10 things I’ve learned teeing it up with the pros in charity pro-ams
The Pebble Beach Pro-Am is one of the game's most glamorous.
Getty Images
I have been very fortunate to play in some amazing charity pro-ams over the years. They have provided me with some of my most fun golf experiences, and believe it or not, events like these come at a variety of different price points. There are lots of pro-am style events a the local level. Often, your local university may have a charity event where you’ll be able to play with a member of the local golf team. Do a little searching, and you can find some affordable ones for a good cause.
Better yet, not only are these events fun, but they can be great personal learning experiences as you get a first-hand look at professional golfers.
Here’s a few things I’ve learned about these events along the way:
1. There’s nothing better than playing for the right reasons
Playing golf is fun by itself, but there’s nothing better than playing golf for a good cause.
One of the best things I have ever seen in the game of golf was at the “Els for Autism” event at Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens. At the end of the day, they had a hole-in-one challenge for tour professionals where, if they made an ace on the 19th hole, $1 million would be donated directly to charity.
The hole was a tiny green, but Mr. Rickie Fowler stepped onto the tee and incredibly, knocked his ball into the hole — sending more money than had already been raised for charity. The crowd went wild and so did the players. It was a wonderful moment of golf and a great reminder that even the best players love playing for the right reasons.
2. Embrace friendly formats
While it can certainly be intimidating playing in front of other people, when you add the best players in the world, it can be even more daunting. But charity pro-ams almost always stick to a friendly format, and pros embrace these formats. It’s a nice reminder not to take things too seriously, no matter how good you are, especially when it’s for a good cause.
3. Pros know how to stay relaxed
Along those lines: Tour pros earn their living based on the outcome of every single shot. But in charity pro-ams, they use it as an opportunity to blow off some steam. It leads to a great environment where everybody has a lot of fun.
4. Pros are really nice
It’s fun seeing pros hit great shots on television, but nothing compares to seeing those shots up close, in person. The sound; the launch; the technique. It’s inspiring.
One of the most gracious professionals I ever had the privilege of playing with was Bernard Langer. Before every shot, he gave each player their yardage, because he was genuinely interested and cared about each shot. At one point , he even took a video of my swing and gave me a tip! He was a true gentleman.
5. Even the best hit bad shots
Televised golf can be a bit misleading sometimes, because you’re only shown the best shots from those playing well. It can give the viewer a false sense of what real golf looks like.
A valuable lesson I’ve learned I’ve learned playing in events like these is that pros miss shots, too. Nobody’s perfect; what matters is how bad your misses are, and how you recover.
6. Speed is even more amazing in person
Both male and female tour players absolutely kill the golf ball. It’s inspiring and at times, it can almost make you laugh how comfortably and efficiently they generate these amazing speeds, even when they aren’t that big.
Whenever I walk away from playing with a pro, I’m reminded of the importance of underload/overload speed training. Employing a tool like SuperSpeed Golf is a great way to increase your own speed.
7. Don’t sleep on the short game
They may all have speed, but they also have an amazing ability to hit solid short game shots with incredible distance and directional control. Watching the very best can be a great motivator for your own game.
One way of doing this is learning to calibrating different parts of your short game. You can do this by monitoring the length of your backswing, with each of your wedges and your putter, and taking note of how far the ball goes with each swing.
8. The gifts are great
No matter what level of charity event you play in, the gift bags at these events are usually great. You’re playing for a good cause, of course, but a fun and thoughtful gift never hurts.
9. Moments to remember
We’re all bonded in this game by our love for golf, and it’s important to remember that your participation in an event like this can give something back, and improve the life for someone in a real way. It’s very rewarding, and puts things into perspective.
10. You learn to rise above your nerves
It’s certainly fun to play good golf during a casual round, but putting the pressure on yourself and playing well is the best feeling in the world. Taking a risk and putting yourself out of your comfort zone, knowing there are teammates relying on you, is a great way of getting your competitive juices flowing for a good cause.
Latest In Instruction
