As I find it very interested to learn each of your backgrounds, I'll share mine.
Originally from Springfield, OH, I began playing/caddying around the age of 8 with/for my father who was a good player. He got down to a 2 at one point winning a few of his club tourneys even playing in one US Open Qualifier. Early on I was exposed to a great Ross course - Springfield CC where Erik Compton qualified for the 2010 US Open - and began to appreciate architecture at an early age. My father took me to The Memorial every year and I was lucky enough to caddy at Muirfield Village for a buddy of mine in a junior event. Heck, I even dated Pete Dye's goddaughter at one point with the Dyes being from Urbana just 10 minutes north! Later I venture up for the PGA at Inverness and have played only Scioto of all the great Ohio courses. I've snuck out to walk The Golf Club & Camargo but not been lucky enough to play them like my father.
A decent player at a young age, I didn't really do anything with the game until after college when I stumbled upon an off-course golf shop job in Burlington, VT of all places where I took on the role of Head Teaching Professional, eventually working with around 200 students over the course of my 5 years there. On my off days, I ventured around New England to play Ekwanok, Rutland, Burlington CC, Balsams, Kebo Valley, etc. piling up the miles on my Subaru Outback. When Nicklaus built his first New England course, Vermont National, I began doing some teaching for the PGA Pros there before eventually I deciding to take my PGA PAT. I was fortunate enough to pass on my first attempt - still my greatest "competitive performance" earning medalist honors with a 74-76. However, given what the PGA requires of it's members financially, I decided I couldn't pursue that career path and instead, with an engineering degree, I chose my current career as a high school math teacher and soccer coach (my college sport). This gave me the opportunity to work in the golf industry over the summer months as a sort of second job and also to improve my own game.
One of those summers I worked as an assistant at Carmel Valley Ranch (a real fav of GCAer's!) allowing me to experience Cypress Point and Pasatiempo! Later, when I was fortunate enough to teach in London for a year, I was treated to comps at most of the great Heathland courses (Woking, West Hill, Swinley, Addington, Sunningdale Old, Wentworth E&W, etc.) and, on trips to SE England, Ireland, and Amsterdam played Rye, Deal, RSG; Lahinch, Ballybunion, RCD, Portmarnock; and Kennemer. I also decided to enter Open Qualifying as I had worked my handicap down to around 2 while maintaining my professional status. I chose Alwoodley in hopes of being inspired and played a solid first nine making the turn in 39 with two double bogeys. Making a 10 on #10, I was spiritually broken and stumbled home in 50 for an unremarkable 89. That whole round makes for a great story in itself but this post is already way too long! I would do it again in a heartbeat!
After moving back to the states when my dad was stricken with cancer, I took a teaching job in MD and met my wife in DC. The next summer I secured a job on Warren Schutte's bag for a short stint on the Nationwide Tour before I managed to pull off one of the greatest feats in marriage history...by talking my wife into taking a full year off from the "real world" by honeymooning across Canada - in golf terms...from Cape Breton to Banff - in order to settle in Bandon for the summer and fall. Once there, she worked in the Lodge and I caddied from July through November and we had an absolute blast - obviously! While I played a good amount of golf at the resort, we also explored the Redwoods just south in CA, Crater Lake the same distance west, and of course the sand dunes north and much of the local coastline.
At the end of this grand adventure, after deciding we wanted to start a family, we moved to our current home of Atlanta where I am a teacher/coach at The Lovett School. I have been lucky enough to attend The Masters, The Tour Championship, and this year's PGA. While I have played Cuscowilla (fabulous) & The Frog (above average), I do find quality accessible golf lacking down in this area. I have had invites to East Lake and Peachtree but have not been able to make those happen. My local wish list now includes Lookout Mountain, EL & Peachtree, and Rivermont. Having become a father 6 months ago, time to play is harder and harder to come by!
I had planned on making the trip up to see the Crump Cup with some of you a few weeks back but those plans fell through. I hope to meet and play with many of you at another GCA outing soon or those of you in Atlanta sooner. All the best.
Cheers,
Will