Playing Golf with Skip Kendall
I had the very fortunate opportunity to play golf with Tour Pro, Skip Kendall, this past weekend at Keane's Pointe Golf Course in Orlando, Florida. Playing with a player of his caliber is very exciting since you get to watch "inside the ropes" and see how he manages the course. I played in a foursome with Skip and from the start he was one of the nicest guys. I played from one tee forward, not wanting to completely embarrass myself out there.
The thing I had to constantly remind myself was that I was playing golf, but he was working and getting ready for the next tournament. The biggest difference I saw between my meager game and Skip's, was his precision. The game is about the smallest details. We were on the 4th hole and in similar position on the fairway after Skip spotted me 30 yards off the tee. We both hit the green to within 10 feet of the flag. Booyah! I can play with the pro, right? Wrong! He simply knocked his putt into the back of the cup and I missed mine by a few inches. And, there lies the big difference. Pro's make those birdie putts while us amatuers settle for par. Not that par is a bad score, but that's the reason he plays golf to make money and I make money to play golf. On hole 16, we hit shots onto the green and his ball settled slightly closer than mine with both us about 10 feet to pin. He gets to watch me putt to get the line. That's not fair at all! Of course I miss judge the line, missing left of the hole. Being the pro that his is, saw the line and knocked in another birdie. He had a few bad holes, but he had a lot of birdies and also chipped in for an eagle! All in a days work I guess. All kidding aside, he was a very respectful person and a pleasure to play golf with.
The hard part is that the day and round went by so quickly. I wished him well as Skip is trying hard to play regularly on the PGA Tour again. If you see him at a tournament, give him your support. Here's Skip's profile, http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/16/19/. He also serves as host for the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin/Skip Kendall Pro-Am for Kids.
Go get em Skip!
The thing I had to constantly remind myself was that I was playing golf, but he was working and getting ready for the next tournament. The biggest difference I saw between my meager game and Skip's, was his precision. The game is about the smallest details. We were on the 4th hole and in similar position on the fairway after Skip spotted me 30 yards off the tee. We both hit the green to within 10 feet of the flag. Booyah! I can play with the pro, right? Wrong! He simply knocked his putt into the back of the cup and I missed mine by a few inches. And, there lies the big difference. Pro's make those birdie putts while us amatuers settle for par. Not that par is a bad score, but that's the reason he plays golf to make money and I make money to play golf. On hole 16, we hit shots onto the green and his ball settled slightly closer than mine with both us about 10 feet to pin. He gets to watch me putt to get the line. That's not fair at all! Of course I miss judge the line, missing left of the hole. Being the pro that his is, saw the line and knocked in another birdie. He had a few bad holes, but he had a lot of birdies and also chipped in for an eagle! All in a days work I guess. All kidding aside, he was a very respectful person and a pleasure to play golf with.
The hard part is that the day and round went by so quickly. I wished him well as Skip is trying hard to play regularly on the PGA Tour again. If you see him at a tournament, give him your support. Here's Skip's profile, http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/16/19/. He also serves as host for the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin/Skip Kendall Pro-Am for Kids.
Go get em Skip!
I had the pleasure to play in the 2006 Booz Allen Classic Pro-Am at the TPC Avenel in Bethesda, MD with Skip and I have been pulling for him ever since, every event.
I was a nervous wreck - even though it is all in fun, it was by far the most nervous I have been in a tournament.
From the beginning, Skip walked right up to me on the par 4 16th, a challenging, hilly par 4, and said, "Ok big guy, you hit clean-up". After watching his and 3 other drives go down the middle or close to it, I of course swung too hard and popped it up, about 210 yds at best. Skip followed me to my drive, in the rough, (not to mention we were doubled stacked on the tee box, so Mark O'Meara and his 4 amateurs also saw my beautiful drive) and calmed me down. He coached me to a nice easy 7 iron which I hit up the 100 yd mark, right in the middle of the fairway. He walked with me down the fairway and settled me down. I then hit my wedge to an uphill practically blind pin and made par for a net birdie! Wow, couldn't believe it.
But this note is not supposed to be about me. All day, Skip was the ultimate gentlemen, answering silly and probably stupid questions we had about the tour, the clubs, the courses, anything we wanted to ask.
He gave us a few tips, but only if we asked. I have never been so disappointed that lightning shortened our round by 4 holes, that afternoon, but what a great day!
Afterwards, we hung out for a bit, wished Skip well and my buddy and I followed him on Thursday and Friday later that week.
About 2 weeks later, I got a handwritten thank you note from Skip! (I should have been writing him one) He didn't have to do that, I really appreciated it - and it was personalized with some positive comments about my game.
In my job, I am fortunate to play a lot of golf in scrambles and have gone to many an event, so I have many plaques with pictures and various small trophies and photos at home, like we all do. However, the only thing I have in my fairly large office at work is the Red Pro-Am Pass, my photo plaque with Skip and the 3 other guys and the thank you note from Skip!
Please join me and wish him the best! He deserves it!
Greg Gouldin
Ijamsville, MD
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