Featured People

2015 DSGO & the Triple Cities; Still the Valley of Opportunity, Hart & Faith

August 27, 2015 By admin

Cartoonist Mason Mastroianni created this artwork for this year’s breakfast. One lucky raffle winner took it home after breakfast.

The Champions Tour event—the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open (DSGO) is in the Triple Cities of Binghamton, Johnson City & Endicott, New York this week. So am I, now 55, I am lucky to have three hometowns and be back where I belong and where I lived the first 17 years of my life. If you have a few minutes, let me tell you why this, the Valley of the Susquehanna River (and the Chenango River in Binghamton), is still the Valley of Opportunity, Hart and Faith.

On this, the fourth day of being back home, I set the alarm for 6:30 a.m. Up, I showered, got dressed and headed over to The Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast, hosted by the Hart Family at the Kalurah Shrine on Dickson Street in Endicott, not far from the En-Joie Golf Course, host to the DSGO since 2007. I have always wanted to attend this breakfast and I guess today was the day for me to do so.

Isn’t it funny how things in life, at times, seemingly so disconnected in time, suddenly become focused, clear and connected again? It was a good breakfast but I couldn’t tell you what I ate. I can tell you why it was good, long after the experience, because as you know I am a note-taker, a journeying journaler for some 15 years now. A producer at the Golf Channel once called me a “golf voyager and documentarian,” and I like to quickly add that I only like to document what I voyage.

See, it’s all about me and it is all about you and once we figure that out individually then we can celebrate it collectively. Have I lost you yet?

With LaVon and Skip, a lovely Christian Couple in life!

I sat down at a table and met a couple to cherish with the names of LaVon and Skip Hausamann. His full name is Erwin Werner Hausamann Jr., that’s why they call him Skip. She was from Texas and he from Massachusetts so of course I was intrigued as to how they met and how they came to live in the Triple Cities on the Southern Tier of New York, about a three hours drive time upstate from New York City.

He was a drill sergeant in the Air Force stationed at the Lackland Air Force Base outside San Antonio, Texas. She grew up a Southern Baptist (though now a Methodist) in a small town of Rogers, Texas. Her family and her church reached out to serviceman by inviting them over for Sunday dinner. Her family invited him and though forbade somehow they connected and made a go of it. Next year they,a long with their three children and eight grandchildren, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.

It was a packed house at the Kalurah Shrine for the 9th Annual Hartfest.

My thoughts of LaVon and Skip were interrupted by “It’s a joy to be with you,” the words of Emrys Tyler, the Teaching Elder of the Ninevah Presbyterian Church giving the Invocation, one of the most inspiring invocations I ever heard.

Of course, I knew who Johnny Hart was. Growing up I religiously read his B.C. comic strip in the newspaper each day. Remember newspapers? Yeah, and the Sunday comic section? I remember his cartoon characters on site at the B.C. Open, the old regular PGA TOUR event held at En Joie Golf Course from 1971 through 2006, though the final event was held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona due to a flooded golf course. I wanted to know more about the person, his creativity and his faith.

In his Invocation, Elder Tyler delivered on all three of my wants as he started his invocation with a Johnny Hart story. Evidently Johnny baked his favorite lemon meringue pie for a friend’s party and while delivering it he dropped it on the guy’s driveway. He grabbed a fork, knelt down and started eating the now upside down pie from the bottom side. I could feel his sense of patient presence and humor. I could visualize him making the best of a sad situation. Why wouldn’t he?

Elder Tyler then took me to where I needed to be noting that sometimes our reality in life is flipped upside down—from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from darkness to light and from where we are today to eternity. Make it so in Jesus’ name. Amen.

With Mason Mastroianni. I laughed when he used the word awkward. His eyes seem to think I am a bit awkward too. I am!

After tuning out for a moment or two to once again assess my upside-down life, I came back to the present moment just as Johnny Hart’s grandson, Mason Matroianni, who has been doing the comic strip now for nine years after the death of the self-described title B.C. character in life, utter that they “did not skip a beat” in the transition. I looked over and smiled at Skip and his lovely wife wondering if I had somehow skipped a beat or two in my life?

CLICK HERE for a Video Interview with Mason Mastroianni, Cartoonist, B.C. Comic Strip

Listening to Mason I could see how the comic strip kept beating along even with the sudden and unexpected death of its creator. Mason’s message was humble and direct. His grandfather was the father figure in his life and taught him everything he knew about life. Like his grandfather he is at home here in the Triple Cities and lets life come to him and then turns it around, maybe turns it right side up, sketching it back to us in prehistoric terms we can all understand. He thanked us all for honoring the memory of his grandfather.

Right then I was actively targeting him for a post-breakfast interview. Somehow, Hart’s heart and humor, compassion and creativity, was passed along and enhanced. There was inspiration there. I am an inspiration seeker.

Fred Funk at the podium. Loren Roberts on the left with the microphone. Mike Goodes in the middle right where his dream and God took him!

The main show of the breakfast hour came alive with Champions Tour players Fred Funk, Loren Roberts and Mike Goodes on stage with live microphones.

Fred told the first story. Playing with Jack Nicklaus at Doral, golf’s all-time greatest player asked him to play a practice with him and Arnold Palmer the guy who popularized the game of golf. at the Masters. After eager anticipation, he did so with goose bumps, disbelief and standing ovations all day long. The 2005 PLAYERS Champion readily admitted he could only handle playing with one legend at a time. Two was too much. One at a time… makes sense…

Loren’s greatest golfing experience was partnering with Arnold Palmer in the 2007 Wendy’s Champions Skins Game. His entry ticket was being the Charles Schwab Cup Champion, Mr. Palmer’s was being the King.

