Two noteworthy events took place recently in women’s golf---one far more important than the other.
Annika Sorenstam has retired from golf and Michelle Wie has earned her LPGA card.
The 38-year old woman ended her career with 90 international tournament wins, 78 LPGA victories, ten majors titles, eight Player of the Year awards and more than $20 million in winnings.
I have read that when Annika was on the junior golf tour, she would deliberately three-putt the 18th to avoid having to give a victory speech because she was terrified of public speaking.
At her last tournament in Dubai, she birdied the last hole of her professional golf career, and was applauded off the green by every player at the tournament.
"It means a lot," she told reporters. "When you get that kind of respect from players it breaks your heart."
"I felt at peace. I really felt very content," Sorenstam said after her final birdie. "I walked up to hit my third shot on the 18th, and I felt the breeze coming in, and it was just a really comfortable feeling. I saw my parents and my family and that give me a tear."
Annika Sorenstam increased the visibility of women athletes, and women's sports everywhere benefited. In 2001, she shot a 59, the lowest score in LPGA history. The following year, she won 11 titles and set an all-time LPGA low-scoring record.
After her round in Dubai on Sunday, Sorenstam said, "I'm both happy and sad. The motivation is no longer there but I'm very proud of what I've achieved in the last 15years. I feel very good about women's golf in general. It's on the rise and it will continue to grow."
The legacy of Annika Sorenstam will live on. She is a class act.
Meanwhile, there remains a fascination about the 19-year old from Hawaii. When Michelle Wie completed Q-school, there was a crowd of nearly 500 persons surrounding the 18th green. Typically, there are a handful of people to witness the final day of Q-school.
When she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at 13 years old, it would have been hard to imagine her going six years without another trophy to call her own.
“I have a clean slate,” she said. “I took the long way to get here, but I feel really good about it.”
No other teenage girl came within three matches of qualifying for the Masters and nine holes of qualifying for the men’s U.S. Open. No other female showed enough potential to bring in $15 million in endorsements during her junior year in high school.
She said what brought her the most satisfaction about her LPGA card is that she earned it.
It was a big step for her go to Q-school just like so many great players before her—Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak, all in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Wie still hasn’t won a tournament since turning pro in 2005.
Her future?
She might be better than ever.
Or it could be that her best golf already is behind her.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Giving Thanks
It has been a while since my last post. And this post has nothing to do with golf or Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy. It has to do with tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day.
It is one of the least commercial but most important holidays in the United States. Giving thanks for all our blessings. Despite the turmoil and uncertainty that surrounds us, we need to take pause and reflect on the joys of life.
It's far too easy to be cynical these days and think we have little to be thankful for. Let me share with you one of my favorite poems. This says it far better than I could. You might know it - it became popular in the 1960's. Wrongly attributed for a long time to an anonymous writer, it is now established it was written in the 1920's by Max Ehrmann.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you.
It is one of the least commercial but most important holidays in the United States. Giving thanks for all our blessings. Despite the turmoil and uncertainty that surrounds us, we need to take pause and reflect on the joys of life.
It's far too easy to be cynical these days and think we have little to be thankful for. Let me share with you one of my favorite poems. This says it far better than I could. You might know it - it became popular in the 1960's. Wrongly attributed for a long time to an anonymous writer, it is now established it was written in the 1920's by Max Ehrmann.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Politics and Golf
Since I have yet to decide for whom to cast my vote in November, I have devised a foolproof way of choosing the best candidate. Play 18 holes of golf with Senator Barack Obama and then play golf with Senator John McCain.
Think about it. You play golf with someone, in particular, someone you never played with before, and you learn a lot about that person.
And I mean a lot.
Golf is an amazing mirror of life. Yes, other sports provide life lessons as well but golf is my favorite sport and the one I understand the best. It is a mystical experience, a test of character, a source of rare joy and excruciating pain. No psychological test will tell you as much about a person’s character as a round of golf.
