Golf In America Blog
Golf In America Blog
0Flight 1549
TODD LEWIS Posted 08/18/2009, 11:00 PM EST
I remember that day. It was January 15th, and I was at Golf Channel preparing for Golf Central. My friend, Vince Cellini, said to me, "Turn it to CNN." What I saw was amazing: a small plane sitting in the frigid Hudson River with passengers standing on the wings while rescue boats converged. They looked OK, and my immediate thought was what an incredible sight. As I watched the passengers being taken off those wings of life, I started to think about something else; what was it like for them right before impact? A few months later I would find the answer to that question.
I was assigned to do a story on the "Chicopee 6,” a group of guys who annually travel to Myrtle Beach from their hometown of Chicopee, Mass. to play golf. It was their escape from the harsh winters and an opportunity to pull out the clubs and shake off the rust. They were on that trip, on that fateful flight and had quite a story to tell.
I met Dave Carlos, Jim Stefanik, Jorge Morgado, Rick Delisle, Rob Kolodjay and his son Jeff Kolodjay in New York City. The group was laughing and flinging the needle at each other. They seemed like a bunch of guys you would meet at a bar and immediately be invited to share a beer with.
We started talking about how they got on Flight 1549. Originally, the guys were on a Spirit Air flight, but it was cancelled the day of their departure. After scrambling from ticket counter to ticket counter, they found six seats on US Airways. The seats were not together, but scattered about the cabin. Jeff Kolodjay sat at the front of the plane. His dad was at the back.
They described the unknown trouble the plane was having after takeoff. Each knew the situation was not good, but there was nothing coming from the captain. Suddenly, words finally erupted from the cockpit, "Brace for impact!" The chill was immediate for all six. Then they answered the question I was searching for.
Each immediately felt their life was coming to an end. They had just seconds to reflect on everything. From childhood to fatherhood, the emotions came rushing out. Has their life been fulfilling? Did they do things the right way? Will their family be taken care of?
Rob Kolodjay sat at the rear of the aircraft. During those frantic seconds he reflected on his life which included raising a great family. His son, Jeff, a part of that family, sat 20 rows ahead of him. The two tried to make contact but the chaos prevented that.
The emotion of their story was overwhelming and punctuated when I took the six survivors to the Hudson River for the first time since the accident. Some brought their wives. All stared over the water in silence, reflecting on that day and what could have been.
Soon after, the tears were replaced by smiles. The six guys did go on their Myrtle Beach trip after all. They drove in a van this time instead of flying. I met up with them at a bar after their first day of playing. The joy on their faces was something I will never forget. Jeff Kolodjay insisted I have the group's signature golf trip drink, vodka and pineapple. After a couple of those, all the guys talked about what this trip meant to them. Their survival presented a new outlook on life. It's no longer about making it through the day but about making the most of the day.
The next morning, the group kindly invited me to play with them. That infectious attitude of joy and optimism was overwhelming. I asked Jeff Kolodjay to finish this sentence. "Life to you now is?" He answered immediately, "Perfect!"
After more jokes than birdies and one more signature drink, I said good bye and headed home. While flying back to Orlando, I realized this was not a story of survival but one of love. This was about a love for the game, a love for family and friends but more importantly, hitting the reset button on loving life.
1Jerry Weintraub, Hollywood Royalty
Jim Gray Posted 08/11/2009, 11:00 PM EST
Jerry Weintraub is a legend who ranks as real Hollywood royalty. Every single star in the music or entertainment business in the past four decades has dealt with him, and if they are lucky, has played golf with him. Everyone is his friend because he has spent a lifetime earning the good will and trust of his peers and colleagues, something that comes out in conversation and in interviews. Even Presidents consider him a friend as he and President George H. W. Bush have enjoyed a long and close relationship. Yet for all that he has accomplished, he is very humble and is quick to say the movies he has developed are a success because of the writers and actors. It takes all ingredients to be successful, and he never includes himself or is boastful.
Jerry plays golf with the same zest he pursues in business. A good player, he is a golf addict who gets out on the course as much as he can. The game allows him to relax and enjoy himself, something he also likes to do in his amazing home in Palm Springs, California. The house is located in a beautiful setting on a golf course, and is filled with memorabilia from many of Jerry’s films. We did the interview there and he was kind enough to not only share his home, but stories of what has gone on in the film and music business. I enjoyed his company very much, and being with him was not only a joy, but an education. I hope the viewers will enjoy the story as much as I did.
0Wunderkids
SCOTT WALKER Posted 08/04/2009, 11:00 PM EST
So much has been said about the effect that Tiger Woods would have on the next generation of minority golfers. For all the talk, there has been little effect on the professional level.
But, maybe we have just been impatient. After all, it took 20 years for Tiger Woods to become Tiger Woods, the world record-setter that we know now. Before that, he was simply a talented kid who played golf very well, went to school, and enjoyed a video game or two. Twenty years is a generation, and we have yet to see a full generation of children striving to accomplish what Woods has done since he said "Hello World" in 1996.
