[John Kavanaugh]

I called my buddie up yesterday because it was the 21st anniversary of our day trip to see a Tuesday practice round. A lifetime has passed since then. A few notes:


Tiger won his first major.


Justin Leonard and Davis Love III were playing persimmon drivers.


I had never played a top 100 course.


At 37 I felt old.


I took pictures with a disposable camera purchased at God knows where.


For me, the game hasn't changed with the exception that I walk more often now.


Without question, life and golf has never been so good.

[Tom_Doak]

John:  in 1997 I was struggling along with one project at a time (kinda like today), but still waiting for my big break (which wasn't a cable show, and I'm not sure if Golf Channel existed yet).


In '99 I met my wife, who'd cared zero about golf to that point.  In 2002 or '03 she asked me who Greg Norman was, and it made me stop and think how fast he fell off the scene after the '96 Masters, and Tiger's emergence.  After a while it struck me that's just when the whole world switched to the big drivers, and Norman's great advantage over his peers (his driving ability) was suddenly muted.  I think that's been the biggest change in golf in my lifetime, and it all happened right around that '97 Masters.

[Peter Pallotta]

Happy for you, JK.

In 1997, I was probably wishing I was living in 1957 instead; now, in 2018, I am relatively happy living as if it were 1997. Good times they were: a true great wins his first Masters, but you could still compete with persimmon, and golf shoes didn't look like space boots or drivers like toaster ovens. And, if it *were* 1997, I could probably play the course from the championship tees (which tees had hardly been lengthened at all in the previous 40 years).  With your game, JK, I'm almost certain you could've played it from the exact same place the pros did; now, even if you were 21 years younger, not a chance. So there's that (you know, just to leaven your 'life has never been better' with a titch of bitter truth...not so as to bring you down, but so as to deepen the gratitude by keeping it real). 

[John Kavanaugh]

Peter,


I know it's just me but I am 40 yds shorter off of the tee than I was in 97. I don't believe the "up" tee was in favor back then. How can life not be better when resorts and private clubs give me no choice but to play where I should? Now, because of the forward tees, I have fun in spite of myself.

[JESII]

Hmm...interesting question.


I was excited and anxious every single time I teed it up...which was a couple hundred rounds a year on the full variety of courses the world has to offer, from Doak 1's in the winter to the best in the world. Played in the British Amateur at RSG and RCP, which my father also qualified for. I shot 166 but we were mentioned at the Players cocktail party as the first father-son duo to play in the same Amateur. Not sure it's true, but the Captain said it so we've gone with it. Watched a 16 year old Justin Rose play in a 30 mph wind, which was a sight to behold.


I am still excited and anxious every single time I play now...although those rounds are down about 90%. Got to four under through eight on Saturday and was as nervous as ever. Made four bogies to get comfortable again then birdied two of the last three to win all ways...


Golf is every bit as good now as it was then, for me.

[JESII]

Tom,


Straight driving has lost it's advantage because the Tour waters the crap out of their greens, not because the guys all hit it straight.


That's one thing I would say is worse...TV golf is too much TV...

[John Kavanaugh]

I watch and discuss golf on my phone now 95% of the time. I'm currently sitting outside on a bench in our nations capitol smoking a vintage Cuban cigar doing that very thing. In that, I'd say as an observer and fan of the game life has gotten better.


Watching the internet feed of Amen Corner every April is one hell of a treat. That was outside my imagination in 97.

[JMEvensky]

I was excited and anxious every single time I teed it up...which was a couple hundred rounds a year on the full variety of courses the world has to offer, from Doak 1's in the winter to the best in the world. Played in the British Amateur at RSG and RCP, which my father also qualified for. I shot 166 but we were mentioned at the Players cocktail party as the first father-son duo to play in the same Amateur. Not sure it's true, but the Captain said it so we've gone with it. Watched a 16 year old Justin Rose play in a 30 mph wind, which was a sight to behold.

