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“I play golf.” Be proud to be a golfer

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More than just a cool slogan on a hoodie, the words “I play golf” have had such a strong impact on me throughout my life.

Like any kid growing up, I had a variety of interests… but ultimately, sports ran my life. Whether it was watching or playing, I lived for basketball during basketball season, football during football season, and baseball during baseball season. But ever since I could walk, I took a strange liking to golf in particular, and it never had an “off-season” to me. In the spring, summer and fall months, I went to the range (often forcing my mom to videotape my swing for hours), to the golf course with my dad, or hit pitch shots in my backyard until sunset or long after. In the winter, I chipped on the carpet in our living room, or I swung a golf club in a mirror working on my positions. I was obsessed with the game.

IplayGolfWRXDetroit

Often times, however, it was a personal obsession; something I kept to myself. Kids can be cruel, and playing golf was more of a reason to be ridiculed than praised for me while growing up. So I always told people “I play basketball,” or “I play football.” Rarely did I say, or at least say proudly, “I play golf.”

But as time went on, and I went from playing golf in junior events, to high school matches, to playing golf in college, I started saying it more and more proudly. My college peers, probably from all of the student-athlete gear I’d wear to and from class, knew I played a sport at Rutgers. They’d ask, “what do you play; baseball or lacrosse or something?” And I’d answer, “No, I play golf.”

IplayGolfWRXGrafitti

I was being borderline cocky with my answer, if we’re being honest. I liked playing Division I golf, plus I had worked so hard to get there I felt entitled to that bravado. It also felt good to not hide my passion for golf amongst my peers anymore like I did when I was younger. Some people even thought it was pretty cool I played golf.

A funny thing happened my junior year while on the golf team at Rutgers, however. A tumor popped up into my spine, and the back spasms were so bad I needed immediate surgery. Back surgery at 20 years old is far from ideal for anyone, but as a collegiate golfer with big aspirations, it could have meant the end of my career. And it almost did.

I was forced, both physically and by my doctors, to red shirt my senior year. That meant I did not in fact play golf. For awhile, I couldn’t even stand to putt, let alone work on my swing at the range. “I play golf.” Maybe those are words I’ll never say again, I thought at the time.

"The Blackout" hat by @Back9usa

“The Blackout” hat by @Back9usa

Sometime during my senior season, however, I began swinging the golf club again. Then I started playing golf again. Then I started scoring pretty well during practice rounds, and I felt I was “back.” But this time around, I had a new appreciation for the sport that I’ve always loved.

After graduating from Rutgers, and with a year of eligibility still left to play collegiately, I took my (mostly diminished) talents to Hawaii; a Division II school called Hawaii Pacific University. When people asked me at HPU what sport I played, I proudly — not with embarrassment, apprehension, or some unwarranted cockiness —  told them “I play golf.”

IplayGolfOneway

The words “I play golf” may have different meanings to you, depending on your perspective. Actually, I had a swing coach one time who would repeatedly ask me, “Do you play golf swing or do you play golf?” to which I’d answer “I play golf.” But, to me, the words “I play golf” on this hoodie represent a lifelong relationship with golf that went through ups and downs, but today I’m proud to be a golfer, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to play the game I love most. And to anyone who gets made fun of — kids, adults, whomever — for playing golf, I say screw em; be proud of who you are and what you love. Life’s too short to be ashamed of yourself, and golf truly is the greatest game ever played, isn’t it?

If you’re proud to be a golfer, purchase your “I play golf.”  hoodie here.

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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

44 Comments

44 Comments

  1. Laney

    Nov 2, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    Such a well-written and poignant article. And the hoodie is dope AF.

  2. Mad-Mex

    Oct 30, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    “Back surgery at 20 years old is far from ideal for anyone, but as a collegiate golfer with big aspirations, it could have meant the end of my career.”,,, what a narcissist hit piece! Really? I can easily introduce you to a dozen men and women 20 years old who had one or both legs blown off, I can also introduce you to a dozen or more young men and women who work while attending high school or community college paying their way and helping their family. GOLF is a LUXURY !!!

    Let’s see how long before this one is deleted too.

    • Jack

      Oct 31, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      Yeah, what a loser for being upset about losing out on a lifelong career dream. Hey people have had legs blown off, so no whining about back surgery!

      Actually you know what, the guys with blown off legs should shut their holes too, I know people who DIED in combat, so these guys with two working limbs and a heartbeat should just shut the hell up too I guess.

  3. Dave

    Oct 30, 2017 at 9:09 am

    The comments here are funny.

  4. LD

    Oct 30, 2017 at 5:41 am

    Looks like they also added enough “likes” to prevent the article from being the shank that it is. Pathetic.

  5. 2putttom

    Oct 29, 2017 at 6:44 pm

    ” for playing golf, I say screw em; be proud of who you are and what you love. Life’s too short to be ashamed of yourself, and golf truly is the greatest game ever played, isn’t it?”

    . spot on

    • C.B.

      Oct 30, 2017 at 2:21 am

      We all know it was you who caused it all to happen with your incessant nonsense

  6. Stevens

    Oct 29, 2017 at 11:57 am

    The game is doing just fine now without the Tiger Woods bandwagon of fickle children. Please don’t encourage them to return.

  7. Tim Gunn

    Oct 29, 2017 at 10:08 am

    Make it work!

  8. The dude

    Oct 28, 2017 at 8:47 pm

    This is a joke right???

    • Sr. Golfer

      Oct 29, 2017 at 5:55 pm

      If anybody walked into my golf club wearing that hoodie and baggy pants they would be quickly escorted out the front gate. So yes, it is a joke, a bad joke.