But now, you are starting to see some families who are taking the lessons from Tiger's upbringing and applying them to the next generation of golfers. The perfect example of this phenomenon are Alex and Sumie Francois. This brother and sister from Vancouver, British Columbia have been world record-challengers, literally. Sumie recently won her age group at the Junior World Championships in San Diego, and Alex competes with older players to actually get competition. Both are happy, well-adjusted adolescents who firmly believe their teacher can help them become professional golfers like Tiger Woods.
Their teacher is their father, Joseph. He has never played a round of golf in his life. But, much like Richard Williams did for his daughters Serena and Venus, Joseph Francois is doing for his children. The Haitian-born Joseph taught himself two different languages, so why can't he teach his kids the game of golf, he says. The success of the kids shows he may be right. The personal sacrifices made by his wife and children show that the success will not come without a price.
Having spoken to Earl Woods regarding how he raised his son, the most misunderstood part of Tiger's upbringing seems to be the fact that Tiger wanted to go to great lengths to play golf. His father never forced him. Did Joseph Francois learn that lesson? Tune in to Golf In America, and we will let you decide.
0Golf as Therapy for our Wounded Warriors
STEVE SANDS Posted 07/30/2009, 5:00 PM EST
I have worked nineteen years as a sportscaster, and I've never been so moved doing a story. Spending a couple of days with a few of our wounded warriors and the people who help them once they return from duty was inspirational. For anyone who loves golf, you'll love the game more knowing that it plays a part in the recovery process of some of our military heroes.
Hearing a few of the stories from their days in combat was mind numbing. Learning what they go through on a daily basis to defend our freedom was something I'll never forget. It's impossible to thank these young men and women and yet they don't ask for anything in return. They truly are the most honorable people you'll ever meet.
I never had a connection with the military, except for what I've read or watched on television. I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend even a few hours with some of our troops. They enlightened me on a number of things that are so incredible that you almost can't believe the stories. But they're all true!
The people at the National Amputee Golf Association are equally as amazing. Their goal is to help preserve the rights of amputees, ensuring they continue to enjoy the game. Helping our wounded warriors has become a passion. Golf is a game that can be played for a lifetime, and some incredible people are doing some incredible things to help our returning wounded heroes. As our soldiers return to life back home, they are getting involved in the game that will somehow help in their healing process.
I hope you enjoyed the episode of Golf in America which included our story Golf as Therapy. As you watched, perhaps you were moved as much as I was.
010th Anniversary of Payne Stewart’s Death
SCOTT WALKER Posted 07/21/2009, 11:00 PM EST
They say that time heals all wounds.
Tracey Stewart will tell you otherwise.
It has been nearly 10 years since her husband died. The circumstances were tragic, and the pain was immediate, but the mourning, well, that had to wait. You see, Tracey Stewart still had two children to raise, leaving little time for selfish thought. After all, she was doing the work of two parents.
How do you measure a man’s legacy? In the case of Payne Stewart, we went to his home state of Missouri to find out. We found the Payne Stewart Golf Club in Branson, Missouri, nestled into the hillsides of the beautiful Ozarks. It is a monument to his golfing life. We found the First Tee program at the Kids Across America camp, which teaches kids from every walk of life across the country the joy of the game of golf. The camp is a measure of his big heart and generosity.
But the best measure may be those children that Tracey Stewart painstakingly nurtured through a trying decade. Daughter Chelsea is now working for the First Tee of Atlanta. Son Aaron is following in his father’s footsteps as a golfer at Payne’s alma mater, Southern Methodist University.
One look at Aaron shows the resemblance to his father in both looks and mannerisms. As everyone in this story said, the apple did not fall far from the tree in this case. Many will see Aaron as the embodiment of Payne’s spirit. While it is not fair to him to assume that he will win three major champions or achieve the same things as his dad, you can see the pride of his family, knowing that the piece of the father lives on in his children.
Time has been very good to the legacy of William Payne Stewart. Even if some of the wounds are still fresh.
0Greg Norman and Chris Evert: Sports Super Couple
RICH LERNER Posted 07/14/2009, 11:00 PM EST
They’re in love. Like young newlyweds. Like teenagers, for goodness’ sake. You see it in the way they hold hands. You see it in the way she needles him, and he laughs. You see it in the way they compete on the tennis court.
Yes, Greg Norman and Chris Evert, two of the biggest superstars of the last 25 years, are really, truly in love.
I spent the better part of a day with the power couple near their home in South Florida.
It’s been just over a year since they were married and enjoyed part of their honeymoon at Royal Birkdale in England. That’s where Greg nearly pulled off one of the greatest achievements in sports history: winning the British Open at age 53. And Chris was with him every step of the way.
On Golf in America, you see Greg at work in his handsome office in West Palm Beach. What stood out is the grasp he has on the language of the business world, sounding every bit like a graduate of Harvard Business School. Greg actually never went to college, simply attacking his numerous commercial enterprises with the same aggressive and confident stride that made him an iconic figure on the golf course.
