Guest Column

Skip Berkmeyer

In some way or another, for most Americans, the Coronavirus and 2020 has been a challenge. In golf, and in my 46 years of life we haven’t seen this kind of upheaval ever. A lot of people in America are hurting but like most things, I try and keep the glass half-to-all-the-way full. We have so many important things to consider in this country, in this fight and this struggle to get along. I encourage people to look to golf and see the light that it can bring. The First Tee organization has nine core values that teach kids and adults about golf. Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgement - these core values are everything golf stands for on an everyday basis. This isn’t a tagline, it should be the living, breathing ingredients of the game, every single round. I think many of these values can be summed up with one phrase: “Golf is a game about people and relationships.” The first time I heard this phrase was from my idol and friend, Jim Holtgrieve, at a press conference for the Walker Cup in 2013. Jim had just captained the 2011 U.S. Walker Cup team in Scotland, a team that was full of future PGA stars. It was perhaps the most decorated team in history going into the competition. And as history shows, it lost 14 -12. So in 2013, Jim had a whole lot riding when he was selected to return as the U.S. captain. At that famous Q and A with the media at National Golf Links, he was asked about winning and losing the Walker Cup, and he politely suggested that golf wasn’t about winning or losing. He explained it was about the competition and about the relationships you develop in this game that last a lifetime. The media had a field day taking Captain Holtgrieve to task, saying he didn’t care if they won or lost, and criticizing his ability to lead young men. They weren’t the only ones who thought maybe Jim was off his rocker. I was playing lots of national amateur golf at the time. I was asked by many what Jim meant, and if he really cared about the competition. The situation went on for a while, but was all quickly forgotten when Jim’s team dominated the 2013 Walker Cup. However, Jim’s “controversial” sentiment wasn’t lost on me. What “golf ” has meant to me, why the game is special, became infinitely more clear. My story in golf is one that has been characterized by countless blessing and good luck. I was a “Norwood Hills country club brat,” with two loving and wonderful parents who introduced me to the game. I wasn’t especially aware of it while growing up, but my parents were not only giving me the knowledge to play, but giving me life lessons I could use forever. Of course, there were times I didn’t understand it, times I felt I was being forced and times I wavered with my confidence and ability. But the bait was cast. I was swimming in the pond waiting to be caught, and it didn’t take long to for me to get hooked. I loved all of it. But mostly, I loved to play with the guys at Norwood, who ranged in age from 18 to 75. They took me in, showed me the ropes, gave me trouble and pushed my game to new heights. Most important, they were my friends. I learned shots and thought processes from state champions like David Estes, Don Bliss, Scott Thomas and Bob Beckmann. From them and others, I learned how to get it around the course with funky swings and very little talent. I also learned about things that could become bad habits, crutches, even things that could ruin your life. I was in the Master Class of Golf, and it was exhilarating. Even today, I still have relationships just like it, all over the United States. So in 2020, the world has gone nuts. Between the pandemic, the rioting, the protests … we sometimes don’t know what to do or what is certain, from day to day. I say let’s look to golf, and look to our golf relationships. Make a call to an old friend you haven’t played with in years. Call your group of guys and go on a road trip for a great social distance day outside. Or just play a round and enjoy the game. Jim Holtgrieve was right. Golf is about relationships, because without them what do you have? I would say not much at all.

In some way or another, for most Americans, the Coronavirus and 2020 has been a challenge. In golf, and in my 46 years of life we haven’t seen this kind of upheaval ever. A lot of people in America are hurting but like most things, I try and keep the glass half-to-all-the-way full. We have so many important things to consider in this country, in this fight and this struggle to get along. I encourage people to look to golf

The First Tee organization has nine core values that teach kids and adults about golf. Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgement - these core values are everything golf stands for on an everyday basis. This isn’t a tagline, it should be the living, breathing ingredients of the game, every single round. I think many of these values can be summed up with one phrase: “Golf is a game about people and relationships.” The first time I heard this phrase was from my idol and friend, Jim Holtgrieve, at a press conference for the Walker Cup in 2013. Jim had just captained the 2011 U.S. Walker Cup team in Scotland, a team that was full of future PGA stars. It was perhaps the most decorated team

So in 2013, Jim had a whole lot riding when he was selected to return as the U.S. captain. At that famous Q and A with the media at National Golf Links, he was asked about winning and losing the Walker Cup, and he politely suggested that golf wasn’t about winning or losing. He explained it was about the competition and about the relationships you develop in this game that last a lifetime. The media had a field day taking Captain Holtgrieve to task, saying he didn’t care if they won or lost, and criticizing his ability to lead young men. They weren’t the

I was playing lots of national amateur golf at the time. I was asked by many what Jim meant, and if he really cared about the competition. The situation went on for a while, but was all quickly forgotten when Jim’s team dominated the 2013 Walker Cup. However, Jim’s “controversial” sentiment wasn’t lost on me. What “golf ” has meant to me, why the game is special, became infinitely more clear. My story in golf is one that has been characterized by countless blessing and good luck. I was a “Norwood Hills country club brat,” with two loving and wonderful parents who introduced me to the game. I wasn’t especially aware of it while growing up, but my parents were not

Of course, there were times I didn’t understand it, times I felt I was being forced and times I wavered with my confidence and ability. But the bait was cast. I was swimming in the pond waiting to be caught, and it didn’t take long to for me to get hooked. I loved all of it. But mostly, I loved to play with the guys at Norwood, who ranged in age from 18 to 75. They took me in, showed me the ropes, gave me

I learned shots and thought processes from state champions like David Estes, Don Bliss, Scott Thomas and Bob Beckmann. From them and others, I learned how to get it around the course with funky swings and very little talent. I also learned about things that could become bad habits, crutches, even things that could ruin your life. I was in the Master Class of Golf, and it was exhilarating. Even today, I still have

So in 2020, the world has gone nuts. Between the pandemic, the rioting, the protests … we sometimes don’t know what to do or what is certain, from day to day. I say let’s look to golf, and look to our golf relationships. Make a call to an old friend you haven’t played with in years. Call your group of guys and go on a road trip for a great social distance day outside. Or just play a round and enjoy the game. Jim Holtgrieve was right. Golf is about relationships, because without them what do you have?