A Classic Golf Blog About the Culture of Golf

The game and cigarettes have always had an interesting relationship. After reading Bernard Darwin’s essay titled The Golfing Cigarette, a post was warranted. Growing up, cigarettes were a part of my experience – the long drag remains in my father’s pre-shot routine.

In Darwin’s essay, he conveys 5 (of many) different types of cigarettes on the golf course. They are:

1. “There is the one that a man lights on the tee just to steady him and help him over the first hole.”
2. “There is the one, particularly applicable to medal rounds, which follows a disaster in a bunker leading to a six or a seven.”
3. “There is, in a match, the one that is felt to be absolutely necessary when a nice little winning lead of three up or so has suddenly been reduced to a single hole.”
4. “There is the cigarette to be smoked at the turn, irrespective of the state of the game, but because the turn is a definite occasion and an occasion calls for tobacco.”
5. “Finally and most blissful is the dormy cigarette…”

Golf and cigarette’s relationship has been like any other; good times and bad times ebb and flow. In the early years of competitive golf, it was viewed as disrespectful to smoke in a match. Americans slowly morphed the perception as even the great Bobby Jones took a few drags during critical moments.

Unquestionably the pinnacle of golf and cigarette’s relationship was during the commercialized boom years of golf. The years of post-war golf seemed to curb the stigma and when the likes of Ben Hogan and others made it a habit, the act was more accepted; proven by the King’s promotion of LM’s (image below).

The relationship of cigarettes and golf today is still strong, but more subtle. Although, an opponent lighting up a Camel is in no sign of disrespect, it’s more likely to be perceived as a weakness. Vernacular has even changed. Smoking cigarettes, is no longer called smoking cigarettes, but ‘ripping nails’ is just as easily interpreted in the golfing elite’s terminology.

Cigarettes and golf will always be married together. Both need each other: cigarettes because without golf, there would be less moments needed for them, and golf, because without cigarettes, the game would be that much more difficult.

Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan smoking cigarettes before their shot.

Darren Clarke smokes a golfer's cigarette.

Post-round cigarette for Ben Hogan

Miguel Angel-Jimenez smokes cigarettes and cigars.

Arnold Palmer promoting LM's.

Angel Cabrera is one of the most prolific smokers on tour.

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I’m convinced there are not enough golf books in this world. Millions of fantastic golf stories are untold because they were never journaled. Fortunately for the golf world, Tripp Bowden chronicled his experience as one of the first white caddies at Augusta National Golf Club. His book, Freddie and Me, takes the reader inside the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club and tells stories from the club with Freddie Bennett — the revered caddie master of 30+ years — as the focal point.

Freddie and Me touched on many of life’s greater observations. Tripp was kind enough to answer my follow up questions about Freddie, the course, and golf.

Humor and Golf:

There are so many stories in Freddie and Me that epitomize Southern wit, charm, and humor — metaphors are a significant portion of that humor. What are the top three metaphors or Freddy-isms every golfer should know, but doesn’t.

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For the past two decades — yes, two decades exactly (that is when Tiger won his first of three U.S. Junior Amateurs) there has been one, contemporary model of how to dominate golf. The blueprint was witnesses by thousands of junior golfers and attempted by most to achieve one man’s level of greatness.

Getty Images

The blueprint: a compulsive practice regime — to the extent of sacrificing social development, weekly meetings with the sport psychologist, morning workouts, and little time for growing up. The game of golf is a microcosm of life, not the other way around.  A pint of Guinness? Forget about it. Joking back and forth on the latest social network? No need, the PR team includes it in their services.  All business with scheduled pleasure was the model: sacrifice the whole for the sake of the specific.

This model crumbled when a well-rounded, normal twenty-two year old Irishman named Rory McIlroy proved there is another way to dominate.

Same Story, Different Ending

I’ve rooted for Tiger in every tournament he’s competed. Starting when national superstardom blanketed him in the 1996 U.S. Amateur final against Steve Scott. Two down with three to play, Tiger willed his way to victory on the 38th hole of competition at Pumpkin Ridge. It’s important to remember, Tiger had what Rory has.

During the Tuesday practice round of the 1997 Masters was the first time I spoke to Tiger. He walked off the 8th green to the 9th tee — if you can believe it, in the afternoon — and surprisingly there weren’t many people following him. As he approached the 9th tee box, I said, “Good luck this week Tiger, I’m rooting for you.” He looked me in the eye and said, “Thank you” with a happy-go-lucky grin. He had a fan for life.

It was years later the superstardom facade would crush the foundation of a hero.

This can’t happen to Rory. He grew up in Northern Ireland; regardless of skill and promise, oversized-egos will get you beat out of the bar (I’ve seen it before). Rory’s home town will always be a retreat from superficial levels the media thrusts him. Tiger’s retreat was his father; with Earl’s passing so did the final part of Tiger pre-superstardom.

