20 balls were finished,
he threw down several more and
didn’t quit until he holed one.
● ●●
the pga professional is
the most revered person in the
game. He or she is admired
and respected, much the way
doctors, teachers and football
coaches are in our communities.
They come into contact with
a lot of charities, civic leaders
and business people. At its core,
it’s a noble profession, because
they’re always serving. They can
have a huge influence, they’re
trusted and they care. They’re
sort of ministers with a different
pulpit. I took this job for the op-
portunity to make 29,000 mem-
bers’ lives better, and because
of how that can impact the lives
of the millions of people that
they touch every day. I’d like to
utilize these traits more to their
benefit. It’s just an idea, but say
your PGA member drove a Ca-
dillac. Could he or she, as a local
thought leader, drive sales for
the nearby dealer through club
members and benefit from that
in some way? Can we do this on
a national scale? Everyone wins.
● ●●
are there limitations to
what the PGA can provide for
its members? Of course. We’reDavid Leadbetter will be the first to tell you
that clubs custom fit to your unique swing
are essential to reaching your potential.
With 35,000 hittable club components
from all the best brands, expertly selected
and handcrafted by the most highly trained
fitters and builders, Club Champion is
America’s premier club fitter.
Book your fitting now. Call 888-335-4145.
43 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE.
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE.
GET CUSTOM-FIT CLUBS
AT CLUB CHAMPION.
clubchampiongolf.com