Back in the early 1990’s, I was playing golf in the Sea Pines Resort here on Hilton Head Island and was teamed up with two strangers, a husband and wife. By the third hole, we were exchanging the usual banter concerning the weather, our home states, what we did for a living, etc.
From his answers, I sensed that the man was in politics and proceeded to ask him who he worked for. His response was the state of Indiana. And I then asked him if he was in the State Legislature. Matter of factly, he said, “No, I’m the Governor.”
His name was Evan Bayh
We proceeded to play our round and it turns out he was one of the nicest “strangers” I have ever played golf with. No false pretenses….just a nice guy that you would never guess was a Governor. At the end of our round, his wife Susan asked me what my plans were for the following day. When I told her golf, she invited me to play with them again since her husband was being joined by a political friend and we would have a foursome.
I accepted the invitation and we had another delightful day on the course.
It appears that the voters of Indiana had a similar impression.
By the end of his second term in 1996, Governor Bayh, who is now the Junior Senator from Indiana, had an approval rating of nearly 80 percent.
So while it is unlikely that I’ll get to play golf with the presidential candidates and will have to resort to more traditional ways to reach my decision, keep this concept in mind next time you really need to learn more about a person.
Invite him or her to play 18 holes of golf.
Think about it. You play golf with someone, in particular, someone you never played with before, and you learn a lot about that person.
And I mean a lot.
Golf is an amazing mirror of life. Yes, other sports provide life lessons as well but golf is my favorite sport and the one I understand the best. It is a mystical experience, a test of character, a source of rare joy and excruciating pain. No psychological test will tell you as much about a person’s character as a round of golf.
Back in the early 1990’s, I was playing golf in the Sea Pines Resort here on Hilton Head Island and was teamed up with two strangers, a husband and wife. By the third hole, we were exchanging the usual banter concerning the weather, our home states, what we did for a living, etc.
From his answers, I sensed that the man was in politics and proceeded to ask him who he worked for. His response was the state of Indiana. And I then asked him if he was in the State Legislature. Matter of factly, he said, “No, I’m the Governor.”
His name was Evan Bayh
We proceeded to play our round and it turns out he was one of the nicest “strangers” I have ever played golf with. No false pretenses….just a nice guy that you would never guess was a Governor. At the end of our round, his wife Susan asked me what my plans were for the following day. When I told her golf, she invited me to play with them again since her husband was being joined by a political friend and we would have a foursome.
I accepted the invitation and we had another delightful day on the course.
It appears that the voters of Indiana had a similar impression.
By the end of his second term in 1996, Governor Bayh, who is now the Junior Senator from Indiana, had an approval rating of nearly 80 percent.
So while it is unlikely that I’ll get to play golf with the presidential candidates and will have to resort to more traditional ways to reach my decision, keep this concept in mind next time you really need to learn more about a person.
Invite him or her to play 18 holes of golf.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Playoffs are in the Rough
There has to be a better way. How can you have a winner decided before the playoffs are done? You couldn’t do that in any other sport.
And yet, all Vijay Singh has to do is show up, play four rounds of golf, sign for the correct scores and doesn't get disqualified or hurt and he will walk away with a $10 million bonus check. That's an exciting finish.
Understandably, the PGA is trying to paint a happy face on all of this. They have to.
A few years ago, the golf industry decided that playoffs were needed at the end of the season to generate more interest. Conceptually, that part is fine. But how could the powers-to-be expect that fan interest would be maintained if you took a three-week break between the third and the final playoff event?
Those in charge perhaps should have spent more time getting it right. The points system is a system which most golfers could never explain. Few people understand it.
One of the other issues is timing. It’s bad timing. Here we are with the NFL and college football in full swing, along with baseball heading into the final stretch with four of the six division titles yet to be decided.
And yet the FedEx Cup will be decided this weekend. Will anyone care? Will anyone watch?
