1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: You call the balls and strikes on yourself. In the game, 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: you play the ball as it lies, just like you 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: play the hand that you have been given in life. 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: So I think there are fundamental things about this game that, 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,639 Speaker 1: when we embrace them, actually not only improves our golf game, 6 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: but improves our lives. Put another log on the fire 7 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: nobody hears give the time. Welcome back to the fire Pit. 8 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Janella, and on this episode of the Fire Drill, 9 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 1: Michael Bamberger introduces you to the next President of the 10 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: U s g A, who, along with leaders like Mike One, 11 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: seems to be shepherding in a new brand of blue coats. 12 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: And I'm guessing the game will be better because of 13 00:00:55,880 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: them and what they set out to accomplish accessibility, diversity, 14 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: and a true growth of the game. Before I turn 15 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: it over to Michael and his special guests, we want 16 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: to thank Dormy Workshop for making the next set of 17 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: merchandise will be dropping this week on Firepit Collective dot com. 18 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: We're lucky to have our logos on some of the 19 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: Bishop Family's handmade leather goods such as head covers, stash bags, 20 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: and glove caddies. Thanks to bag Boy for their support. 21 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: Bag Boys Nitron Auto Open push Cart is the best 22 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: in the business and for me, it's not close. And 23 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 1: thanks to part points, our friends Brandon Ebert and Kevin 24 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: Quinley have created an app that changes the way you 25 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: can score the game, which is especially good for beginners, kids, families, 26 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: and buddy strips. Looking for an alternate format. Download the 27 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: app today and go make par Hi. This is Michael 28 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: Barmberger with the fire Pit Collective. I'm here with my 29 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: new buddy, Fred pur Paul. We live in Fred We 30 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: live in a very politically correct age where you're not 31 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: allowed to talk about how somebody looks, or how do 32 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: they dress, or really anything personal. But we don't do 33 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,839 Speaker 1: the fire Pick Collective. So I'm just gonna tell one 34 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: quick thing about sort of meeting you from afar and 35 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: then actually meeting from you, and then I'm gonna turn 36 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: this whole thing over to you. But here's how I 37 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: saw Fred Paul November, and Fred, you correct me if 38 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: I have any part of this wrong. November of twenty 39 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: they had a master's Dustin Johnson won it, but there 40 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: were no spectators there because of the COVID pandemic restrictions. 41 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: But Fred was there, I don't know in what capacity. 42 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: And I saw this man, a very tall, elegant, dark 43 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: skinned man who dressed out of the Hogan playbook, and um, 44 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: I was like, who is this guy? And uh, and 45 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: the Master's being the Masters in that particular years, Masters 46 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: being a special one because there were so few people there. 47 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: I kept seeing Fred over and over and over again, 48 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: and then we started conversation and turned out that Fred 49 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: was really into golf and I'm really into golf. So 50 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: we sort of hit it off that way. But I 51 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: didn't know much about Fred's life. I knew he was 52 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: an architect in Dallas. I am going to turn this 53 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: over to Fred, I promise in a minute. Here. I 54 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: knew he was an architect and a and a builder 55 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: and very active in construction in design in Dallas, but 56 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: beyond that, he really didn't do anything. Then I'm into 57 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: Fred at at the p h A Championship at at 58 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: Southern Hills and Fred tells me he's gonna be the 59 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: next president of the U s g A. And I 60 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: followed golf closely, but somehow I did not know that fact. 61 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: So like I was like, wow, I really should know 62 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: I should know more about Fred, and then we've had 63 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: a series of great conversation that I'm going to write 64 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: about Fred for the fire Pit Collective of that length, 65 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: but we're gonna use this as a truncated version to 66 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: introduce Fred to UH, to our readers and our listeners. 67 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: So Fred, thank you so much. Fred. To get any 68 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: part of that introduction wrong, Michael, that's true, and it's 69 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: great to be with you today and great to be 70 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: with your listeners. Well, that's great, Fred. I'm gonna start 71 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: with the most shocking thing of all. Tell the people 72 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: when you begin when you began playing golf. Well, Michael, 73 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: I hope we'll have a fun time today. And uh, 74 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: you know, I think part of my story that I think, 75 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: you know, it's pretty interesting. I've been golfing for just 76 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: under ten years, and uh, I moved to Dallas in January, 77 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: and I picked up golf and m mostly because I 78 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: am an addict to competition. I love sports and I 79 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: love nature and my basketball career, you know, I like 80 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: to say basketball had left me and I was looking 81 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: for something you to challenge myself with, but also to connect. 82 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,679 Speaker 1: And so I've been playing golf right around ten years, 83 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: and I should probably say at this point that Fred 84 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: will be the first U s J president who has 85 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: played on a national basketball team. I feel quite secure 86 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: in saying that. And although there have been tall U 87 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: s J presidents before Sandy Tatum, I'm six one, he 88 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: towered over me. Um Bill Campbell in his late eighties 89 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 1: towered over me. Uh, but Fred really towers or me? Fred? 90 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: What are you about? Six five or six six? Yeah, 91 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: I'm right right around six six and a quarter. You know, 92 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm shrinking every day given all these responsibilities. 