If Arnold was Mr. Golf Personality & Performance, then Loren was Mr. Golf Perseverance. admittedly a late bloomer, his first win on tour came at Arnold’s Bay Hill in 1994 at age 38, twenty years after turning pro, thirteen years after getting his first tour card on his fifth attempt at Q-School. Then he properly defended his title to the extreme the next year and went on to win a total of eight times on the PGA TOUR and thiriteen times on the Champions Tour, including four Majors.

Some things in life and golf take time…

Mike Goodes has o 1 win (2009 Allianz), 22 Top 10s in 187 dream starts on the Champions Tour. Photo Credit: Google Images

Mike Goodes is like you and me, the ultimate dreamer and late bloomer—the dream of every aging amateur golfer. Never a golf professional or professional golfer until age 50. Maybe you have to dream to become a dream reality for others. His biggest thrill coming out on tour was finding out that the guys he was watching play golf on TV were Christians too.

We live in an upside-down world, don’t we?

As Fred Funk shared, the tour is really a traveling circus and there is a need to keep in touch with reality and stay grounded. Whether you are on the move and doing the moving or stationary with the world moving around you we all need to be grounded somehow, somewhere.

Where in our whirlwind world can we find that foundation for life?

It’s probably more of an emotional and mental challenge than a physical one in reality.

Golf is a selfish sport. Whether an amateur or a professional, if we are not playing it, we are practicing, if we are not practicing, we are thinking about it. There can be a fear of losing one’s skill, one’s talent, one’s ability to compete and succeed in golf and life. We are born, we grow, we live, we decline and then we die. How do you deal with that if you want to be in control of everything?

We all can easily get sidetracked in faith even if we were raised in a religious family was how Loren started to share his testimony of how he came to Christ. He was down and out of money, everything he owned was in his car and he missed another cut. He came back to his hotel room and got down on his knees and accepted that Jesus Christ had died for our sins.

Today may be that day. Coming to Christ will change the rest of your life and beyond. Photo Credit: Google Images

A new perspective and prioritization in life came upon him and others who have done so.

No longer was he identified only as a golfer and the score shot that day.

Somehow the damage golf and other selfish pursuits was now minimized.

Grounded in God and the Bible somehow calmed the whirlwind of the world.

If Jesus is in our minds we can only think of one thing at a time.

We see the big picture instead of only our own smallness.

We question our personal mission in light of God’s mission for us.

If we respect God’s will and live out our faith our mission will be God’s mission.

If you can do it, it is a gift.

We don’t have to be perfect in life. Why not be as accepting, loving and compassionate to ourselves as we are to our family and friends? Why not cleanse our hearts, minds and body of fear, resentments, dishonesty and our own egotistical self.

Johnny Hart, cartoonist and creator of the comic strips B.C. and Wizard of Id. 1931-2007 Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Remember what Johnny Hart would say—”God is God and you are not.”

Why not turn ourselves upside-down?

Chaplain Tom O’Connor the Benediction noting that in a few minutes we will all go our separate ways. I had already done that when I graduated from Binghamton Central High School in 1977. The theme of our prom was “We must go our separate ways.”

We do but not necessarily alone.

These are all inspiring words and thoughts that came to me during The Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast

We can only play with one legend at a time.

We can skip through life and feel our hearts beat and our lungs breathe.

We can, as inspired by Wally Armstrong, take the Big Mulligan.

You take a mulligan in golf, why not take one in life?

Our best golf and our best life is in front of us.

The best golfer this week will win the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

What will you win this week?

The Triple Cities—still the Valley of Opportunity, Hart & Faith.

Amen.

With Loren Roberts, Mike Goodes and Fred Funk. It was an honor and a privilege to hear their testimony and be inspired to write this story. Grateful. (-:

2014: Something You May Not Know about TPC Sawgrass!

July 25, 2014 By admin

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter lives in the Golf Capital of the World- Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida- home of the PGA TOUR, TPC Sawgrass and THE PLAYERS with the World Golf Hall of Fame nearby in St. Augustine. In this article Reistetter writes about something you may not know about the PGA TOUR. Something behind the familiar faces you always see when you tee it up at TPC Sawgrass or come to THE PLAYERS. Here is the inside story…

The beverage cart attendants of TPC Sawgrass.

“Together, Anything’s Possible.”

That’s the tag line for the PGA TOUR’s charitable initiative.

An initiative that has given approximately $1.7 billion to charity since its inception in 1938.

An initiative with a goal to reach $2 billion by 2013.

At TPC Sawgrass, the home of THE PLAYERS a record $5.9 million was raised for local charities this year alone.

“Together, Anything’s Possible,” isn’t simply a tagline with a patriotic ribbon tied around.

But who is “included” in the “together”?

PGA TOUR golf professionals, tournament sponsors and the millions of volunteers at events all over the country are visible and surely included.

But there is someone else that one sees regularly that helps make everything possible at TPC Sawgrass.

“Beverage cart attendants,” or who we commonly referred to as “cart girls.”

TPC Sawgrass Beverage Cart Attendant Team on the famous 17th island green.

In fact there is much to learn about these predominantly young women.

We all know most beverage cart attendants have a pretty smile and an outgoing personality.

What we may not realize is how hard they work.

They toil tirelessly to stock their carts, collect our trash and hustle to serve us in an efficient, exemplary, and personal manner.

After all it is all about the golfing experience when you play a TPC course.