  9. Phil

    Oct 28, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    Golfer’s Anthem:
    O say can you see, the golf ball on the tee,
    What so proudly we play to twilight’s last gleaming,
    Whose broad fairways and bright greens through the perilous OBs,
    O’er the sand bunkers we watched, were so gallantly swinging!
    And the driver’s fast flare, the balls flying in air,
    Gave proof through the green that the flag was still there;
    O say does that golf-spangled banner yet wave
    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

    • AP

      Oct 30, 2017 at 12:14 am

      No kneeling…. stand up and sing proudly.

      • C.B.

        Oct 30, 2017 at 2:20 am

        You really enjoy talking to yourself, don’t you?

  10. Duncan

    Oct 28, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    #curmudgeon Take the hate elsewhere. Grow the game bro

    • Closing time

      Oct 29, 2017 at 9:56 am

      Are you serious? You still have brought nothing to the table accept apparent hate probably stemming from jealousy…you’re that guy who looks at me and our group of players who are for most part finishing/finished baseball careers, and came to a private country club with full sleeve tattoos accumulated while bouncing around country playing baseball and golf when not playing ball…it’s those like you so quick to judge, I’ve seen it literally. Yet guys I’ve crossed paths with on web. and PGA Tour are the last to decide someone’s character by appearance. Occasionally 2 NFL players joined us this summer, and its you a full grown man asking for autographs after passing judgement for the way someone looks. Cheers to you, and hope you change the way you think…the close minded miss out on life

  11. Duncan

    Oct 28, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    Your serious? Let me guess… over 60 curmudgeon.

  12. Duncan

    Oct 28, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    Great article. Make golf great again. I am in the same boat. Much cooler to say your a race car driver or basketball player than a golfer. Golfer I am.

  13. 8thehardway

    Oct 28, 2017 at 12:15 am

    ‘The hoodie, you own it, you better never let it go.’

    Your heartfelt shame-to-pride journey is bookended with ads for the $39.95 hoodie you wear in the accompanying eminem-inspired photo shoot? I’m calling a Slim Shady on this infomercial.

  14. alfred

    Oct 27, 2017 at 9:41 pm

    Good stuff!

  15. Terry

    Oct 27, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    I dont get this article

    • Duncan

      Oct 28, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      Troll, hater. Must have been banned. You can smell it.

  16. RonL

    Oct 27, 2017 at 6:04 pm

    How about these slogans?:
    Golf is my passion
    Golf is for lovers
    Golf is power
    Golf is happiness
    Golf is wonderful
    Golf is important
    Golf is golf

  17. Scott

    Oct 27, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    I have played golf when it was kind of cool (maybe kind of cool?), then not cool, then very cool, and now, not that cool. Not sure that I was ever laughed at or made fun of. I never really care what people think. So heck yeah! I play golf!! Always something I could do with my dad. He woudl needle the $^!t out of me and piss me off to no end. What I wouldn’t give to have any of those days back.

  18. Travis

    Oct 27, 2017 at 1:45 pm

    I’d buy a hoodie if it didn’t say “GolfWRX” right on the hood. What a stupid location for that…

    • M. Vegas

      Oct 27, 2017 at 6:53 pm

      Back the blue!

      • Morpheus

        Oct 28, 2017 at 2:14 am

        You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.

    • Duncan

      Oct 28, 2017 at 7:58 pm

      hater. How about be proud and grow the game. #curmudgeon

  19. 037

    Oct 27, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    So you ran away to Hawaii, where there is nothing else to do but play golf and surf and thought you were cool saying you played golf? Boohoo. I don’t think you were in a challenging environment to say that with any power. You should have gone to some cold weather poor industrial town and say that in the middle of the town square where people have never even come close to golf and see what happens then

  20. SteveK

    Oct 27, 2017 at 1:13 pm

    In a word(s) …. OCD ….. and everybody wants to ‘play’ for fun, but only a few want to ‘perform’ for the satisfaction of accomplishment.

  21. Phil

    Oct 27, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    Fried Eggs golf should do a rap video with this hoodie on.

    • Colonel

      Oct 28, 2017 at 2:18 am

      Yes…. rap and golf go hand in hand ….. yo’ bro’

  22. JT

    Oct 27, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    I’d love to play a round with you Andrew. I found this game about 6 years ago and have been obsessed ever since. I only wish that I had found this game earlier. Very cool hoodie.

    To the other commenter, thank you for your service! I say never be afraid to say you served.

  23. me

    Oct 27, 2017 at 12:00 pm

    Re. ‘Golfer’ post above… It sucks that you feel that way. Golf is awesome! It’s a great sport and is great for the soul, esp when compared to other sports imo.

    Thank you for your service in the military… my family and I are LUCKY to have people like you. Never be ashamed, b/c if people make you feel that way about being in the military… you don’t want to be around them anyway. THANK YOU!

  24. Golfer

    Oct 27, 2017 at 11:36 am

    Until recently there were two things I did not like to share with others: That I play golf and that I was in the military. Nowdays I share the golf connection with virtually everyone and the military connection with a select few.

    Thank you for your article Andrew.

    • LaBraeGolfer

      Oct 27, 2017 at 8:43 pm

      Golfer sorry to hear that you felt ashamed being in the military. Where I come from our military men and women are our heroes. I have a fair amount of family that served. Thank You for your service!!!

    • 2putttom

      Oct 29, 2017 at 6:39 pm

      +1 thank you for your service

    • Mad-Mex

      Oct 30, 2017 at 8:23 pm

      My BS meter went off after reading this,,,,, and yes, I am a 20+ year Vet and I am indifferent about playing this GAME,,,

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Equipment

Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.

However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.

“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”

Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.

Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.

Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.

One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.

We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!

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Whats in the Bag

Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X

Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X

Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X

Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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Whats in the Bag

Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX

3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX

Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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