93 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think, by the way, Walter Driver is 94 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: pretty tall too. So you know, you know who's hold 95 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 1: between you and Walter. I think I've got them just 96 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: by a submission. So now, Walter is an Atlanta guy 97 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: and Fred, you're an Atlantic guy. In a manner speaking, 98 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: you're Behamon. You moved to Atlanta, um with with Beck 99 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,039 Speaker 1: the company that you worked for now and uh, and 100 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: you were playing a lot of basketball in Atlanta as 101 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: a as a young father. And then tell us how 102 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: you got into golf when you moved to Dallas. Yeah. 103 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: You know, what's what's interesting was in Atlanta I had 104 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: a very you know, um, you know, sort of defying 105 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: group of friends mostly in the real estate business. We 106 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: played a lot of pickup basketball. We had this wonderful 107 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: club sports club that we all played at. And one 108 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: of things I credit with my golf life is moving 109 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: from Atlanta to Dallas to assume new, you know, business responsibilities. 110 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: It really left me open for new groups and new friendships. 111 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: My family and I we wanted a club, you know, 112 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: really for privacy, an intimacy, to be able to you know, 113 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: connect with folks since we were sort of a replant 114 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: back to Dallas, and I joined Northwood Club, which was 115 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: actually the host of the nineteen u s Open. Great 116 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: group of people. Um. We connected immediately with a lot 117 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: of good friends there, But I was not really golfing 118 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: at the time, and I recognized, as much as I 119 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: love the nineteenth old that the guys were actually having 120 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: much more fun out on the golf course, and it 121 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: got me really curious about golf and so, um, you know, 122 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: I credit all my friends at Northwood for really attracting 123 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 1: me into the game, for encouraging me to play. Um, 124 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: even when I was sort of brand new and really 125 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: really uh you know, sort of not up to playing 126 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: at that caliber. They always made room for me. And 127 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: that's the thing I think we love about golf. It's 128 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: you know, at our core, you know, you know, golf 129 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: is very inclusive game. And I hope, you know, I 130 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: hope as we keep building and all the work we're 131 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: doing in the U. S g as well as all 132 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: the other leaders in golf, that we keep demonstrating the 133 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: inclusive nature of golf and the availability um now more 134 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: than ever. Well, Fred, that's well said, and that's that's 135 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: one of the reasons I'm so excited to get to 136 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: know you and to write about you and introduce you 137 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: to UH to a broader golf audience. UM. And I'm 138 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: going to introduce the subject here that I know is 139 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: dear to you. Here you are having only taken up 140 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: golf nine years ago. Now, of course this is exceptional, 141 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: and now you're gonna become the next president of the U. S. 142 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: G A. But what I'd love to hear you talk 143 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: about is the fact that this game seems like it's 144 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: intimidating to start in and and maybe it is. And 145 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: I'm wondering to what degree is it part of your 146 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: agenda to make golf more welcoming to more people, And 147 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: how can you actually do that. Yeah, Well, look, golf 148 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: has been great to me. I mean in one way. 149 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: You know, for me, it's it's very humbling to have 150 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: the opportunity to serve and to give back to the game, 151 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: because it really has given me a life, you know, 152 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: a quality of life that you know, I frankly didn't 153 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: know existed. And from the outside, golf is very intimidating, 154 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: I would tell you, you you know, particularly as an African 155 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: American man, you know, I didn't see a lot of 156 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: my golf you know, a lot of myself in the 157 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: elite golf environments. And you know, I think, um, in reality, 158 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: what seems so intimidating from the outside was so welcoming inside. 159 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,599 Speaker 1: And I think making that first step is probably the 160 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: challenge many people haven't, particularly in the green grass world 161 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 1: of golf. Uh, to to get into an environment. I 162 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: like to joke, golf is like our own religion. You know, 163 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: We've got we've got our own Bible. You know, we've 164 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: got our own sort of dress. You know, we've got 165 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: our own language and all those things, particularly for people 166 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: who have not grown up around the game. Over the 167 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: means to play the game, it's it's entirely intimidating from 168 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: the outside um and yet I have found the experience 169 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: to be the exact opposite on the inside. Some of 170 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: my best friends in life are my golf buddies. I've 171 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: got great mentors in the game of golf, which is 172 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: how I got to this spot. And so for for us, 173 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: all of these people who have come to the game 174 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: during COVID, we need to do that all that we 175 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: can to let them know that there is room for 176 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: this game and for them in this game, and that 177 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: they are absolutely welcomed. And I love the notion of 178 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: you know, top Golf and some of these you know 179 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: sort of what I call virtual golf environments that are 180 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: allowing people to experiment with the game, to be introduced 181 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: to the game in a less formally intimidating environment. And 182 