Marci Menaged, one of the 16 Sawgrass sisters will tell you “it’s not all glitz and glamour.”

There are adverse conditions at times- heat, rain and even cold but thankfully in Florida for only two weeks of the year.

There are mosquitoes, bugs and even the occasional raccoon trying to obtain some free food.

Fortunately no cart girls have been hit at TPC Sawgrass with our errant shots though we have dinged a few of the beverage carts.

Tasha Larson (red) with Bari (left) and Marci Menaged (right) stop for a moment near the Perch halfway snack bar.

Tasha Larson (red) with Bari Bowman (left) and Marci Menaged (right) stop for a moment near the Perch halfway snack bar.

Bari Bowman, another Sawgrass beverage cart attendant, will tell you “it’s my favorite job… ever… I come into work happy and leave even happier.”

TPC Sawgrass, like other golf-based business has felt the effects of the 2008 economic downturn and its lingering effects.

Like every other operation at TPC Sawgrass, General Manager Bill Hughes challenged the on-course folks to increase their revenues.

According to Kellie Ivey who was responsible for the on-course operations at the time, the collective thought was to put on a new community face, build goodwill and impact revenues in a positive manner.

Translation: the likeability factor to the nth degree!

While playing golf, people do more business and buy more things from people they like and admire.

We all know that but may not have realized it applies attendants and their beverage cart sales as well.

Part of the PGA TOUR’s “Together, Anything’s Possible” initiative, the TPC Sawgrass Beverage Cart Attendants volunteered at the Gabriel House of Care.

What did the ladies, who quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger when we are in the midst of the Valley or the Stadium, do to become more recognizable in the community?

They volunteer as a team.

Teaming up with the acclaimed culinary staff at TPC Sawgrass they helped prepare and serve dinner at the Gabriel House of Care.

This is home to people who come for organ transplants or cancer treatments at the Mayo Clinic.

As a team they conducted a school supplies drive for the Daniel Kids supporting the foundation’s goal of “improving the odds for kids” who are at-risk in the Jacksonville area.

As Tasha Larson, Dining Room Captain and acting On-course Food & Beverage Manager said, “its not something we have to do, it is something we like to do… its lots of fun and rewarding.”

All would agree the beverage cart attendants fulfill Bill Hughes’ definition of a team both on and off the golf course:

“T.E.A.M- Together Everyone Activates Magic”

TPC Sawgrass Beverage Cart Attendants conducted a school supplies drive for the Daniel Kids.

Teams like this are the last to be affected by and the first to recover from the impact of outside agencies like the economy.

Another thing we may not realize is what these ladies do when they are not working or volunteering.

Over two-thirds of the ladies are enrolled in college.

The professional golfers who compete in THE PLAYERS Championship walk past a sign in the tunnel leaving the Sawgrass clubhouse:

“Through this tunnel pass the greatest golfers in the world competing for the right to be called THE PLAYERS Champion.”

Only a few feet away the beverage cart attendants drive out of the cart storage facility beneath the clubhouse.

These special people have earned the right to be a unique part of that “Together.”

“Together, Anything’s Possible.”

With Beverage Cart Attendant Mary Dale on the 3rd green of the Stadium Course during my latest round at TPC Sawgrass.

Next time you are out golfing at TPC Sawgrass have a look at the beverage carts themselves… they are high powered customized vehicles with real rims, not your ordinary golf cart.

Then take a look at the attendant, thank them for their volunteerism, and have another round of drinks to celebrate a great golfing experience.

Filed Under: Featured People, People in Golf

Byron Nelson, Golf’s Legendary Gentleman…

May 21, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

The statue of Byron Nelson looks normal size from 30 yards but up close his story is so inspirational it is bigger than life.

I went to Dallas to capture the Spirit of Byron Nelson. I spent three nights at the Four Seasons Resort & Spa in a villa overlooking the 18th green of the TPC Four Seasons Resort/Las Colinas Course. The HP Byron Nelson Championship has been in existence since 1944 when Byron Nelson won the inaugural event. Since 1983, when Ben Crenshaw won, it has been played on the TPC Las Colinas Course. There is golf history everywhere on this resort property but especially on the Byron Nelson Plaza where, in the watchful eye of a clock tower (Byron loved clocks), there is a nine foot statue of the Legend of Golf.

What I realized is that when you are 30-40 yards away from Mr. Nelson’s statue he looks almost mortal, no bigger than any of the golfers that pass by, even another charter member of The Sports Club, also named Byron Nelson (true fact, no relation). But when you come closer, talk to folks who knew him personally and absorb the memorabilia in Champions Hall you get a sense of the Spirit of Byron Nelson.

Andy Reistetter with Mrs. Peggy Nelson at the 2010 BNC.

I had the pleasure of corresponding with Mrs. Peggy Nelson who I met at the 2010 BNC when she released her book, Life with Lord Byron: Laughter, Romance, and Lessons Learned from Golf’s Greatest Gentleman. Here is a Q&A with Mrs. Nelson:Andy Reistetter, Journey to Olympic Golf: What are your personal thoughts about the Olympics? What is your favorite event, favorite Olympian, most memorable moment and why? Did you and Byron watch them on TV or ever attend in person? Do you have any recollection of conversations you had with Byron about the Olympics in general?

Mrs. Nelson: Byron and I always admired Olympic athletes and the dedication and sacrifice it takes for both them and their families to reach that highest point of endeavor, no matter which sport it is. My favorite event would be figure skating, and Peggy Fleming was quite a heroine for me–I was honored to meet her one day many years ago and she was so lovely and gracious–every inch the champion still. Of course, her Olympic victory was before the event became so prodigiously athletic with all the requirements for multiple jumps, so grace and fluidity were more important.