The lesson here----what the golf industry is trying to do is commendable. And yes, the PGA did tweak the format but it needs more than tweaking. It needs an overhaul. The PGA needs to take a long, hard look at how the playoffs are structured as well as the timing. And they should be talking to their counterparts in both football and baseball to find the right formula. There has to be a better way.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
And yet, all Vijay Singh has to do is show up, play four rounds of golf, sign for the correct scores and doesn't get disqualified or hurt and he will walk away with a $10 million bonus check. That's an exciting finish.
Understandably, the PGA is trying to paint a happy face on all of this. They have to.
A few years ago, the golf industry decided that playoffs were needed at the end of the season to generate more interest. Conceptually, that part is fine. But how could the powers-to-be expect that fan interest would be maintained if you took a three-week break between the third and the final playoff event?
Those in charge perhaps should have spent more time getting it right. The points system is a system which most golfers could never explain. Few people understand it.
One of the other issues is timing. It’s bad timing. Here we are with the NFL and college football in full swing, along with baseball heading into the final stretch with four of the six division titles yet to be decided.
And yet the FedEx Cup will be decided this weekend. Will anyone care? Will anyone watch?
The lesson here----what the golf industry is trying to do is commendable. And yes, the PGA did tweak the format but it needs more than tweaking. It needs an overhaul. The PGA needs to take a long, hard look at how the playoffs are structured as well as the timing. And they should be talking to their counterparts in both football and baseball to find the right formula. There has to be a better way.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
Friday, August 22, 2008
My Very First Job in Golf
I was 13 years old and headed for my first job interview at a very exclusive country club in Western Massachusetts a few years back.
I was very nervous. But I did have one advantage. My older brother worked at the Country Club as a caddie, the very job that I was applying for.
Initially, I was told that the minimum age to caddy was 14 years old. But the caddy master liked my brother and suggested a compromise. He said, “We can hire you on a trial basis but you’ll have to carry singles (one bag).”
That didn’t bother me. I readily accepted the job offer, not fully comprehending that I would make half of what my brother made since he carried doubles.
That summer turned out to be one of my best summers I experienced. Not only did I learn a lot about golf, I got to play at the country club for free on Mondays which was caddies day. And I did play every single Monday.
By the time the summer ended, I felt like a veteran caddy. I knew just about every nook and cranny of that golf course. I couldn’t wait for the following summer.
By the following spring, I had turned 14 and was ready to carry doubles. Now, I had big-time competition at the Caddy Shack---16 and 17 year olds who had been caddying for a few years and many of the members had their favorite caddy. I figured out that the best way to stand out in the crowd was to work hard, gain more knowledge of the course itself and be able to give good advice to the members when asked.
I did all of that and felt pretty confident by the time the summer ended. There was no doubt in my mind that I would return for a third year. While some of my friends at the country club including my older brother began to think about other work for the following summer, I knew I had picked the right job.
I turned 15 the following spring and all of the hard work the previous summer was now beginning to pay off. More members were asking for me and I ended up working six days a week that summer. On the seventh day (Monday) I played golf at the country club.
What was really gratifying and fun was to caddy for members at tournaments, in particular, those tournaments where club pros participated as part of the field. There we would be, on the par-5 fifth hole and one of the guests (sometimes a club pro) would ask me what they should use for their second shot. To be able to hand that guest the right club and have the player hit the green was just an unbelievable feeling
When I think back to those glory days, I recall that I made a lot of money as a young kid, but more importantly, it was the friendships and the camaraderie that gave me the most satisfaction.
So, here I am at Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, serving as Director of Communications, many years later. I have come full cycle, sort of speak. And the lessons I learned as a teenager apply today….hard work always pays off.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
I was very nervous. But I did have one advantage. My older brother worked at the Country Club as a caddie, the very job that I was applying for.
Initially, I was told that the minimum age to caddy was 14 years old. But the caddy master liked my brother and suggested a compromise. He said, “We can hire you on a trial basis but you’ll have to carry singles (one bag).”
That didn’t bother me. I readily accepted the job offer, not fully comprehending that I would make half of what my brother made since he carried doubles.
That summer turned out to be one of my best summers I experienced. Not only did I learn a lot about golf, I got to play at the country club for free on Mondays which was caddies day. And I did play every single Monday.