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: I think those of us in the more structured game 183 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: of golf need to make sure that we fling the 184 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: doors wide open, so all of these folks who have 185 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: showed up in the last two years during COVID, that 186 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: have experimented with the game know that there's absolutely room 187 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: in this game for them, and so that you know, 188 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: that's something I think we can have a lot of 189 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: fun with Fred. What would you like to see the 190 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: U s g A do under your leaders to make 191 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: golf more inviting to more people. Yeah, look, I think 192 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: you know, today now more than ever, people are looking 193 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: and wondering whether we actually want them in the game. 194 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: And I think the U. S g A we have 195 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: to continue to reach our arms out. I would like 196 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: to see us invest more deeply in youth play at 197 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: both the elite level and the recreational level. I think 198 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: we've got to make bigger investments in accessibility, you know, 199 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: investing in um you know, sort of maybe refurbishing courses, 200 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: Youth on courses, a program I love that actually allows 201 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: young people to actually play golf for very low fee. 202 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: We've got to find the programs that are growing the game, 203 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: kind of like we have done with drive Chip and 204 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: put along with with our other partners, and we've got 205 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: to invest more deeply in these games. But we also 206 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: have to make golf less intimidating. You know. I would 207 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,079 Speaker 1: like to see us have more programs to explain the game, 208 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: more opportunities for folks and you know, underserved community used 209 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: to interact with the game to introduce it as a curriculum. 210 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: Perhaps in schools um to triple down on the first team. 211 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: So I think there's a it's there's not one magic 212 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: button here to be pressed. But look, Michael, we know 213 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: one thing that there's not an interest problem in the 214 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: game of golf. There's an accessibility problem. And that accessibility 215 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: is directly related to the cost. So we need to, 216 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: you know, sort of not only give our time, but 217 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: we need to figure out how to give more of 218 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: our treasure to reduce the barriers to entry and to 219 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: allow more people in. And I'm proud of the work 220 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: we're already doing, but I hope under you know, so 221 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,319 Speaker 1: of the next three years, as we have our new 222 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: CEO Mike Juan and a really a new capable team 223 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: on the management team, that we spend more time, more 224 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: dollars actually opening that accessibility out. Very good, Fred, The 225 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: the U s Open is being played this week. You've 226 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: been to the country club. What what do you expect 227 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: we'll see this week at the country club? Well, I 228 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: think you should expect a classic US Open, you know, 229 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: sort of very now fair fairways that are firm and fast, Uh, 230 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: you know, greens that are challenging. Um rough that is 231 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: think um, you know, we we we want to identify 232 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 1: the best as Sandy Tatums, they to identify the best 233 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: players in the game, and we want to make sure 234 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: that we have an attractive environment for our fans. And 235 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: so I'm very excited. You know, in many ways, Um 236 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,079 Speaker 1: this uh you know, Brookline really is, you know, a 237 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: trampoline for American golf. You know, Francis women winning winning 238 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: the US Open there um is a story we love 239 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: to tell. Obviously he would later go on to become 240 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: a key figure in the U. S g A. But 241 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 1: as a twenty year old winning the US Open as 242 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: a person of regular means who caddied at Brookline to 243 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: introduce golf to more regular Americans, to let them know 244 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: that it was a game for them, Like Wow, what 245 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: a gift, you know. And you know, we like to 246 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: say the U. S g A. You can't buy history, 247 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: you can only earn it. And given where we are 248 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: right now, this inflection point with more regular people coming 249 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: into the game, you know, we think it's wonderful symmetry. 250 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: And so we're so excited about Brookline. We're excited about 251 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: next week's US Open, and uh, you know, we hope, 252 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: we hope we will again identify the best player in 253 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: the game. We think that's what special about a US Open. Fred. 254 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:21,599 Speaker 1: You you mean you know so much golf history and 255 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: you've picked up so much in such a short amount 256 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: of time. You may know this good bit, but you 257 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: may not. But I'll I'll share just for any of 258 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: our listeners who haven't. So the nine US Open was 259 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: at Wingfoot the previous year, Um, Johnny Millard shot a 260 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: sixty three in the closing round at UH at Oakmont 261 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: and all of golf and this is just when I 262 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: was getting into golf, and all of golf was like, Oh, 263 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: they're going to kill the guys this week, and they did. 264 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: Wingfot was it was was a monster and UH and 265 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: Sandy Tatum was then your job right now, Fred, tell 266 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 1: me the formal name of your job right now, Chairman 267 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: of Competitions Committee. Well, yeah, I'm the chairman of the 268 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: U s g A Championships many right now. Yeah, So 269 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: I think that's what Tatum's job was then, prior to 270 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: become president and UH. And in Tatum's court at the time, 271 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: what Tatum's Sandy Tatum's quote at the at the time was, 272 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: we're not trying to embarrass the best golfers in the world. 