Byron and I never attended an Olympic event but watched quite a bit on TV, and were always amazed at the talent and determination the athletes displayed. We didn’t talk about it a lot nor do I recall Byron saying anything specific about the events, though he enjoyed watching. I think he liked the summer sports more, because he was never a fan of cold and snow!

Andy Reistetter, Journey to Olympic Golf: Byron played on two Ryder Cups and captained a third team. What did it mean to him to play for his country? What emotion would characterize it best? What thought or story was his favorite about the Ryder Cup?

Mrs. Nelson: Byron loved playing and captaining in the Ryder Cup–he said being selected captain by the team was the greatest honor he ever received in golf. Of course, he loved America and so was very proud to play for the USA; at the same time, when the Ryder Cup was held in Portland, Oregon in ’47 and the British team’s expenses were provided by an American. Byron was very pleased to be part of that team as well as being glad the competition could resume. As for stories, you might check his autobiography How I Played the Game, because there are several in there.

Andy Reistetter, Journey to Olympic Golf: Golf will be played in the Olympics for the first time in 112 years in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In your opinion, what would it have meant to Byron to be an Olympic Golfer? How do you think he would have defined the “Olympic Spirit for Golfers?” How would it have differed, if in any way, from his Ryder Cup experience?

Mrs. Nelson: One of the things Byron admired about both the Ryder Cup and the Olympics was the spirit of good sportsmanship that pervades both types of competition. I don’t know that he ever realized there had been golf in the Olympics so long before he was even born, but he surely would have loved to be on the American team–well, if he could maybe have qualified ….!

Good luck with your Olympic Story!

Peggy Nelson

Thank you Mrs. Peggy Nelson for your wonderful insight and sharing Byron with his admiring golf fans through your book and theses responses. Andy Reistetter, Journey to Olympic Golf

CLICK here for Part 1 of a Video Interview with Tim Cusick, Director of Golf Instruction, Four Seasons Resort & Spa Dallas.

CLICK here for Part 2 of a Video Interview with Tim Cusick, Director of Golf Instruction, Four Seasons Resort & Spa Dallas.

Andy Reistetter with Vail Tolbert, Director of Public Relations at the Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas.

I received an awesome tour of the property from Vail Tolbert, the Director of Public Relations. Then I interviewed Tim Cusick, the Director of Golf Instruction and Rob Cowan, The Sports Club Manager along with the other Byron Nelson, an amateur member of the Sports Club.

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Rob Cowan, Manager of the Sports Club, Four Seasons Resort & Spa Dallas.

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Byron Nelson, an amateur member of the Sports Club with a familiar name.

The highlight, of course, was playing the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas course (no pun intended). My playing partners were Tom Horan, host of the popular Golf Talk America radio program “Speaking of Golf,” and a delightful father Steve & son Joey duo from Denver, Colorado. We surely felt the presence of Byron on his golf course at his home club.

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Tom Horan, host of “Speaking of Golf” on the 17th tee at TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas.

Here are my pictures and comments from this inspirational visit to the professional home of Byron Nelson:

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Filed Under: Featured People, People in Golf

Alberto Valenzuela, Mr. Colombia when it comes to Golf!

April 5, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Alberto Valenzuela, the premier Golf Course Superintendent & Architect in Colombia.

The third chapter of the “Journey to Olympic Golf” started with a flight from Panama City, Panama to Cartgena, Colombia and a visit to the Karibana Golf Resort. It was a privilege to meet and play golf with Joseph Mildenberg, part owner and the Sales & Marketing Guru of the only seaside golfing resort in Colombia. He was a happy owner taking note of the extraordinary work down in a short period of time by his new golf superintendent Alberto Valenzuela. The Jack Nicklaus design was lush and a sea of its own emerald green adjacent to the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Joseph would tell you he has brought the Karibana golf course back to life!

CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Alberto Valenzuela at Karibana.

With Alberto Valenzuela at Karibana.

Alberto was born in Cali and raised in Bogota. He played golf and was educated at Fresno State in California before constructing golf courses around the world for various designers. Now, back home for good with 29 years of experience in the golf course business he simply says “I am from Colombia” and “golf means everything to me, I sleep, breathe, and eat golf, it is my passion.” That’s why I nicknamed him “Mr. Colombia” when it comes to golf. Of course, that title goes to Camilo Villegas when it comes to playing competitive golf at the highest level and being a champion on the PGA TOUR. The ‘Cheerful Colombian,’ a friend of the Villegas family pointed me in the direction of Camilo’s hometown of Medellin and the Llanogrande golf course he grew up on.

CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Alberto Valenzuela at Llanogrande.

With Fernando Villegas & Alberto Valenzuela at Llanogrande for breakfast.

From Cartegena I flew to Bogota for a few days and then to Medellin as a guest of Sergio Saldarriaga, the President of Club Campestre Medellin at both their ‘country’ Llanogrande course and their ‘city’ Medellin course. In Medellin I met and interviewed Camilo and Manuel’s swing coach Rogelio Gonzalez but that is another story to tell and post along with my interview with Sergio. I played the Llanogrande course and spent the next day with Alberto and Fernando Villegas who is the father of Camilo and Manuel. What a day of insight into the minds of two great architects. Plus to be where Camilo grew up and to walk the golf course as he did as a kid before going onto the University of Florida and fame and fortune on the PGA TOUR was an awesome adventure. The video below speaks to the teamwork and resulting creativity between Alberto and Fernando. It also includes an interview with Fernando (with Alberto acting as translator) speaking to raising two champion golfers, having them partner together in a World Cup representing Colombia and the possibilities of them playing golf in the 2016 Olympics.

CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW of Fernando Villegas and Clips of Two Working Architects.

Enjoy these pictures from Llanogrande Medellin:

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Enjoy these pictures from Karibana:

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Filed Under: Featured People, People in Golf

Meet Jarrad Kogos the “Write” Way…

March 28, 2014 By admin

This edition of Golf Writer Andy Reistetter’s exclusive “Meet Golfers the Write Way” series features someone you may not have heard of (yet) but surely will someday soon. Jarrad Kogos is a golfer unlike any you have met. Playing golf with him is a fun and inspiring experience. As a person he would like to “HUG” you and in so doing bring a lot of folks like himself to the game of golf. If you have lost perspective in life or on the golf course come along and play a round with Jarrad. One of the most interesting and passionate golfer and person you will ever meet.

Jarrad Kogos is at home in the middle of the fairway.

I first met Jarrad as he walked along the practice range at TPC Sawgrass. It was last fall during the Nationwide Tour’s Winn Dixie Jacksonville Open on Dye’s Valley Course.

At the same time we met James Bond, an amputee that runs “Amputee Talk Shop”. Bond, like the one in the movies had a high tech remote gismo. This one sets the knee bend angle on his titanium Computer-Leg. That’s “C-Leg” for short. He let me tap his artificial leg and play a little with the remote. James Bond is a golf nut and it seems like an advantage to a golfer to have your right knee angle consistent throughout the backswing.

Jarrad was a little different but not much different. With Bond you could see what was that was different with him. With Jarrad, to be able to see what is different you have to take some time, think about it and get to know him a little.

Two more players in red and green and we were a fruit salad foursome for sure!

I learned a little of Jarrad’s story during that October day. At age 12 Asperger’s appeared in his life and he became a high functioning autistic young man. After seeing Tiger Woods win THE PLAYERS in 2001 he tried out for the local Fletcher High School golf team. His game improved quickly from shooting an 87 for nine holes to a 47. As his golf scores went down so did his grades at school.

The reason his grades went down wasn’t because he was playing more golf or goofing off at the golf course. It wasn’t something his parents Colleen and Donald could coach him through or simply help their child overcome. Severe headaches, eyes that hurt and bad hiccups were symptoms of what an MRI confirmed. It was a malignant brain tumor that required surgery, radiation and chemotherapy at age 17.

“Life, it happens,” is what Jarrad said to me when we got together to play golf on a beautiful day in March when “spring has sprung” in Northeast Florida.

I learned to never give a man with his name on his bag strokes, just H.U.G. him…Help Us Golf…

“How do you pronounce your last name,” I asked.

“Kogos, like bogus,” he responded. He then told me I looked like a lemon in my yellow shirt. He was in orange and commented, “that all we need is two more players wearing red and green and we will be a fruit salad.”

I really didn’t know what to expect playing with an autistic player and someone who survived a brain tumor.

He certainly isn’t bogus I thought and laughed along with him. He is a smart and funny 24-year old nice guy.

I did learn that his balance and eyesight were impaired and that is where I could help him during the round. I drove the cart and he instructed me to drive it right up onto the tee. Level ground is his friend and I thought “oh my gosh this is Dye’s Valley, the land of up and down diabolical lies, how will we ever manage?”

Scottish Bagpiper Bill Sloan played a little for us at TPC Sawgrass… maybe the knickers aren’t too far out of place!

When Jarrad looks to the green he sees a flag and a half. Any help with setup and direction would be appreciated especially lining up putts on the green. His peripheral vision is limited and that is why he sometimes jumps when people come towards him. He is startled when he doesn’t see them coming.

After he sliced his drive off to the right on the first tee he told me “I am a magician and made the ball disappear.”

In reality he swings the golf club like Ben Hogan. Others have made that comment to him and his response is “they call Hogan the Hawk and Jarrad the Squawk.” He does talk a lot but like Lee Trevino he is quite entertaining.

When we reached the green he told me to drive the cart right onto the fringe so he could get out without losing his balance. I was use to driving on fairways and not tees and greens so it took me most of the round to get comfortable doing so. The ground was dry and firm so there were no marks left behind but still it was an awkward feeling.

Other than driving the cart everywhere playing with Jarrad was not awkward at all. The only other accommodations were that I teed up his ball for him and checked his alignment like the caddies do on the LPGA tour. Though I would stay in position and watch his swing. With quick hands at impact most of his drives were straight and carried nearly 200 yards.

Jarrad is one of the friendliest and most golf knowledgeable people you will meet hanging around TPC Sawgrass!

It took him three years to learn to walk again after the surgery and leave his wheelchair behind. Off course he frequently utilizes a walker to minimize the number of times he loses his balance to avoid falls.

I grabbed his belt from behind as he played a nice recovery shot near the lake on the 6^th fairway. I didn’t want to see if he could swim. He made a 15-footer on No. 5 and a 12-footer on No. 7 with birds chirping during his putting. Hitting driver off the deck on the par- 5 8^thhole, he made solid contact. He nearly parred the difficult par-4 9^th hole.

This kid has got game. Ever since he got out of the wheelchair, his aspiration is to become a PGA Professional. He recently took the first step of that journey by taking his PAT with Jeff Hopkins at Hidden Hills.

