What I learned at Firestone

I had some fun this week as I went down to the Bridgestone Invitational which is located about a half an hour from my home.
The Bridgestone has some very special memories for me.
As a young pro in 1981, I went to the tournament when it was "The World Series of Golf" one Sunday to get away from the golf shop and contemplate my next move in life. I had just graduated from college and after only playing golf seriously for one year had decided to take an assistant professional position.
The idea most people have is that golf professionals play a lot of golf, and nothing could be further from the truth. Long hours, barely breaking 100, and making the princely sum of $700 per month was the norm. As I was considering what to do next (I had a degree in journalism) out of the locker room walked 1981 PGA champion Larry Nelson.
I had read somewhere where Nelson had taken up the game up seriously at 21 and three years later he was on the PGA Tour. He had also spent a couple of year working as an assistant pro. Since he had been down the same road I figured I would approach him and see if he had any advice.
Larry couldn't have been any nicer (maybe because his son's name was Drew). He spent about 45 minutes with me talking about the steps he had taken. He directed me to Ben Hogan's book "The Five Fundamentals of the Golf Swing." I bought that book immediately and read it cover-to-cover several times. He also gave me several tips on playing well and coping with the club pro lifestyle. Larry also helped me to meet my best friend, someone who has stuck with me "closer than a brother". His last words to me that fateful day were, "See you in three years."
I will never forget the kindness of Larry Nelson. Through some well spent time he was able to help me recharge my batteries and renew my focus in life. I would like to say that I made the PGA Tour in three years, but I didn't.
I did go on to be medalist in the PGA Playing Ability Test, win two section events, qualify for my state open twice and go on to a rich full life as a club professional being around this game I care for so much.
And that's what I learned at Firestone.
It was also through Larry and my parents that I was able to meet my best friend

Karsten's Way Part 2

There is no doubt that most serious golfers are aware of the Ping brand and its founder, Karsten Solheim. After all there are only 3 golf club company founders who have their own biography-Ely Callaway, Barney Adams and Karsten. What most people don't know are the behind the scenes things that Kartsen did both on his own and partnering with many family members.



For instance there was Karsten's idea of never firing an employee. Karsten felt that Ping existed for the purpose of providing jobs so that people could have "a decent standard of living." This idea was stretched to the limit when a woman who they later discovered was bi-polar chased Karsten's sister, Sandy, around the factory one day with a hammer. Order was able to be restored and they were able to get the proper employee medical attention.

During the mid-90's there was a slowdown on the sales of Ping clubs as Callaway and other competitors were making inroads in cavity back iron sales. Instead of laying people off Karsten had his employees sweep, paint, clean and anything he could to keep his people working. At one point he did have to lay some people off, a move that crushed him emotionally.

The best example that I have heard concerning Kartsen's kindness involves a man we will call Steve.

Steve was a collegiate All-American and came on the tour in the early 70's. He had been one of the earliest Ping players in an era where the putters had gained some acceptance but their irons where considered too futuristic for most good players. Steve faithfully supported the product and had a mildly successful run on the tour.

Things radically changed for Steve in 1986. He started exhibiting strange tendencies. He didn't show up for tournaments. He would disappear for weeks at a time. He would go on rants about subjects unrelated to golf. When word got to Karsten he found Steve and brought him to Phoenix.

While he was there Karsten arranged for him to see the best specialists where they diagnosed him as bi-polar. Karsten housed Steve in his own home during the 1 1/2 years of treatment and paid the bills of Steve's family who were without income during his treatment.

After Steve got better, Karsten trusted him with a job as a Ping sales rep. Leaving Phoenix for the mid west, Karsten took care of Steve's expenses until he could get going, reunited Steve with his own family and even gave Steve his personal car to make sales calls.

That was Karsten's way. Well done, good and faithful servant.