273 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: We're trying to identify them, and uh it's lived on. Uh. 274 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: Ever since Fred you were talking about Francis we met before. 275 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: Have you ever seen that photograph of we met in 276 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: Eddie Lowry his ten year old caddy together. Um, how 277 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: about the cocky strut of that ten year old Eddie 278 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: Lowry with that little tie and that little um pork 279 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: pie hat that he's wearing. Yeah, and he'd going to 280 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: be a fantastic player himself, right, I mean, I think 281 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: that's the great part of this this game. You know, 282 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: we've had traditions, generation after generation of Americans of regular 283 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: means being integrated into the game. Now more than ever, 284 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: we want to see all Americans have access to this game. 285 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: And so I love to go back to the Francis 286 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: we met us open because you know that, to me 287 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: is a story that all Americans and by the way, 288 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: it reflects the beauty of America. Right, That's why we 289 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: enjoy being American. That there is something aspirational about being American. 290 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: And I always say in the game of golf, like 291 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: for me, it's not about dumbing this game down. Uh. 292 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: For for for regular people, it's about giving them something 293 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: to aspire to, and for me, that's what golf has been. Truly, 294 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: it's been aspirational and it's been inspirational, and hopefully our 295 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: championships that's what we're doing. We're inspiring people to join 296 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: with us in this culture and this beautiful game of golf. 297 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: You know, that's a very interesting comment, Fred, and I 298 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: read a lot into it when you say that that 299 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: golf is aspirational. Um, you and I love golf, and 300 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: we like and we know it can improve lives. It's 301 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: improved your life, it's improved my life. But it's not 302 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: for everybody. And if you dumb golf down too much 303 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: by trying to make it accessible to everybody or interesting 304 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: to everybody, actually can lose the thing that makes golf 305 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: special in the first place. It's a slow, contemplative, difficult 306 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: game like bridges and and and and other activities. Um, 307 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: do you think it's important that golf continue to embrace 308 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: those basic DNA facts about the game. I absolutely believe 309 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: it is fundamental. I mean, you know, as a young 310 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: kid growing up in a tough environment, I always went 311 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: to church and I looked at, you know, the folks 312 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: in business that was successful. I wanted to understand, you know, 313 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: how they were achieving their success. I looked at my 314 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: parents and how hard they work. Everything in life worth having, Michael, 315 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: is worth working hard for. To have a good golf game, 316 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: you have to work hard at it. There's a symmetry 317 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: in life. You know, a composition, your character. How does 318 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: one actually practice developing character? You know? I think you 319 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: know highly accomplished people love golf because it is something 320 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: that is difficult to conquer, that may it may be unconquerable. 321 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: These are traits that are wonderful for young people to learn, 322 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: how to interact with adults, to learn what character and 323 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 1: integrity actually looks like up close. You call the balls 324 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: and strikes on yourself in the game. You play the 325 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: ball as it lies, just like you play the hand 326 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: that you have been given in life. So I think 327 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: there are fundamental things about this game that, when we 328 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: embrace them, actually not only improves our golf game, but 329 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 1: improves our lives. And we should make sure that we 330 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: keep telling that story so that we are not forced 331 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: to dump ourselves down. I believe etiquette is an important 332 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: part of golf. I love taking my sixteen year old 333 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: to the course, and I don't want her to behave 334 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: you know, like she's at a you know, jungle gym. 335 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: I want her to learn how to conduct herself in 336 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: a manner that is dignified and elegant and controlled, because 337 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: those are also characteristics that will be helpful later in life. 338 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 1: And so and that's not saying that we shouldn't be welcoming, 339 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: but somehow we've got to be yes and people. Yes, 340 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: we want to be welcoming, and we want to explain 341 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: people all of these values and virtues that we find 342 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: so there and they're in the game. Well, Fred, amen 343 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: to all of that. But what a guy shows up. 344 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: He's got you know, a sleeve of tattoos, he's got 345 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: his shirt tails out. Uh, you know, he's not the 346 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 1: characteristic golfer that we think that that we think of 347 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: when we think about club golf. Um, should golf be 348 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: welcoming to that person? Or should we expect that person 349 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: to conform to standards? And Morey's of a different period. 