Jarrad wants to help grow the game of golf especially to folks like himself. In reality as the president of the nonprofit HUG- “Help Us Golf” he is already doing that. Jarrad is a coach for the Special Olympics and also supports The First Tee of Duval County.

When asked what it is like to be Jarrad Kogos he can’t describe it but adamantly says “I have Asperger’s, but Asperger’s does not have me.”

For a guy that can barely stand at times, he stands out… simple, smart, unique.

In most regards, Jarrad is just another golfer, someone who loves the game and the challenge. Maybe what is not normal is how we look at him and others when they want to come out and play golf? We think of scores and competition instead of friends, family and fun as the PGA of America is promoting this year with Golf 2.0.

With Jarrad at the October 2012 First Tee ‘Taste of Golf.’

As with Bond, Jarrad really isn’t any different than you and me. Sure there are some physical differences beyond the usual height and weight ones. Truly when it comes to the important things like heart, desire, and simply being alive, living fully in the moment we can all be like Mr. Bond and Jarrad.

This was one of the most enjoyable rounds of golf I have ever experienced. Playing golf and spending time with Jarrad was fun and inspiring. I hope to tee it up again with him soon. Maybe Mr. Bond can join us but I am not giving him any strokes with that C-Leg.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer as well as a Spotter, Research and Broadcast Assistant for The Golf Channel, NBC and CBS Sports. He spends time on all four major American golf tours- the PGA TOUR, Champions, Nationwide and LPGA Tours.

Reistetter resides within two miles of the PGA TOUR headquarters and the home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

A lifetime golfer, Andy enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it.

Friend Andy Reistetter on Facebook to enjoy daily updates. Or contact Reistetter by e-mail at AndyReistetter@gmail.com

Filed Under: Featured People, People in Golf

The Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass: My Home Away from Home!

January 29, 2014 By admin

Don’t ask me how I came to the Arrow S3 Vendor Showcase at the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass tonight… but I was there and invited… lots of interest in the “Journey to Olympic Golf” and hopefully some avenues to corporate donations to The First Tee… less than 100 days to the 2014 THE PLAYERS Championship… I know the PGA TOUR is headquartered here but it seems like all the headquarters of American business come to TPC Sawgrass- Ponte Vedra Beach, FL to do business…

My favorite place at TPC Sawgrass, what a view, golf course is soooo green, I think 2014 will be the BEST THE PLAYERS Championship ever! Will Tiger Woods win his third to tie Jack Nicklaus so we can officially make it the fifth major???

In seven years I have seen the main ballroom decked out many times but today it looked extra special nice to me… maybe because I have been away for a while?

I met some really interesting and smart people this evening… sort of feel like a tele-com expert and now understand all this “cloud” stuff a little better… Arrow S3, Unify… it’s all good!

TPC Sawgrass… when you’re ready to get down to business so are we… and so was Tiger Woods in 2001 with his “better than most” Gary Koch called putt on the 17th!

(Andy Reistetter, Facebook Post 1-29-14 with 4 pics)

Filed Under: Featured People, People in Golf

2014 PGA Show- The Heartbeat of Golf and its Business

January 24, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Andy Reistetter with the author of Rory’s Club Claude Costecalde.

Claude Costecalde has written the first definitive book on Rory McIlroy. Rory’s foreward says it all- “From the moment I held my first clubs (18 months old), my parents (Rosie & Gerry) did everything they could to help me develop my talent. I couldn’t have done it without them. I learned golf with Dad at Holywood Golf Club.” This is a book that tells the story of how a young child discovers who he will be and works hard to realize his or her destiny. A great book for all young golfers. Claude’s book, written with the blessing of Rory, his parents and the Holywood Golf Club contains hitherto unpublished private family photographs of Rory. This is the insider’s story of how Rory came to be the No. 1 golfer in the world. His final words in the foreward are “but Holywood is still my home and Holywood Golf Club will always be Rory’s Club.” The foreward also contains Rory’s signature so if you want to join Rory’s Club this is the book for you!

Andy Reistetter with John Karedes, Michael Schaffer and Dave Pessagno.

The best part of the PGA Show is seeing old friends whether running into them walking down the aisles, at the PGA of America Awards Show or at one of the many corporate functions during show week in Orlando. Always great to see guys from my hometown of Binghamton, which is really The Triple Cities on the Southern Tier of New York State- Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott! John Karedes is the Tournament Chairman of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, a Champions Tour event at Endicott’s municipal golf course- En Joie Golf Club. Dave Pessagno is the Communications and Promotion Manager while Michael Schaffer is the Operations Manager. Saggy (Dave Pessagno) and I use to be the battery for the Binghamton Central High School Bulldogs baseball team. They use to call me “Rock Candy Andy” and all the girls use to call Saggy “Mr. Handsome.” I think we called him “Mr. Hustle” as he was a great athlete always diving for the ball! Come visit the Triple Cities and go to the 2014 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open!

Andy Reistetter with Golf’s foremost fitness expert Katherine Roberts.

I think ever since I have been going to the PGA Show Katherine Roberts has been on stage doing one of her “Yoga for Golfers” presentations. You have probably seen her on the Golf Channel or read her articles in Men’s Health magazine. If you haven’t and you are more than 18 years old (actually the younger the better I am sure to prevent problems later on) now is the time to get her book “Yoga for Golfers” or get to one of her classes and start! For me it is all about relaxation, flexibility (for golf and other physical activities) and longevity (don’t you want to play golf forever? Or just be here forever?). Katherine’s second book, Swing Flaws and Fitness Fixes, was co-authored with Top-100 Golf Instructor, Hank Haney. Check out her website by clicking here!