Interestingly, when Greg sits besides Chris to chat with me, he’s no longer the man in command, but rather a man, well, as I said earlier, a man in love. And what you see is that (pun intended) Greg has met his match in Chris. She’s funny, forceful and very obviously his biggest fan.
From the office, we headed over to the driving range, where Chris watched Greg hit balls in preparation for the Masters. They also poked fun at me when I mistreated the turf with my wedge.
Later, we headed to Chris’ tennis center in Boca Raton, and that was eye opening. First, Chris can still pound the ball from baseline to baseline, and as I watched, I was quickly reminded that she won 18--count ‘em—18 grand slam titles. Second, Greg can really play, and he has only been at it for three years. Not shockingly, they’re very, very competitive.
Don’t miss the conclusion to the story. It ends with one of the year’s better lines: Greg delivering the ace to his beautiful new bride.
0Dawn Patrol
TOM ABBOTT Posted 07/07/2009, 11:00 PM EST
The Dawn Patrol: a group of friends who, for about 40 weeks a year, are the first to play Torrey Pines on Sunday mornings. As the sun peaks the first rays of light over the campus of San Diego State University, the Dawn Patrol are already strolling down the first fairway.
These 20 or so folk see themselves as keepers of the links. Torrey Pines holds a special place in each of their hearts. The Dawn Patrol is about friendship, a love of the game and a love for Torrey Pines.
In mid-April, I joined them to see what all the fuss was about.
For interview locations, the seventh tee on the North Course at Torrey Pines really takes the cake. As you’ll see from the show, the view is spectacular; La Jolla village sits to the South and the Pacific coastline stretches away in the distance to the North. We had cloudless skies, temperatures in the mid-80s and a gentle ocean breeze as the sun set. It was pure bliss.
George has a family now, he can’t spend Saturday nights sleeping in his car like he used to do. So, in order to pay his dues he comes down to the parking lot and cooks a feast for his fellow Dawn Patrollers. He does this about four or five times a year, and with GOLF CHANNEL in town, he thought it was fitting to make this Saturday night one of those feasts. Shrimp, steak, salad and vegetables all cooked to perfection and washed down with a nice glass of red. We dined under a large Torrey Pine and watched the sun set over the pacific.
I have to admit, I did not sleep in the parking lot. Instead, I enjoyed the convenience of the on-site hotel. However, my producer, Matt Howley, did in fact sleep in our SUV rental car. As you’ll see from the show, the Dawn Patrol go all-out with their sleeping arrangements. Matt, on the other hand, had a spare hotel room blanket and pillow. He should be congratulated for his dedication.
I may not have gone through the true Dawn Patrol ritual, but I did make the first tee before sunrise. Much to my disappointment, my golf game did not, but it didn’t really matter, the views across the Pacific at dawn were amazing, and the company was entertaining. Dawn Patroller Billy really does have some talent, and breaking par on the South Course was certainly within his grasp.
Our cameraman, Jan, from Yugoslavia was a real character. He’d survived the conflict in Serbia and was now living in Los Angeles, working as a freelance cameraman, a special effects guru on Spiderman movies and passing the other time driving a truck. As he stood on the front edge of the 18th green, Matt told him to be careful of flying golf balls. “I have forty peese of shrapnel in body, you cink I worry about gulf boll,” he barked back in a thick eastern European brogue.
Not being a fan of red-eye flights, I elected to stay Sunday evening and visit friends in San Diego. We stopped by a free concert with Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini on the terrace of the Del Mar Plaza. He was in fine form with a great band, the place was packed with all types young and old, the music was fun, the ocean glistened in the dusky spring sunshine and cocktails flowed. It was a great end to a lovely weekend.
0Prison View Golf Course
SCOTT WALKER Posted 06/30/2009, 11:00 PM EST
The movie Dead Man Walking was filmed at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. When our crew arrived at the prison, we found – in this case – that truth was much more interesting that fiction.
The first thing you see driving onto the prison grounds is the death row complex. Only the most hardened criminals in the state of Louisiana arrive at the massive Angola prison (it is nearly the size of Manhattan). In the past, it was the most violent prison in the country. Inmates would sleep with phone books on their chests to stay alive over night. But through the efforts of Warden Burl Cain, Angola now has become a better place to be.
Hey, it’s still prison, but inmates who want to better themselves now have outlets. During our visit, we toured the cell blocks and walked among the inmates without any body guards. As the warden references in the show, most inmates will only leave his care when they die. But even for those inmates, the sprawling grounds of Angola can offer a bit of hope.
That is where the Prison View Golf Course comes in. The trustees (inmates who have established a pattern of good behavior) who are chosen can work on the golf course, learning agriculture and working in the great outdoors. It is a far cry from life in a cell block. And the guards can enjoy the game they love without traveling more than an hour to the nearest golf course.
The public can play the course, as well. But, you can't call today and play tomorrow. Allow 48 hours for your criminal background check to come back clean. No felons allowed! As one inmate told us, the prisoners want to see more outside play. It makes them feel like they have a true purpose, to bring some joy to local golfers. This sentiment comes from people who have brought great pain to their victims.
Who says golf can’t change lives?