350 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: What what's what's you're feeling about that? Well? I think 351 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 1: we've gotta have environments for both. Right, We've got to 352 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: have environments for ungolfed people to welcome them in, right, 353 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: Because before before you start sermonizing to people, they have 354 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 1: to know that you actually are interested in them, not 355 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: just trying to be interesting to them. They got to 356 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: know that you want them there. So I think there 357 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: needs to be environments that are completely casual where people 358 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: can have fun with the game. You know, at my 359 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: home course, Trinity Force, we have this little short course 360 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: where you can go over and drive scooters and have 361 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: a few drinks and really listen to your music and 362 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 1: have a good time. And and that's a way for 363 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 1: us to you know, actually attract people into the culture 364 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: of the game and the club. And then there are 365 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: gonna be formal, uh, you know, environments where golf is 366 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: more structured. So I think we have to have both. 367 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: But absolutely the young man who's untucked and has a 368 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: very casual disposition, we need to find ways to attract 369 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: and to connect. And then once we connect and we 370 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: build these relationships, we need to then use the relationships 371 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: to explain why one ought to go on the journey 372 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 1: of formality. Uh. There is, uh, you know, a role 373 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: for that in your life. And I have just found, 374 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: you know, with my work with young people, that golf 375 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: has given me this wonderful gift to explain to young men, 376 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: particularly young men of color, why it's important to have 377 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: good decorum, why it's important to be properly groomed, why 378 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: you want your container to match your character so that 379 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: people are not judging you harshly from the outside based 380 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: on our parents. And so I think we can use 381 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 1: this gift to kind of continue to have the kind 382 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: of relationships across our communities that we want so that 383 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,959 Speaker 1: we can lean into each other. And Michael, as you know, 384 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: like we're not going to have the country we want 385 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: until we're all in with each other. That's what I 386 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: love about golf. It gives you this wonderful platform, this 387 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 1: wonderful framework where people can spend time with each other, 388 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: and you know, people that get to know each other 389 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: can learn to trust each other, and people that trust 390 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: each other can do well together. And certainly for me, 391 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 1: that's being a wonderful, you know, tool in life for me, 392 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: both with my mentors, people who I am learning from, 393 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: and then also finding time with young men and young 394 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: women that I actually want to be mentors too. And 395 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: so you know, I feel like no one should be 396 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: excluded based on how they look. But that doesn't mean 397 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 1: that we sort of dumb down and leave it right there. 398 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: You know, what a gift we all have to share 399 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: what has been successful for us, and what a gift 400 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: we have to have this proximity so that we can 401 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: learn from others. And I think, look, that's what I 402 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 1: love about golf. That's beautifully said Fred. Um. You and 403 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 1: I are both at Marrying right now where the Curtis 404 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: Cups being played. Across the pond, there's another tournament being played, 405 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 1: the first of the live events. Uh, you talked about golf. 406 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: Is you earn your way in golf? It's hard. It 407 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: takes a lot of work to get you know, even 408 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: semi competent golf. That live event is invitational, US Open 409 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: is an open championship. Everybody who's in the field has 410 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: earned their way in Um, can you talk about the 411 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: juxtaposition going from this live event with the taxi cabs 412 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: on the golf course and the jets of flying overhead 413 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: in the shotgun star fifty four holes, no cut, and 414 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: what we're gonna have this week at at the country club. Michael, 415 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna boy going into you know, all of the 416 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: dramatics and professional golf right now. I'm gonna I'm gonna 417 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: stay passionate and focus on this week's amateur golf that 418 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,479 Speaker 1: we're putting on at the Curtis Cup. Today. You know, 419 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 1: I got to watch our American team tee off from 420 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: the patio at Marion. Uh. There's no more special place 421 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: in golf than sitting on the patio at Marion having 422 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: coffee and watching this wonderful American team compete. With this 423 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 1: you know, great Britain and Ireland team. You can almost 424 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: see the cultures of the two Uh, you know, countries 425 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: at locales coming out. Of course. Uh, we are the 426 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 1: United States Golf Association, so I'm a little biased here. 427 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: But our team UM is beautiful young women. UM, it's multicultural. Uh, 428 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: it's athletic. You can see the way these ladies have 429 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: respect for each other across the team. The women UM 430 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: just playing extraordinary golf on one of the greatest environments 431 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: in golf. Like That's what we want to do at 432 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: the U S g A. We want to continue, you know, one, 433 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,880 Speaker 1: open up opportunities for everyone so that the women play 434 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: on the same caliber venues that the men do. Uh too, 435 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: we want to showcase that there is beauty in our 436 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: diversity and that there that you can also be proud 437 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: of where you came from and be proud of where 438 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: you're going. And so today you know, UM, you know, 439 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: I want to give the women there do uh and 440 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 1: and focus on the Curtis Cup next week at Brookline. 441 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: You know, our job is to conduct the most open 442 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: championship in golf. You earn your way in and that 443 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,399 Speaker 1: is uh, that's been fundamental to who we've been. And 444 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 1: I think you're gonna see the best uh men in 445 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 1: golf take on one of the classic cathedrals of the 446 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:45,120 Speaker 1: game and uh and compete for a US Open Championship. 