From the Publisher

OTL has always been about getting the most out of life. Travel to the best destinations, indulge in delicious food and wine, and tee off on the most beautiful courses. Get up, get out, and engage in activities you love so that you can be at your absolute best. You never know how much time you have to enjoy the wonders of life.

It seems like every issue we remind you to stop procrastinating and start ticking off those items on your bucket list. And yet, how many of us ever act on a spontaneous idea? Truth is we don’t know, but one thing’s for sure: Regret is a powerful motivator.

But here’s the thing: we don’t just want to scare you into action. We want to inspire you to take the leap and live your best life. What motivates you to pursue your dreams? Is it the promise of success and accomplishment, or is it the fear of missing out? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

An age-old debate over motivation; the carrot or the stick? I’ve always replaced the stick with fire. You can tolerate the stick, but fire is non-negotiable. Nothing lights a fire under you quite like a burning desire to achieve your goals.

Speaking of goals, I recently had an experience that reminded me of the importance of staying grounded and appreciating the little things in life. Not many people can go back to the place they grew up. People move far distances away from home for work or other reasons.

I went back to my hometown and I got a chance to see a lot of familiar faces and people I’ve known all my life. One morning I grabbed a cup of coffee and some donuts and set out to meet up with an old buddy of mine and his crew. It was a go-to-work-with-a- friend day.

We met just after sunrise. It was a quiet, clear morning as the sun began to rise—rays peeking over the trees. Grass slightly dewed. The temperature just right.

Simply a beautiful day to be alive.

My friend is a grave digger, and he had six graves to dig for the scheduled funerals that day. I never planned to stay long, I just wanted to see how it works. I’ve always been a fan of large machinery. You know the tractor they use to build highways and bridges.

We went over to a patch of ground that had a couple of small stakes outlined where the hole needed to be dug. Using the precision of a surgeon with a scalpel, he moved and manipulated earth to make room for someone’s final resting place. The walls of the grave were cold, and it was eerie to think that someone would be there forever in just a few hours. At the same time, it came to me that this is a fate that we all must face. (Obviously, you have other options, cremation, etc.)

I looked at my friend and I saw the dedication, care, and determination of how he went about his work. He got off his tractor, grabbed his coffee, and proceeded to eat donuts. We casually began to talk about what we usually talk about, nothing, but always finding a reason to laugh.

It was a bittersweet moment. A part of me felt guilty knowing how good it felt to just sit and talk, laugh, reminisce, and spend great time with a friend that I’d known for more than a half-century knowing that soon, a family would be arriving to say goodbye to a loved one.

It was a reminder that life is precious, and we should cherish every moment we have.

I’d like to think that grave was prepared with machinery and sprinkled with a little bit of our joy on top.

So, that’s our message to you: seize the day. Embrace every opportunity, chase your dreams, and never forget to celebrate everything, all the time.

Enjoy.

PUBLISHER

Sedric Walker

ART DIRECTOR

Leticia Galarza

FEATURES EDITOR

Richard Arebalo

GOLF FEATURES EDITOR

Carl Mickelson

TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

Buck Mayers

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kevin Chin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Teresa K. Traverse, Scott Laird, Tomas Zilinskis, Allison Loots, Leslie Stevenson, Nicole Pinter, Hunter Ham, Alejandra Bernal

INTERNET & DIGITAL

Mario Rossi

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512.777.9879

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OTL_PHX magazine is published bi-monthly by Pristine Media, Inc. Executive, editorial,and advertising offices are located in Round Rock, Texas. Advertising rates furnished upon request. Advertisers warrant and represent that the descriptions and depictions of the products or services advertised are true in all respects. All advertising is subject to approval before acceptance. OTL reserves the right to refuse any ad for anyreason whatsoever. ©2023 by OTL. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in whole or part without the express written consent of OTL is strictly prohibited. Editorial queries and manuscripts should be directed to the editor via email, editor@otlgolf.com. All letters and their contents sent to OTL are sole property of OTL and may be used, printed, and published in any matter whatsoever without limit, obligation and liability to the author thereof. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and artists and not necessarily those of OTL or its advertisers. Manuscripts should be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. OTL assumes no responsibility or liability for the return of unsolicited artwork, manuscripts or pictures. Printed in the USA.