Slocum
The Nearly Anonymous $15 Million Man
[ W r i t t e n by Carl Danbury Jr. ]
At 5-foot-8,
150 pounds, PGA Tour professional Heath Slocum doesn’t exactly stand out in a crowd. On the course, he rarely elicits those tedious and boorish screams of “You the man” because — while very accurate off the tee — there are guys at your local club who can hit farther. Fist pumps? Unlikely. High-fives for oodles of fans around the 18th green? Doubtful. Intimidating countenance? Choirboy leaps to mind. Slocum is simply a very talented professional golfer, husband and father of two young daughters who lives in Alpharetta. He is a former All-American golfer at the University of South Alabama, son of a club professional and high school teammate of 2008 Ryder Cup participant/ cheerleader Boo Weekley in Milton, Fla., a small panhandle town better known as “Scratch Ankle” due to its preponderance of briars.
Photo courtesy of David Cannon/Getty Images
20
Points North | August 2011 | ptsnorth.com
ptsnorth.com | August 2011 | Points North
21
Slocum Photo Courtesy of Michael Cohen/Getty Images
“I take medication and I have for more than 10 years. I can’t say that it does or doesn’t do anything, but I can say that I have been very successful on it. I see a doctor every three to six months and have blood work done. They are looking for the effects, not only of the medication and its potential side effects, but also to see if there are any warning signs. I have to maintain and monitor the condition.” Slocum is a national spokesperson for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and uses his golf career as a platform to spread the word about the disease and its effects, and stays involved as much as his schedule allows with fundraising events. From a diet standpoint, he eats healthily and focuses on fruits, vegetables and organically raised meats “just to be on the safe side. I’ve got a pretty good gig going right now and I don’t want to mess it up,” he said.
Slocum has scratched out a handsome living with four career wins and lifetime earnings of approximately $15 million in 11 years of competing on the PGA Tour. While his earnings are a galaxy away from some of the Tour’s more visible stars, consider this: In 1997 and 1998, Slocum spent the better part of 18 months in bed suffering from ulcerative colitis, a debilitating type of inflammatory bowel disease. “It affected me every single day, all day, for one and a half years,” Slocum told Points North. “But I will say I have been very, very fortunate, and really haven’t had any problems in the last 10 years. The disease can be hugely devastating to some people.”
Memorable Wins His PGA Tour gig began in 2001, but it wasn’t until February 2004 that Slocum made a name for himself with his first victory at the Chrysler Classic in Tucson. His second Tour victory came 21 months later in November 2005 at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Annandale, Miss. His caddie that week was his father, Jack, who was Slocum’s idol and mentor during his formative years. “I got to watch him play all of the time and he had a big influence on my game. To win a tournament with him on the bag was unbelievable. Just playing well was good, but then having a week when things went my way was pretty incredible,” Slocum related. “It was one of the greatest things I have done in golf … that win stacks up as one of my best because just having him there going down the stretch fulfilled both of our dreams. He had tried to prepare me for the PGA Tour since I was a little kid and I will say that he did a damn good job.” Jack had a small part in both Boo Weekley’s and Bubba Watson’s careers as well. Both grew up in Milton, and Jack
M o b i le Ac c e p ta n c e M e a n s N e w E r a f o r G o lf Fa n s The 93rd PGA Championship will allow spectators to carry and use mobile devices in select areas on the golf course. The integration of mobile devices to enhance the golf spectator experience was conducted last May during the 72nd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, which was the first PGA of America-sponsored major spectator event to implement the new policy. “Having successfully introduced the mobile device policy at one of our major spectator events, we are confident that we will have a positive response from those attending the 93rd PGA Championship in Atlanta,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “Mobile devices are a part of our daily lives, our personal caddie, and we ask that the great spectators who support our premier
Championship will respect the ground rules and the players while enjoying one of the year’s foremost sporting events.” During the PGA Championship, spectators at Atlanta Athletic Club will be alerted to follow proper usage on site by adjusting the volume setting to “silent” or “vibrate.” Spectators may accept or make phone calls in designated areas throughout the golf course, primarily near concession stands. Digital messaging and checking data is allowed on the golf course. Cell phone camera use is only permitted during the Practice Rounds. No video recording will be permitted at any time during Championship Week. Spectators attempting to use their mobile device in unauthorized areas or in ways not sanctioned will be asked to surrender the device and pick it up at a designated location after they depart the golf course.