447 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,400 Speaker 1: It's the most difficult one to win. We we believe 448 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: you've got a dirty every club in your big this 449 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: you know, it's going to test every aspect of your 450 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: golf game. And UH, what a gift, you know, what 451 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: a gift we we get to be approximate to this 452 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: and uh and hopefully your audience has tuned into both. Um. 453 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,120 Speaker 1: So UH, that's I'm gonna leave it at that, relative 454 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: to where we're at in the world of golf today 455 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 1: on that basis, and I'm not even gonna ask you 456 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: about Donald Trump and his in his role in golf 457 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,719 Speaker 1: because I think I know where that question would go. Um, 458 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: who are some of the US Open winners you've met 459 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: over the years, and and what kind of impression have 460 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: they made on you? You know, UM, one of the things, 461 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,880 Speaker 1: Michael I. You know, it's interesting because when when I 462 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: was nominated as President elect, ran Jaris, who was a 463 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: great friend of mine at the U s J, sent 464 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: me all these facts about um, you know, my presidency 465 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 1: and all my impending presidency, and it was very humbling. 466 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: In fact, I will tell you multiple times I choked 467 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: up in that first week just talking to my wife Abby. 468 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 1: You know, we've had this great journey together and I'm 469 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 1: I'm so you know, appreciative of all that she's meant 470 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: to support me, and not only my career but also 471 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: in my passions and and it was very emotional, you know, 472 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 1: to learn one I would be one of the youngest 473 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: not we've had, you know, five or six younger than 474 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: I am. Um, i'd be the first African American. I'm 475 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:09,640 Speaker 1: very proud of that because I want people of color 476 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: to know that this game is beautiful and it's available 477 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: to all of us. It always has been. Actually, the 478 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: first professional golfer born in the United States was African American, 479 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: you know, so this has always been a game open 480 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: to all of us, and we full throw it on that. 481 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 1: But one of the things I love is Michael I 482 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: will be the first gen X president of the U 483 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,479 Speaker 1: s g A. And I find that a wonderful bridge 484 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: between these boomers who have been my mentors in the 485 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: game and these millennials coming up behind us. And uh, 486 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: you know, I've I've enjoyed getting to know John rom 487 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: and being able to play, uh you know, and and 488 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: and watch him and and actually help hand him his 489 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: trophy last year. That was very inspirational the way he 490 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: brought it home. Bryson Deshambo is a Dallas guy, and uh, 491 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: you know, we've gotten to know each other over the years. 492 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 1: I'm fascinated with, you know, the way he's approaching the 493 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: game and trying to make changes and and so you know, 494 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,120 Speaker 1: Justin Rose, uh you know, we we have a club 495 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: in common. And of course he won his championship here 496 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 1: at Marion and you only have to take two steps 497 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: in the door and see that. And of course Justin 498 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: and my view has one of the most beautiful swings 499 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: and golf. So you know, I've been very fortunate, you know, 500 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:19,239 Speaker 1: to participate both in the formal game of golf and 501 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 1: the informal But I'm also thinking about the special opportunity 502 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: as a gen X or as someone straddling these two generations, 503 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: to be that bridge and to connect, you know, with 504 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: with my mentors who are more seasoned than I am, 505 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: but also to you know, reach arms out and to 506 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: be in communication with the younger elite players coming along 507 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: and so that we have more relatability as well. So 508 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: what a gift and what an opportunity. Could you ever 509 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: imagine a game where um, Bryce Bryson de Shambo plays 510 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 1: with a different golf ball or equipment with that UH 511 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: has different standards, UH then regular Joe golfers. Do you 512 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: think that would be a good thing for the game. 513 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,639 Speaker 1: Could you ever imagine that happening? Well, Michael, it's a 514 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: multi know, it's it's a very complicated issue. UM. We 515 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: have been along with the r n A, we have 516 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: not been um shy about our investigating distance and its 517 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: impact on the game overall. You can actually go onto 518 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: the U s g AS website and we have a 519 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 1: distance Insight project where you can download if you're reading 520 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 1: buff But we also have short had to tell you 521 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 1: what we're exploring. And we know that, um, the distance 522 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: that elite players are hitting the ball is becoming an 523 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 1: issue in terms of the sustainability, the affordability and the 524 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 1: access to golf, and that's something that we want to address. 525 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,360 Speaker 1: We're looking at this really in two forms. One we're 526 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:55,479 Speaker 1: looking at you know, the driver and it's impact on 527 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: the game, and we're also studying the golf ball. And 528 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 1: we've we've been pretty um, you know, transparent about what 529 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: we're studying and why. Um. In terms of solutions, I 530 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: would say suffice to say, we have to do something, 531 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 1: and you know, we want to be collaborative in what 532 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: we're doing. So we're spending time with all the equip 533 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: equipment manufacturers. I was, uh, you know, visiting with one 534 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: or two uh earlier in the sorry, late last summer, 535 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: and I'll be visiting with a few others along with 536 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 1: other members of the executive committee and the management team. 537 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: And really the management team is taking the lead on this, 538 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: along with