The game of golf can teach so much more to children than the game itself, and I am a beneficiary of many lessons provided by the game. Even now, I am hard pressed to think of anything I would rather do with my father if I had just one more day to spend with him.
Growing up, my father would caddy for me in tournaments if he had the time. More often than not this led to better play, as he had a way of keeping me calm and "in the moment" as they say. This is something I struggled with as a youth, and I think every player could use a reminder of this extremely important concept from time to time. In the summer of 2005, at the tender age of 21 I was fortunate enough to advance all the way to the Final Match of the New Hampshire Amateur with my father on the bag the entire way. I was able to win that championship and to this day it is one of my proudest accomplishments. However, it is not my #1 memory of golf with my Dad...
Six years earlier, at Duston Country Club, where I learned the game, my father was by my side as I competed for the Men's Club Championship. A year prior, at the age of 14, I had lost this tournament very narrowly and spent about 363 days getting over it. I desperately wanted to win and as most know in golf, wanted something so badly doesn't make it any easier. In fact, it often makes it exceedingly difficult. The final round on this day was no different. After missing shot after shot, I continued to scramble for pars, maintaining a two shot lead with 9 holes to play. On the 16th hole, after many 8-10 foot par saving putts had fallen for me, and my opponents had missed as many for birdie to cut into my lead, I canned yet another clutch par putt. I remember saying to my Dad, "I am so nervous! My stomach hurts, and I can't feel my hands..." He calmly replied something to the effect of "You got this! You're playing great! There's no need to be nervous..." This calm demeanor by the man I had grown up trying to emulate in every way allowed me to press on, and play the final two holes confidently, winning the Men's Club Championship at the age of 15.
Years later my father would tell me that after that putt on the 16th hole and the assurance he offered me, he was "So nervous he wanted to puke..." To this day, that is not only one my fondest memories on a golf course, but one of my fondest memories with my father.
I am truly lucky to have been born to TWO wonderful parents, and I certainly hope I have made them proud and continue to do so.
Not sure what is in store for the fathers on the leader board of the US Open this year, but it should be great theater and there's one thing for sure, I bet there are some proud fathers out there!
