As some of my friends know…and painfully so…I am the son of a Golf Professional. This fact causes me to at times defend a much maligned profession…sometimes I’m right and sometimes, though rarely, I’m wrong.
For the uninitiated or disinterested, there are Golf Professionals, golf pros, and Old Pros.
One can be a Golf Professional and an Old Pro but one can never be a golf pro and an Old Pro…with me so far?
Class is in session…
The Old Pro is identified by one or more of the following:
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He remembers when you could hook and hold a Titleist against a left to right wind
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He laments the sound spikes made on concrete and even more the marks they used to make on the wood floor of the halfway house (he may even secretly put a pair on at home and run around the driveway)
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He answers the question “How ya doin‘ proey?” with “2-under, pards, 2-under!”
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He puts up with Presidents and Greens Chairmen with great aplomb and skill. He knows if he waits long enough, their term will run out before they can put that waterfall behind 12 green
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He’ll take that pair of black and white golf sandals you won in your brothers Member-Guest in Jacksonville and issue you a credit in his pro shop…then discretely put them out back with the rest of the garbage
You see the sad thing with the Old Pro is he is about as rare as the laminated 2-wood…yes, he’s been on the endangered species list for many a rain delay…it’s all of our loss.
There simply are too few around to teach the craft…and too few willing to embrace it.
Luckily for us, and the many assistants who have come through his operation, there are a few more true Golf Professionals in the world and even one or two Old Pros in training.
Michael Harmon is the PGA of America’s 2006 recipient of The Bill Strausbaugh Award and the Director of Golf at Secession GC…I like to call him my Pro…never really cottoned to Director of Golf…but that’s just me.
Bill Strausbaugh, by the way, was one of the all time all-time great Old Pros who ever stalked a driving range looking for a reverse pivot to fix. He was a true role model for his industry from Sansabelts to Tommy Bahama’s…now that’s a long time homie!
It is an award that recognizes years of educating and mentoring one’s peers as well as your ability to pass on the dignity, pride, and enthusiasm that should come with the profession.
That’s my definition but it’s pretty close.
Mike’s not really in his business for the reasons above…he’s there because he can’t imagine even one day away from the game…or the idiots who flog at it.
Congratulations Mike, class is always in session at your place…see you at The Show
4 responses so far ↓
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