O Canada, what a night at the 2014 PGA Show!

Oh what a night for Canada at the 2014 PGA Show. The inaugural Class of the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame. I went thinking there might be a hundred people that showed up and there were over 500 people. We hear a lot about new pathways to The Masters and the PGA TOUR from places like China and South America which is great for the game of golf. Sometimes we forget about the great history of golf to our north. I was reminded of this in Santiago, Chile on the “Journey to Olympic Golf” when I played golf at Los Leones with the gregarious golfing brothers Leon. No connection with the name of the club but both brothers are and will become even greater lions in the game. Hugo is headed to the Web.com this year, a Top 5 product of the Canadian Tour. Canada is golf and who does not know the name of Moe Norman and 8-time PGA TOUR winner and 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir. Here are the 24 inaugural members of the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame- Al Balding; Dave Barr; David Black; Gordie Brydson; George Cumming; Pat Fletcher; Brent Franklin; Daniel Halldorson; Wilf Homenuik; Jules Huot; Karl Keffer; Ben Kern; George Knudson; Willie Lamb; Stan Leonard; Henry Martell; Jack McLaughlin; Albert Murray; Charles Murray; Jim Nelford; Moe Norman; Bob Panasik; Cathy Sherk; Murray Tucker; Mike Weir; and Richard Zokol. Congratulations! O Canada what a night and what a golfing history is she!

Looking forward to seeing a lot of folks at Nineteen at the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass later this afternoon! Started my PGA Show journal and while I live in Paradise I am finally going to Paradise Grooming for Men so Alena Gilley can give me a much needed haircut… Have a TROML day today! (-: ps Claude’s Rory’s Club is a great book! Also the Binghamton Boys, Katherine Roberts and O what a night for Canada! (Andy Reistetter, Facebook Post 1-31-14 with one link).

Happy New Year! I am celebrating New Year Eve all over again American style starting tomorrow Friday afternoon at the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass’ Nineteen Happy Hour. Great opportunity to share “Journey to Olympic Golf” experiences, pictures, videos, etc… seems quite apropos to me since the odyssey started there on October 10th! Let me know if you can make it and maybe if there is enough response Bill Hughes will give us a room at 6:30 pm and I can hook up my pc to a large screen? Otherwise it will be me, myself and I in the foyer on those comfy couches thinking about the upcoming 2014 THE PLAYERS Championship… it would be grand if my favorite Storyteller Bea would make a cameo appearance! Hap, Hap, Happy New Year!!! (-: ps time to make this year’s donation to The First Tee… and sign up to volunteer for THE PLAYERS if you haven’t already! (Andy Reistetter, Facebook Post 1-31-14 with one link).

Filed Under: Featured People, People in Golf

2014 PGA Show: Three Radio Shows: Return from the JTOG!

January 22, 2014 By admin

It took me a 100 days and 18, 471 miles but I made it here from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida… what a “Journey to Olympic Golf” and the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show! Need directions? (-: (Facebook Post 1 Pic, Andy Reistetter, 1/20/14)

Show Time! (Facebook Post 1 Pic, Andy Reistetter, 1/22/14)

Day 2 Thursday at the PGA 2014 Merchandise Show… “Journey to Olympic Golf” will be on the “Boots & Bandana Golf” show at 10:30 Media Stage and ” Golf Connections with Mitch Laurance” at 1:30 in the Media Center… remember The First Tee needs your help! https://donate.thefirsttee.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=398 (Facebook Post 4 Pics, Andy Reistetter, 1/23/14)

Doing Boots and Bandana Radio show with John Reger Jr…great guy… so much fun… I have to look into this “boots and bandana” style of golf… (-:

Day 3 Final Friday at PGA 2014 Merchandise Show… on Views from the Rough with Kevin Allen at 9:15 am… then home to Ponte Vedra Beach… it’s been a while! (-: (Facebook Post 4 Pics, Andy Reistetter, 1/24/14)

Filed Under: Featured People, People in Golf

JTOG Day 89: Interviewing Roberto De Vicenzo at Ranelagh GC in Buenos Aires!

January 7, 2014 By admin

With the great World Golf Hall of Famer Roberto De Vicenzo at age 91 in January 2014 at Ranelagh GC in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

TROML Day… spent the afternoon with Hall of Famer Roberto De Vicenzo at Ranelagh Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina… what an inspiring person at age 91! Flying to Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil tonight for the last stop in South America on the “Journey to Olympic Golf.” To the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics (what’s a World Cup?) and the Olympic Golf Course we go!!! (-: (Facebook Post 1 Pic, Andy Reistetter, 1/7/14)

CLICK HERE for the Highlights Video of Interview with Roberto De Vicenzo at Ranelagh GC in Buenos Aires on January 7th, 2014.

With Valeria Biondi who was gracious enough to arrange my visit to Ranelagh & interview with Roberto De Vicenzo. Eternally grateful to Valeria!