A New Model

Rory’s veteran-stomping proved to the world there is another way to dominate besides being manufactured by a hired entourage. Talent, hard work, and constant improvement are always the recipe, balancing them with life’s most important building blocks is the hard part. He’s accomplished that magnificently and there’s no reason to think he won’t continue for years to come. All juniors should replicate the new model.

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When your friend or relative invites you to a Member-Guest, it’s a big deal. They are, in essence, saying, “I want you to come represent me in front of my friends at my club.” It is a true honor. This privilege creates a lofty amount of responsibility; below are 4 simple, easy ways to get invited back to your friend’s Member Guest.

Make Your Partner Look Good

There are many ways to do this and not do this. A few that come to mind include:

• Tell stories of the past you have together. Each of you know one another for a reason, let his fellow members in on a side of your host they may not know — a good side that is.
• Do not talk about or compare your club. Any form of trying to “keep up with the Joneses” or commenting on how your club does it always comes off awkward.
• Dress like your partner. This doesn’t mean wear the exact same item…that would be ridiculous and is highly ill-advised. But dressing beneath your partner (shirt untucked or tennis golf shoes) could create tension and dressing above him (a flamboyant-Poulter outfit) could make him feel out-of-place at his home course. Best advice: stay traditional and classic.

Play Well

This might be too simple, but depending on your partner, being in contention is a high priority and if you get waxed, coming back may be a tall order. Weeks leading up to the tournament, take some extra range time, bring the putter to work, and get mentally prepared for firing at pins and dropping putts.

Write Personal Thank You Notes

Writing thank you notes is one of the least time consuming ways and potentially has the greatest “remembrance factor” because so few people do it. Notice “Thank You Notes” is plural. This means writing two is best form: one to your host and one to the head pro — both thanking them for the weekend, accommodations, and experience. Notes should only be written if the message is authentic and sincere, otherwise don’t bother.

Reciprocate

Some of the greatest relationships are formed on the golf course. As most know, relationships are a two way street and if an individual doesn’t reciprocate in anyway, it hints a lack of appreciation. There are many ways to reciprocate including a gift, a golf trip that you initiate, or your Member-Guest.

These were just 4 ways of many to get invited back to the Member Guest. Good luck and hopefully your host will see you next year.

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There are many areas of Atlanta that remind me of Bobby Jones. Whether it’s East Lake, his old house (Whitehall) off Tuxedo Road, the law office where he practiced in historic downtown, or the Atlanta universities he attended, there is always a piece of Bob Jones in the city.

Today, I had the opportunity to visit the archives at Georgia Tech’s library and found the 1922 edition of The Blueprint – the university’s yearbook.

Bobby while at Georgia Tech

Below is the 1922 yearbook of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The Georgia Tech Yearbook – “The Blueprint”

A fascinating piece about Bobby’s profile in The Blueprint is how involved he was with campus life. His activities, as [click to continue…]

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A recent lunch with good friend and professional golfer, Tim Schaetzel, led to an interesting discussion about how a typical player analyzes their game. After going back and forth on different ways the game is evaluated for improvement, we concluded that most players rarely use a valuable tool available to them: statistical analysis.

Courtesy of Rob Matre

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Seve Ballesteros brought so much to the game. His passing is a time for players and enthusiasts to remember his legacy and dig in the details of what made Seve great.

The golf world has continually pointed out his brilliant shot making ability and unparalleled creativity. His God given talent wasn’t what separated him from all the other players; Seve brought an intense desire to every shot he played. He felt it, he made sure his fans felt it, and he also made sure his opponents felt it.

After looking at many Seve clips and interviews there are two I suggest you view to refresh your memory on the man that put panache and style into the sport unlike any other.

Seve’s Victory Speech after the 1988 British Open

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The week leading up to the Masters I was reacquainted with two of the three playing partners from our day at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. This time we met at Secession Golf Club and Chechessee Creek Club. Graeme and Sean have become some of the more enjoyable playing companions/competitors in the last year not only because of our shared loved for the game but the level of appreciation and perspective they each have for the sport.

However, we’ll leave what makes a great playing companion to another post, this one is about a lost art form within the game. An art that produces an experience because of golf’s rare mix of mental, social, and physical skills required — traditionally, this is called an exhibition match.

Secession Golf Club

A Very Brief History

Before there was a professional golf tour, many of the game’s greatest players earned money by competing in exhibition matches against each other. There was no better ‘exhibitor’ than Walter Hagen. A man with a larger than life personality and a grandiose lifestyle to match it. To draw the widest audience as possible, celebrities of that time would also join in on the competition.

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From the tournament’s inception, the goal has been to put on the finest golf tournament possible. According to revered golf writer Herbert Warren Wind there were many factors that turned the Augusta National Invitational tournament into the spectacle that it is today, including Bobby Jones’ influence, the quality of the field, and the diligence and precision of Clifford Roberts, just to name a few.

Yesterday was one of the most exhilarating days of golf I’ve ever experienced. The energy of every patron marinated across the hills of Augusta National Golf Club and baked in as the afternoon sun blanketed the golden grounds.

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