Interview With Golfing Crony Joe – 102nd Post!

Following Brother John’s interview and golfing buddy Dave’s interview, today we are visiting with yet another great golfing buddy Joe, from Lancaster, PA.  Joe and I have known each other for the better part of fifteen years, having met as Board Members for a local charity.  Joe was quick with a smile and quick with a laugh, helping me navigate my role and responsibilities.  We shared our passion and forged a wonderful friendship, typically playing 7-10 rounds each season.  In addition to my brother and friend Dave, Joe has also suffered at the hands of Bad Golf Guy when partnering in Member-Guest events.  Joe has been along for a number of my adventures as documented in A Watchful Eye, Stonewall, Can We Get a Rules Official Over Here and The Move. 

Side Bar:   Joe is affectionately regarded as the best ball hawk on the planet, period! It is a rare day that any player in Joe’s foursome would lose a ball with the exception of perhaps going into a lake, a pond, a river, a stream or a pool!

How and when were you introduced to the game of golf?

I played baseball, then softball, then coached my son in baseball for eleven years. I played about four-eight times a year from 1990-2006, mostly in scrambles.  The only real time I played my own ball was in the Junior Achievement annual fundraiser event at Lancaster Country Club (LCC) in Lancaster, PA.  I started playing far more frequently in 2006/2007 when we joined LCC.

Why are you so connected to the game?

I enjoy playing with my wife (Shelby), and my good friends.  I have a busy work schedule so my special time hanging out with Shelby and my friends, before, during and after our rounds is most rewarding to me.

Share a favorite experience(s).

Wow, where do I begin.  I have a very entertaining group of golf friends. 

I once witnessed someone in my foursome’s ball, strike a small tree, some 20 feet ahead, dead square, ricocheting backwards at the speed of light.  The same player caught the ball in his left hand by his left ear, instantaneously releasing the ball in the original divot, readying to pull the trigger once again.  Oh wait a minute, that was covered in a previous post (Can We Get A Rules Official Over Here).  A few others:

 I was attending an IT conference, sitting next to a good friend who was tinkering with his phone during a mid-morning meeting.  I was curious so I asked him what he was doing.  He responded that he was scheduling a 1:00 tee time with my wife because he knew I planned on attending the afternoon session.

 I have another friend who had significant eye surgery and is legally blind in one eye. During his first post-surgery round, his tee ball lands in the middle of the fairway.  He turns and asks me the direction and distance to the flag. I shared the direction/distance and he miraculously landed his ball within eight feet from the pin.

 Finally, when I first started to play, I met a fellow, who through the years has become a really good friend.  We played together on Saturday mornings for eight years, always with the same caddie, all through the caddie’s high school and college years.  My friend is a bit of a talker. As we would exit the first tee box, I would throw out a random topic for conversation.  My friend would actively/enthusiastically engage the topic for the entire eighteen holes.  I was set, I only had to walk along, play my ball and periodically acknowledge his commentary.  It worked for both of us, not to mention our caddie found the weekly ritual hilarious.  On one particular Saturday morning, upon arrival, my friend, having spent the past two hours with tech support, was beside himself as he was unable to open his New York Times app on his phone.  He went on and on about the problem.  Somewhere in the middle of the first fairway, I suggested he uninstall the app and then reinstall the app.  We had it working before we arrived at the second tee box.  In the meantime we saw a mail truck entering the Club driveway.  I told my friend that the New York Times was hand delivering a hard copy to avoid a complete meltdown!

 I love the game and I truly enjoy my time with my friends!

Based on my advanced age and your less than advanced age, do you think you can still improve at this game?

I am constantly working at my game.  For years, I would hit five to ten balls on the range before I would head to the first tee, committing little time to practice. I now find myself spending more time on the driving and short range which is yielding some positive results.

 I think most players are of the opinion that they need to hit it a long way to score, yet I play with a bunch of friends who are not very long off the tee and score very well, principally due to their short game.  Focusing on the short game may be the quickest way to improve your score. 

How many rounds do you play per year?

I play about one-hundred rounds per year.

How many different golf courses have you played?

As of the end of July, I have played a little over 230 different courses with Erin Hills (Wisconsin), Desert Highlands (Arizona) and Calusa Pines (Florida) in the crosshairs.

If you had one place to play?

Augusta National, Seminole, Cypress Point, in that order.  I do enjoy playing historic and revered golf courses however, I can play anywhere as long as I am playing with Shelby and my friends.  Those experiences are significantly more rewarding/entertaining than playing a specific golf course.

Golfing goals?

Continue to play as many rounds as possible with Shelby, other couples and my friends. In addition, continue to enjoy traveling to golf destinations with Shelby.

Our son (Tyler) has only played a few rounds of golf as he is busy raising two young daughters, occasionally finding time for his favorite non-family related pastime…hunting.  He has recently expressed interest in the game, so having the opportunity to regularly share our passion with Tyler is something we really look forward to.

 We now have two young granddaughters.  The oldest has been on the course with Shelby and her friends and has had a blast.  She has a set of children’s clubs and we are anxious to schedule a few lessons and to get her out to play.

Not certain what the future will bring, however it would be awesome to enjoy eighteen holes of golf with our son and at some point our granddaughters.

Joe, thank you for your contribution!

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The back nine can only get better!