This Father’s Day, let’s look back at some of the fondest memories of playing golf with our dads.
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With Father’s Day this weekend, it made me think back to my time playing golf with my dad when I was growing up.
He was a really good player, and he actually played on the PGA Tour in the summer – back when you could drive around and try to qualify every Monday. That summer, he qualified in seven of 11 attempts, and had the opportunity to play courses such as Pebble Beach, Riviera, and Harding Park.
After that summer of playing, he returned to Western New York to go into the car business, eventually settling down to run his own dealership in Geneva, NY, which is where I grew up.
We played a lot of golf together growing up, and having his guidance and support was amazing – and a big reason why my love for the game grew.
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To celebrate Father’s Day, here are 10 things I learned from playing golf with my dad
My favorite dad when he was on the course was playing in Ireland at Ballybunion, where I had one hole and he made about a 50 foot birdie putt. When he made that putt, it was like magic for both of us – and something I will never forget.
Since my dad and I played a lot of golf together, I learned a lot from him — and I’m sharing my 10 favorite lessons below.
1. Quality time
A good time on the course was one of the benefits of playing a lot of golf with my dad growing up. He was a great player, so just watching him play was a lesson in itself.
2. Understanding that hard work pays off
A lot of golf reflects life, and one of the lessons I learned from my dad lives on again off the golf course hard work was important. He lived this in his professional career, and applied that same mindset on the golf course, too.
My brother and I could see him working hard and putting in the time to build his business, so this trait was instilled in both of us. It was a reminder that, even if you are not good at something, by working to the extreme of others, it can lead to good results.
3. Patience
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad get angry at golf, and that’s really saying something — as we all know how frustrating golf can be. Having a front row seat to see his calm demeanor was a great life lesson, and it continues to help me practice patience in my life every day.
4. Willingness to help at all times
My father always helped me whenever I needed him. If I ever have a problem with my game, I can call him right away. Knowing he would be there gave me a lot of confidence—both as a golfer and in life in general.
5. Learning that the short game is important
My father was a short game player and an amazing player. The course we played on had really tricky greens, so it was fast and consistent. I learned the importance of a good short game and being a great player, I saw firsthand how his remote control works.
He rarely 3-putted, so watching him putt inspired me to do more work in this area of my game.
6. The art of scratching
Even when he missed the green, Dad’s approach, chipping, and pitching were also there indeed good. On the rare occasion that he got into trouble, and I thought I could beat him in the hole, he always seemed to go up and down and back to somewhere.
7. Building confidence in myself
There is no doubt that one of the greatest lessons I learned from my father was to develop self-confidence. He was a master of positive reinforcement and support – and since he believed in me, I needed to always believe in myself.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t get frustrated or that I don’t have doubts, but by submitting to his support, I was able to get myself out of difficult situations.
8. How to play in bad weather
Most golfers only play when it’s sunny and warm outside, but where I grew up, bad weather was almost always the case during golf. I remember many days when it rained and we continued to play – which forced me to be a good weather player.
Developing these skills helped me as I went on to play in college at Furman, allowing me to focus on controllable things and not worry about the weather when it wasn’t right.
9. The world is a big stage
Although I grew up in a small town, I have always followed in my father’s footsteps and wanted to have fun.
This not only led me to Furman College in South Carolina, but, when I graduated, I became a champion and played in events all over the world – like South Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia, just to name a few.
10. Some sports help (and it should be fun)
Although my father loved golf and put my brother and I into it, he also supported us outside of the game we played. As an added bonus, dad rarely missed many of our games or matches, if any. He was there to cheer us on, and he always encouraged us to do our best and have fun.
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