Points North | August 2011 | ptsnorth.com
Photo Courtesy of Harry How/Getty Images
Slocum 24
Deere Classic in early July provided Slocum reason to believe his form has taken a positive turn. “I am trying to gear my game, not only for the PGA Championship, but for some of the other events, too. I hope to get my game to peak and get ready for the FedEx Cup playoffs,” Slocum related. “I feel like my game is coming around. When the weather heats up, I play some of my best golf, so I have nothing but optimism for the rest of this season. It wasn’t a great start. I obviously Slocum’s wife, Victoria, and daughter, Stella, got an up-close preview of the Masters with would have liked to have done a lot better. Slocum during a practice round in April 2010 It’s a learning experience and has helped me to buckle down and reevaluate the way I have been preparing, caddied for them at the PGA Qualifying School a couple of and now I am just enjoying the process of good hard work.” times. His solid practice regimen prior to the 93rd PGA Champi“He is a very positive influence and that matters a lot,” onship at Atlanta Athletic Club’s Highlands Course (Aug. 11 – the proud son offered. 14) could provide a perfect opportunity for Slocum to prove his Slocum’s biggest career victory came at The Barclays, mettle close to home. In four of his seven career appearances a FedEx Cup Playoff event held in August 2009, in which at the PGA Championship, Slocum has finished in the top 35. he holed a 20-foot par putt on the 18th hole to give him a His best finish was a tie for 22nd in the 2002 event played at one-shot victory over a formidable foursome, Steve Stricker, Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. In nine of the Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods. That win 17 major championships in which he has participated, Slocum proved, at least to him, that no matter the course or the field, also has finished in the top 35. when Slocum “is on,” he can compete with the game’s best While he has seen every hole on the Highlands Course players. during two CCFA fundraising tournaments, he had yet to “My job is to be ‘on’ more often. Some of the more play an entire round on the Rees Jones layout. He hopes to successful players, the big names in golf, have learned to do it play a full practice round during an upcoming break in his and are really good at doing it consistently,” he said. schedule. “I have a feeling this is going to be a great test and that A Local Test of Mettle this course is going to hold up [against the world’s greatest That consistency eluded Slocum through his first 16 events golfers]. I know it did in prior years, but they have changed of the 2011 season as he struggled to find the form that he the greens and added a few tees. The PGA of America always displayed last fall. He pocketed $720,000 for his fourth career does a pretty fair job of setting golf courses up, so I think the win at The McGladrey Classic in October, a new event hosted Athletic Club will walk away with its head held high for this by Davis Love III at the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf event,” Slocum said. Club, in which he holed a 60-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole that provided some breathing room from his closest On Family, Fishing and Giving Back competitors. For a professional golfer playing 30 events or so each year, conSlocum said he expected more success this season and fidence and momentum are difficult to maintain, but Slocum hoped to capitalize on the momentum he felt he had built late has assembled a great support staff including his caddie of the last season. past decade, D.J. Nelson, a former college teammate. “It has been a slow start and not one that I envisioned “He is an incredible caddie and a great help to my career. coming into this year. Sometimes golf will just jump up and I feel that one of the best things I have done as a Tour player is kick you right in the face and bring you back to reality,” he surrounded myself with and hired the best guys in the business. said. “The good thing is that I have some time left this year I’ve got the best caddie. I’ve got the best coach and instructor to make some noise.” in Mark Blackburn. The best trainer and the best sports psyTwo top-20 finishes at the U.S. Open and Travelers chologist in the field,” Slocum said. Championship in June and a solid performance at the John
Slocum When not traveling from event to event, Slocum enjoys spending time with his family. His true avocation, and one he hopes to do a lot of when his golf career is finished, is fresh-water fishing. He grew up in bass country, and enjoys tossing a line when his schedule allows. “I have to say my priorities have definitely changed since having my two girls. I actually enjoy spending more time with them than fishing these days, but let me just tell you that every time I get a chance I’ll put a line in the water and try to catch a big one anywhere I can go.” As a member of Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga., the pond near Hole No. 3 often yields some nice catches. Slocum said he joined the prestigious club because of the lowstress environment. “The very first time I went, I fell in love with the place. Not only the way they run the place, but all the members themselves, they are really low stress. You go out there, they make you feel at home. And I am not a celebrity there by any means. They just come up to you, say hello, ask how you’re doing and ask if you want to play. All the members are like that and I love it.” And every year, Slocum lends his name and energies to an event hosted by Hawks Ridge for golfers ages 14 – 19. The Heath Slocum Invitational just completed its third year. “Director of golf Chuck Knebels came to me and said that he would love [for me] to become as involved as I can for the event. First of all, I knew that if Hawks Ridge was involved, it was going to be well-run. Even if I can inspire one of these kids, just to go to college and try to play golf, it’s well worth it,” Slocum said. And lending a hand is something that comes naturally for a guy that grew up around the game and has seen the impact professional golfers can have on others’ lives. “I had tons of help along the way growing up. I can give back and I try to give back just as much as those people who helped me. Most of the stuff that my wife and I do, because she is a big part of this, we don’t let it be known what we do or have done,” Slocum said. The anonymous life for a professional golfer who has earned $15 million in his career? “In the five years [we have lived in Alpharetta], I think there has been one time that I have had anyone say anything to me after recognizing me — and I was really shocked. I can go out pretty much anywhere without anyone having a clue. I think it’s wonderful,” Slocum chuckled. PN F o r M o r e I n f o r mat i o n The 93rd PGA Championship takes place at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek Aug. 11 – 14. For more information, please visit www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2011/. 26
Points North | August 2011 | ptsnorth.com