the R and A. But you know, there's 539 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,639 Speaker 1: no question we have to address this issue. And one 540 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 1: could argue that we've waited maybe a little too long, 541 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: and so I won't talk specific solutions now, but I 542 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: do think, um, the recreational player does not have an 543 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: issue with how far they hit the ball. In fact, 544 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: one could argue, we need a two pronged solution. We 545 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: need we need a solution that makes it easier and 546 00:28:55,840 --> 00:29:00,239 Speaker 1: somewhat more forgiven for the recreational player, while also, you know, 547 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 1: addressing how far the elite player hits the ball. Because 548 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: all of us have been who love golf, have been 549 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:09,719 Speaker 1: to golf courses that have forty yards of teeing area 550 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: or maybe in some cases sixty yards. A hundred yards 551 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: of teeing arerors that no one other than zero point 552 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: one percent of golfers used, and yet that's embedding more 553 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: costs in the game, and it is completely in conflict 554 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: with our desire to attract more people to the game 555 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 1: because it's making the game more expensive, less sustainable, and 556 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: increasing that hurdle. And so you can expect that this 557 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: is an issue that the U s g A, along 558 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: with the RNA, our our governing bodies, are paying very 559 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: close attention to. We're being very collaborative with how we 560 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: work with the equipment manufacturers and all other stakeholders, and uh, 561 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: you know, I think we have to keep all the 562 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: solutions on the table in order to get this right. 563 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: One of the reasons I'm excited about your ascendency to 564 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 1: the president and see is it's been a long time 565 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 1: since the U. S g A has had a representative 566 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: who can really speak to a broad population. And the 567 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: person I'm speaking of his is Arnold Palmer, and Arnold 568 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: and the U s A had a sort of falling 569 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 1: out that's too complicated going to at this point, Um, 570 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: but it definitely related to that too prong approach that 571 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 1: you were speaking of. Uh. So it's interesting to hear you. 572 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: Uh you mentioned that. Uh, that too prong approach is 573 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: something a lot of US J officials have been actually 574 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: scared to tep and talk about. It will be interesting 575 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: to see, uh where you go with that. Um, Fred, 576 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: let me leave you with this, Um, your go ahead 577 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 1: for it. Yeah. And one thing I don't you know, 578 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: we haven't solved the problem yet, but I'm saying we've 579 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: got to be willing to think about these two constituencies 580 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: and think about the separate needs of both. And I'm 581 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: not saying that, you know, the bifurcation word is a 582 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: word that we intentionally avoid and I'm not telling you 583 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: that that you know, sort of we are going to bifurca, 584 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: but what I'm saying is now more than ever, and 585 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: we put it, we put it in our distance. Inside report, 586 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: we are thinking about these two different constituencies and so 587 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: again no, no solutions, and we certainly don't don't see 588 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 1: ourselves segmenting the game in any dramatic way, but we 589 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 1: are thinking about solutions that might allow us to be 590 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 1: yes and people. Yes. We want to curtail distance and 591 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: we want to make the game more forgiving for the 592 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: recreational player, and we're trying to find the elegant balance 593 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: between the two. So more is more develops, But I 594 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: just don't want to give the impression that we've solved 595 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: the issue. One of the things, Michael, I have to 596 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: also add in here. We're trying to do it in 597 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: a very collaborative way, and we've always had a process 598 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 1: to do this, but I think today we're just really 599 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: being more full throated about how we go about it, 600 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:49,000 Speaker 1: and hopefully all of our other stakeholders will feel that 601 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,880 Speaker 1: they've been heard and they've had the opportunity to weigh in. 602 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 1: But I uh from having played this game a long time, 603 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: and having played a fair amount of public golf, I 604 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 1: have apps loot proof that there is bifurcation in the game, 605 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: and it shows up every time somebody hits the ball 606 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 1: out of bounds, and they do what every sensible person is. 607 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: They just drop it where it went out of bounds 608 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 1: and out of shot. They have figured out the USG 609 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: rules better than the US J in my humble, in 610 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: my opinion. Um, all right, Fred, let me leave you 611 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: with this. I know you're a very good athlete, and 612 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,360 Speaker 1: we've talked about this before. A good athletes game shows 613 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 1: up surprisingly more in short game than long game. Uh. 614 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: You know, pitching and chipping and putting and bunker play 615 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:33,719 Speaker 1: was that's really where you see the I hand coordination. Uh. 616 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 1: But that's a preamble to the following question. Can you remember, 617 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: because this relates to what a lot of people aspire 618 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: to do, no matter where they dropped the ball when 619 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 1: it went out of bounds, can you remember breaking a 620 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: hundred for the first time? What was that like for you? 621 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: I remember distinctly breaking a hundred. Uh, you know, the 622 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:52,880 Speaker 1: first time I actually added them all up and broke 623 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: a hundred, I was actually by myself, so I know, Uh, coincidentally, 624 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 1: I'm counting it. Fred, I couldn't post this round. But 625 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: I remember distinctly the first time I broke a hundred. 