By the time the summer ended, I felt like a veteran caddy. I knew just about every nook and cranny of that golf course. I couldn’t wait for the following summer.
By the following spring, I had turned 14 and was ready to carry doubles. Now, I had big-time competition at the Caddy Shack---16 and 17 year olds who had been caddying for a few years and many of the members had their favorite caddy. I figured out that the best way to stand out in the crowd was to work hard, gain more knowledge of the course itself and be able to give good advice to the members when asked.
I did all of that and felt pretty confident by the time the summer ended. There was no doubt in my mind that I would return for a third year. While some of my friends at the country club including my older brother began to think about other work for the following summer, I knew I had picked the right job.
I turned 15 the following spring and all of the hard work the previous summer was now beginning to pay off. More members were asking for me and I ended up working six days a week that summer. On the seventh day (Monday) I played golf at the country club.
What was really gratifying and fun was to caddy for members at tournaments, in particular, those tournaments where club pros participated as part of the field. There we would be, on the par-5 fifth hole and one of the guests (sometimes a club pro) would ask me what they should use for their second shot. To be able to hand that guest the right club and have the player hit the green was just an unbelievable feeling
When I think back to those glory days, I recall that I made a lot of money as a young kid, but more importantly, it was the friendships and the camaraderie that gave me the most satisfaction.
So, here I am at Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, serving as Director of Communications, many years later. I have come full cycle, sort of speak. And the lessons I learned as a teenager apply today….hard work always pays off.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
Sunday, August 17, 2008
School is in Session on the Golf Channel
You can only imagine the excitement and anticipation building here at Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy. We’re about two weeks away from the premiere of the real-life series, “School of Golf Hilton Head Island” on the Golf Channel.
The first of eight episodes featuring students from Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy will be broadcast on Tuesday, September 2 at 11 p.m. and re-air on Wednesday, September 3 at 10 p.m.
More than 3 million people are expected to watch the primetime show on the Golf Channel and another 2.3 million will visit the Golf Channel web site to learn more about the show.
Nearly five months of filming resulted in nearly 1,000 hours of film which were edited down to eight 30 minute segments. Viewers will see students from the United States including Texas, Kentucky, New Jersey and Vermont as well as international students from Denmark, China, Mexico and Spain.
They will witness how the talented students---many of them away from home for the first time---balance the demands of golf competition at the highest level with the normal stresses of teen life, including academics.
Filming began with the start of the second semester at the academy in January and continued through graduation in late May and the Tournament of Champions on the International Junior Golf Tour which took place in Orlando.
It sort of turned our Academy into a television fishbowl for five months but neither students nor parents objected. Participation for students in the show was optional but all agreed to sign releases to appear in the real-life series.
The academy exercised no editorial control over the show. In short, we had no control over what hits the airwaves and what hits the cutting floor. The Golf Channel had creative control over the finished project.
As Hank himself said, “This is not an infomercial for our academy. This is about what happens here.”
He summed it up this way. “If everybody shoots 72 and makes straight A’s, it’s not real interesting, is it? No one would believe it because that’s not reality.”
Along the way, we learned some valuable lessons. One of them---how adaptable young people are. At first, there were some students who were apprehensive about the presence of the camera crews. But after a few short weeks, the camera crews were virtually invisible to the students. It was the adults who were anxious and at times uneasy. The kids---they were fine.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
The first of eight episodes featuring students from Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy will be broadcast on Tuesday, September 2 at 11 p.m. and re-air on Wednesday, September 3 at 10 p.m.
More than 3 million people are expected to watch the primetime show on the Golf Channel and another 2.3 million will visit the Golf Channel web site to learn more about the show.
Nearly five months of filming resulted in nearly 1,000 hours of film which were edited down to eight 30 minute segments. Viewers will see students from the United States including Texas, Kentucky, New Jersey and Vermont as well as international students from Denmark, China, Mexico and Spain.
They will witness how the talented students---many of them away from home for the first time---balance the demands of golf competition at the highest level with the normal stresses of teen life, including academics.