The world lost a great golf legend today- Roberto De Vicenzo! I had the honor & privilege to spend an afternoon with him interviewing him in Buenos Aires at his home Ranelagh Golf Club. “You have to fight for your life,” said Mr. De Vicenzo to me and it has always stuck with me since that day in January 2014 on the ‘Journey to Olympic Golf.’ Winner of the 1967 Open at Hoylake he was the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ and for his lifetime. He bet on himself, a 70:1 longshot and won 70,000 pounds, a huge amount fo money 50 years ago! The club put me up the night before. I arrived late, after dark, so I walked down the street in the little village to get something to eat. Even the pizza guy, not even a golfer, knew who Roberto De Vicenzo was, not as a golfer, but a great citizen of Ranelagh! I treasure the book he inscribed to me and the round of golf on the classic 1920 Alberto del Solar Dorrego design. My heart goes out to all his friends at Ranelagh, especially the ones I met- Valeria Biondi, Paul Morey, Gustava Nisenson, Juan Carlos Cabrera, Walter Dobie, and that young good golfer I played with- Martin Flor for their loss. God Bless Roberto De Vicenzo- a golf legend and a great man of Argentina! (Facebook Post with video highlight, Andy Reistetter, 6/1/17)

With Paul Morey, Roberto De Vicenzo’s longtime right hand man and Ranelagh historian. What a great conversation we had! Eternally grateful for hosting me and arranging the time with Mr. De Vicenzo Paul!

Roberto De Vicenzo, Golf Legend… just reminiscing a bit more about visiting Ranelagh Golf Club and meeting Mr. De Vicenzo. That was 3-1/2 years ago. I actually stayed in Room No. 1 in the Chalet that Roberto’s wife Delia’s family lived. I think they were the caretakers of Ranelagh and that’s how they met when Roberto was a young pro just starting out. Clubhouse full of priceless memorabilia! TROML time for sure! Flew to Rio de Janiero that night for the last leg of the 2013 ‘Journey to Olympic Golf.’ My heart goes out to all his friends at Ranelagh, especially the ones I met- Valeria Biondi, Paul Morey, Gustava Nisenson, Juan Carlos Cabrera, Walter Dobie, and that young good golfer I played with- Martin Flor for their loss. God Bless Roberto De Vicenzo- a golf legend and a great man of Argentina! (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 6/1/17)

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Filed Under: Featured People, Journey to Olympic Golf, People in Golf

JTOG Day 82: The Schmid Golfing Family of Uruguay & A Life Lesson Learned!

December 31, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

With Carla & Gregor Schmid and their daughter Priscilla.

One of the most delightful days of the “Journey to Olympic Golf” was New Year’s Eve Day, December 31st. It was a day right out of Steve Martin’s 1987 comedy movie “Planes, Trains & Automobiles.” My version was more spiritual and would be called “Ferry, Buses & a Taxi.” It started in Buenos Aires, Argentina and ended at the incredible New Year’s Eve celebration in Punta del Estes, Uruguay. The highlight of the highlights of that day (there were many) was meeting the Scmid Golfing Family (most of the family) at the Golf Club of Uruguay in Montevideo, Uruguay. The video interviews speak for themselves and the message is clear that the spirit of family and golf is alive and flourishing in Uruguay!

CLICK here for Video Interview with Carla & Gregor Schmid.

CLICK here for Video Interview with daughter Priscilla, a junior golfer.

The 12th green, note the two approach shots! The picture does not do the view of the water justice. It is spectacular!

A life-changing moment occurred for me during the round of golf that afternoon with a mystic former diplomat. Her name was Rasha and we were walking to the 12th green.

The Golf Club of Uruguay sits on a perched corner of land surrounded by water. One end vista overlooks the steepled 1700s city of Montevideo while the other end is coastline forever with nothing but water in between. Seeing the vast water it occurred to me that this was the first time in nearly three months that I had seen the Atlantic Ocean and felt a twinge of homesickness for Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida far to the north but on the same ocean.

Satellite view of Rio de la Plata, courtesy of Wikipedia. To the lower right of the brown river is Buenos Ares, Argentina.Tthe white star upper right is Montevideo, Uruguay.

I looked for the late afternoon sun in the southwest sky and pointed with authority over the vast waterness confidently towards where I knew Buenos Aires to be. After all I had woke up there and it was simple geography and geometry. Then Rasha said something that I will forever remember and let it impact me for the rest of my life.

“No,” my sincere host said, “the sun is in the north.”

She was right, I was wrong.

The wise and articulate Rasha corrected me stating that what laid before us was the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver). It is the widest river in the world at 140 miles wide at its mouth with the Atlantic Ocean and separates Uruguay from Argentina. Punta del Estes (Point of the East) was another 83 miles to the north along the forever coastline and that is where one finds the Atlantic Ocean.

The Monserrate Sanctuary high above Bogota, Colombia.

Then she pointed ninety degrees to the left of where I had pointed and though I could not see it I knew that was the correct direction of Buenos Aires. I realized at that moment for the first time in my life that things I take for granted and to be fundamental to my way of life could be askew, even possibly the exact opposite of what I know to be true. At the same moment I was driving up the mountain at night to Reunion in Guatemala and experiencing the fiery red lava flow of a volcano. I was at the Monserrate Sanctuary high above Bogota, Colombia. The location of the sun, so simple a thing, so prominent a thing in my life wasn’t were I thought it could be.

What else may I have miscalculated in my life? Assumptions of childhood, relationships and pursuits of my life? Why did this brief interchange, something so easy to discount, laugh about and forget stay so central to my thoughts ever since that final afternoon of the old year? I guess we don’t really need to factor in the exact location of the sun as we go about our daily proceedings but maybe the sun is a good place to start when we look within to our attitudes, perspectives and view of life. For one it is always shining down somewhere in the world. Secondly even if it is a dark and raining day it is still shining above the clouds. There is always hope for later today and tomorrow and I hope I never forget that sunny afternoon revelation so graciously given to me by Rasha of Uruguay.

Filed Under: Featured People, Journey to Olympic Golf, People in Golf