626 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,719 Speaker 1: It was I shot at ninety two, which I had 627 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:10,080 Speaker 1: never gotten close to that, and surprisingly, I just kept 628 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 1: the ball in play and uh. And it actually was 629 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: a new awareness that instead of you know, because look 630 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: I'm six foot six and a half, I struggled with 631 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: the driver. I think golf is very challenging for tall folks. 632 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 1: There's so much that can go wrong. Number two, I 633 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 1: think basketball players have an instinct problem when it comes 634 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 1: to golf, like we want to go, you know, very 635 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: quick at everything, and you know, so smoothness is sometimes 636 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: a challenge and that shows up in your longer clubs. Um. 637 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 1: But I do remember the first time I broke a 638 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 1: hundred at Northwood, and then I went back out with 639 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: my buddies that weekend and again shot at ninety two, 640 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: and so it was you know that to me, that 641 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 1: was a bantus occasion. I remember breaking ninety for the 642 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 1: first time. Uh. And I also remember breaking eighty for 643 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 1: the first time, and so, you know, look, I would 644 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:59,240 Speaker 1: say one thing, Michael one Um my mentors in the game, 645 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 1: you know, really the guys that that you know, I've 646 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: grown up within the game, guys like Jonas Wood since 647 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:08,920 Speaker 1: Chipman at Training Force. They've made room for me too. 648 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: They are much better players, and yet they've brought me 649 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: along the last six years to every golf trip, to 650 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 1: every four ball match. Uh. They have just made it 651 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 1: very comfortable for me to keep improving. And while we 652 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:26,600 Speaker 1: joke and and sort of rag each other every weekend, uh, 653 00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 1: they also have made very confirmational in terms of the 654 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 1: improvements made. And I think if everyone can find their 655 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:36,359 Speaker 1: little tribe where they learn, spend time together, enjoy, you know, 656 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,279 Speaker 1: and you know, I have to give a shout out 657 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:41,840 Speaker 1: to all my buddies data South Florida, you know, like, uh, 658 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 1: I love going down and playing you know, you know 659 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: every weekend that I can during the winter, because again 660 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:52,279 Speaker 1: that's another level of golf and it's always a competition, 661 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, I think we all love that. 662 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 1: And then finally I have to say, you know, uh 663 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 1: much credit has to be given for my you administrative 664 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:03,879 Speaker 1: you know sort of learning. You know, Stu Francis has 665 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 1: just been an unbelievable predecessor. I think, you know, we 666 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: ought to put a statue out in front of the 667 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: headquarters having to navigate and lead a transition from Mike 668 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: Davis to Mike Juan having to navigate you know, covid 669 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,440 Speaker 1: um and you know, having the clear eyed vision in 670 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:24,279 Speaker 1: terms of you know, how my skills might translate to 671 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: the U s g A. He's been everything to me 672 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:31,280 Speaker 1: and so no one rises by themselves. We all stand 673 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,720 Speaker 1: on the trees that we didn't plant. What a gift 674 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: this game is. You know, where in life would a 675 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:40,360 Speaker 1: friend Bopaul and Stu France has become best friends other 676 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:43,360 Speaker 1: than in the game of golf. And that's that's something 677 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: that I think many of us have probably have stories 678 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:49,239 Speaker 1: like this in the game. And so thank you for 679 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 1: your time today, and thank you for you know, you 680 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: sort of interest. And I hope, I hope this is 681 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:57,680 Speaker 1: being enjoyable. It's been great. And that's a beautiful concluding 682 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:02,480 Speaker 1: note because when he is all said and done, the 683 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 1: friendship the game is so rich in so many different ways, 684 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:08,880 Speaker 1: but in my experience, the single greatest thing out of 685 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 1: this game, it's their friendships that you make out of it. 686 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: And uh and some of the challenges of finding your 687 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: way to golf in the first place and getting halfway 688 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 1: competent at it. The qualities that we share in common, 689 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,360 Speaker 1: no matter what our background is, is kind of the 690 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:28,319 Speaker 1: very factors that let a meaningful friendship get off the 691 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 1: ground in the first place. So that was beautifully said Fred. 692 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:35,160 Speaker 1: Uh uh. For those of you who don't know Stu Francis, 693 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:39,320 Speaker 1: he is not a six ft six inch behayman basketball player. 694 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 1: He has a did play basket. He did play basketball. Interesting, Yeah, wow, 695 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:52,080 Speaker 1: I wondered if he played for Pete Correll. That does 696 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,360 Speaker 1: say a lot with Fred and I have talked about this. 697 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:56,760 Speaker 1: I was with Curtis Strange, two times US Open winner 698 00:36:56,760 --> 00:36:59,360 Speaker 1: and one of us at the country club and uh, 699 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 1: you know, Curtis is ficedy and I said to Curtis, 700 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:03,399 Speaker 1: I said, you know, you give me someone who can 701 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 1: who can shoot pool and make free throws, and I 702 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:08,719 Speaker 1: think that guy can become a good basketball player in 703 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 1: Curtis City. Yeah, that's correct. I'd actually agree with that. 704 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,320 Speaker 1: You know. They actually is like you finally said something 705 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:18,440 Speaker 1: that's maybe halfway insightful. Fred, Thanks so much for this. 706 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: I'll look forward to seeing you here at Mary and 707 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:22,600 Speaker 1: the country Club. As well and UH for years and 708 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:25,200 Speaker 1: years to come, I hope. Thank you, Michael, thank you 709 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:27,480 Speaker 1: for everything you do for the game. Appreciate being with 710 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:50,840 Speaker 1: you today. Put another log on the fire. Nobody here 711 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 1: is get the time.