Filming began with the start of the second semester at the academy in January and continued through graduation in late May and the Tournament of Champions on the International Junior Golf Tour which took place in Orlando.
It sort of turned our Academy into a television fishbowl for five months but neither students nor parents objected. Participation for students in the show was optional but all agreed to sign releases to appear in the real-life series.
The academy exercised no editorial control over the show. In short, we had no control over what hits the airwaves and what hits the cutting floor. The Golf Channel had creative control over the finished project.
As Hank himself said, “This is not an infomercial for our academy. This is about what happens here.”
He summed it up this way. “If everybody shoots 72 and makes straight A’s, it’s not real interesting, is it? No one would believe it because that’s not reality.”
Along the way, we learned some valuable lessons. One of them---how adaptable young people are. At first, there were some students who were apprehensive about the presence of the camera crews. But after a few short weeks, the camera crews were virtually invisible to the students. It was the adults who were anxious and at times uneasy. The kids---they were fine.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Playing Golf With My Dad
Today is my father’s birthday and this post is dedicated to his memory. An avid athlete who took up golf in his late 30’s, only to become a scratch golfer, he would have been proud of the fact that I now work for Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy here on Hilton Head Island.
A few years ago, I persuaded my Dad to come down to this golf mecca and play some golf with me. He stayed for a week and this was our daily routine; play 18 holes every morning at a different course every day, have some lunch and play 9 holes every afternoon, have dinner at home with all the relatives who didn’t play golf followed by a friendly game of cards.
It was nirvana. Maybe it’s a guy thing, but great golf, good food, and a fun card game is about as good as it gets.
With his advancing years, my father was no longer a scratch golfer but he still shot in the mid 80s which was better than me since I have been a bogey golfer all of my adult life.
I got the golf “bug” as a 13-year old caddy but my dad never played the game when I was a youngster. He was an enthusiastic sportsman who especially enjoyed softball but not golf. For some unknown reason, he took up golf when he was in his late 30’s and pretty much taught himself.
He became quite good; in particular with his short game. That proved to be a huge asset as his long drives became shorter drives as he got older. But once he was around the green, he was a scoring machine.
Keep in mind that I had never defeated my dad in golf. I mused that perhaps it would happen on this Hilton Head trip. For the first six days, the result was always was same. My father fired rounds in the 80’s while I played my bogey golf.
But on the very last day we played together, I made a dramatic putt on the 18th to tie him. We had both recorded an 83. For me, it was one of my best rounds. For my dad, it was a typical round even though he was almost 80 years old at the time.
As I think back, I’m glad I didn’t beat him. I’m pleased that we tied. That round turned out to be the very last time we would play golf together.
He returned home to New England and it was another eight months or so before I got back home. By then, his playing days were virtually over.
He died a short time later but I always recall that week of golf on Hilton Head as a memorable moment, frozen in time.
The lessons here---golf can serve as a bond and time is precious. Enjoy every minute of every day.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
A few years ago, I persuaded my Dad to come down to this golf mecca and play some golf with me. He stayed for a week and this was our daily routine; play 18 holes every morning at a different course every day, have some lunch and play 9 holes every afternoon, have dinner at home with all the relatives who didn’t play golf followed by a friendly game of cards.
It was nirvana. Maybe it’s a guy thing, but great golf, good food, and a fun card game is about as good as it gets.
With his advancing years, my father was no longer a scratch golfer but he still shot in the mid 80s which was better than me since I have been a bogey golfer all of my adult life.
I got the golf “bug” as a 13-year old caddy but my dad never played the game when I was a youngster. He was an enthusiastic sportsman who especially enjoyed softball but not golf. For some unknown reason, he took up golf when he was in his late 30’s and pretty much taught himself.
He became quite good; in particular with his short game. That proved to be a huge asset as his long drives became shorter drives as he got older. But once he was around the green, he was a scoring machine.
Keep in mind that I had never defeated my dad in golf. I mused that perhaps it would happen on this Hilton Head trip. For the first six days, the result was always was same. My father fired rounds in the 80’s while I played my bogey golf.
But on the very last day we played together, I made a dramatic putt on the 18th to tie him. We had both recorded an 83. For me, it was one of my best rounds. For my dad, it was a typical round even though he was almost 80 years old at the time.
As I think back, I’m glad I didn’t beat him. I’m pleased that we tied. That round turned out to be the very last time we would play golf together.
He returned home to New England and it was another eight months or so before I got back home. By then, his playing days were virtually over.
He died a short time later but I always recall that week of golf on Hilton Head as a memorable moment, frozen in time.
The lessons here---golf can serve as a bond and time is precious. Enjoy every minute of every day.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
Monday, August 11, 2008
A Lesson With Hank Haney
I recently had my very first lesson with legendary golf coach Hank Haney. In my role as Director of Communications at Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, I had organized a media day at Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre tract along the May River near the town of Bluffton.
For the avid golfer, a trip to Palmetto Bluff is a journey to heaven. The May River Golf Club is an 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus signature course, weaving throughout the May River Forest and featuring several holes right on the banks of the river.
At 7,171 yards, this amazing course is a spectacular blend of championship-level design and natural beauty that will challenge golfers of all skill levels.
I was playing the eighth hole at Palmetto Bluff. It’s a par 5 and my second shot landed in a fairway bunker. My goal was to simply get back to the fairway with my third shot, land it on the green in four, one-putt and walk away with a par.
Guess I wasn’t focused. I took a seven iron and took my swing but didn’t have the necessary loft to clear the top of the bunker. I was still in sand.
At that very moment, I heard someone yell out, “What club were you using?” Before I even turned around, I recognized the voice and it was Hank Haney. Hank was spending most of his time with the media folks on the course and he was the last person I expected to see since I was playing with staff members.
I was so embarrassed. I told him I used a seven iron. And he said, “you expected to clear that bunker?’
At that point, I was still 210 yards away from the green. Hank was still there. I did not want to be embarrassed again.
I grabbed a rescue club, opened the clubface, and hit the ball as hard as I could. It landed in front of the green and trickled onto the putting surface. And Hank said, “Now, that was a better shot.”
Hank suggested a few lessons down the road. I reminded him that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. To which Hank responded, “It depends on the teacher.” He was so right.
So for me, the lesson was a lesson in life. Don’t ever think you cannot improve, especially if you have the right teacher. Learning lasts a lifetime.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
For the avid golfer, a trip to Palmetto Bluff is a journey to heaven. The May River Golf Club is an 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus signature course, weaving throughout the May River Forest and featuring several holes right on the banks of the river.
At 7,171 yards, this amazing course is a spectacular blend of championship-level design and natural beauty that will challenge golfers of all skill levels.
I was playing the eighth hole at Palmetto Bluff. It’s a par 5 and my second shot landed in a fairway bunker. My goal was to simply get back to the fairway with my third shot, land it on the green in four, one-putt and walk away with a par.
Guess I wasn’t focused. I took a seven iron and took my swing but didn’t have the necessary loft to clear the top of the bunker. I was still in sand.
At that very moment, I heard someone yell out, “What club were you using?” Before I even turned around, I recognized the voice and it was Hank Haney. Hank was spending most of his time with the media folks on the course and he was the last person I expected to see since I was playing with staff members.
I was so embarrassed. I told him I used a seven iron. And he said, “you expected to clear that bunker?’
At that point, I was still 210 yards away from the green. Hank was still there. I did not want to be embarrassed again.
I grabbed a rescue club, opened the clubface, and hit the ball as hard as I could. It landed in front of the green and trickled onto the putting surface. And Hank said, “Now, that was a better shot.”
Hank suggested a few lessons down the road. I reminded him that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. To which Hank responded, “It depends on the teacher.” He was so right.
So for me, the lesson was a lesson in life. Don’t ever think you cannot improve, especially if you have the right teacher. Learning lasts a lifetime.
Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA
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