Pretty sure you just won this thread.

[Brad Tufts]

Golf-wise, in 1997 I was 16, and about an 8 handicap, hoping to break 40 for 9 in my high school matches, and I won most of them.  I had played Essex County Club as my first T100, and has started to tear out cool golf hole pictures from the golf magazines.

In the last 20 years, I played four years of college golf, going from an 8 to a plus handicapper, qualified for 8 Mass Amateurs, reaching the quarters once.  Won 5 club championships, which isn't that great considering I've played in 19 of them  .  I wrote a college history thesis on GCA, using my personal library as 98% of my source material.  Played over 50 of the T100, been to Scotland and Ireland (x2 each), Bandon, Cabo, and all over the US to play and study golf and architecture!

...not to mention marriage to a semi-understanding woman, an insurance career, two munchkins, and buying a house!     

Basically, in 20 years it's gone from a sport I play for my HS (baseball was more important then) to my main hobby, time and money sink, travel guide, and main social community!

[Peter Pallotta]

Jeff - I thought he'd won it with the 'made 4 bogeys to get comfortable again' line....

Which reminds me: I don't know why human beings even try to communicate, so fraught with misunderstanding it is, eg Jim is 'comfortable' with 4 bogeys and I'm 'comfortable' with 4 bogeys...but what we actually mean by comfortable are miles apart...

I just want to dress like Mike H did when he won that trophy in the mid 70s

[JMEvensky]

Peter, you each have the same definition of "comfortable", it's just that you're coming at it from different directions.

[Cal Seifert]

I am sure I'm the youngest poster here.  I was born in February of that year.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I called my buddie up yesterday because it was the 21st anniversary of our day trip to see a Tuesday practice round. A lifetime has passed since then. A few notes:


Tiger won his first major.


Justin Leonard and Davis Love III were playing persimmon drivers.
I was playing a persimmon driver and Haig Ultra blades.


I had never played a top 100 course.
I was lucky. I had played a bunch. I met a guy who knew everyone and is one of the most gracious guys I know.

At 37 I felt old.
At 50  felt young.

I took pictures with a disposable camera purchased at God knows where.
I took pictures with a Nikon and 35mm film.

For me, the game hasn't changed with the exception that I walk more often now.
I am much shorter off the tee but putt better.

Without question, life and golf has never been so good.
I am retired and enjoy life much more. I can be just Tom and not Pastor Tom.

[Rick Lane]

In '97, I was 40, and had just joined my first club,still had Persimmon, but the Big Bertha came out about then?.    '97 opened a whole new world to me.   I had not had a golf lesson since I was maybe 10 years old, didn't even play golf from age 16 to about 28....then took it up again when a neighbor buddy was an addict, playing Lido Beach and Bethpage.  But we were never better than shooting in the 90's, happy to break 90.   In 97, it all changed.   Lessons from a Pro, and playing with low hcp guys and learning so much since 97.   Have had hcp down to 4, but hovers 6-7 or so mostly.  Made Sr Champ finals and semis a few times.  Won a few other events at the club.  Wish I was 16 and could have a redo of those missed years! 
But mostly, have become an architecture junkie, which is why I am here.  Live in the NE of the USA and luckily have lots of access through friends to some of the best courses in the area.    Very grateful. 

[Kalen Braley]

Barney,


Excellent thread!!


I was still a relative youngster in 97',  married with two small kids and trying to finish off my college degree.  Golf for me consisted of mostly 9 hole rounds at the Tony Lema course in San Leandro, while full 18 hole rounds were still a treat.  Wasn't really a time issue, more of a broke-as-hell one!

[V. Kmetz]

I start by saying I had been golf mad since I was allowed to crap by myself and leafed through my father's golf magazines...(I thought the names and iconography were so attractive...Don January, Gene Littler, Miller Barber, Arnold Palmer;s umbrella logo, the Golden Bear, Merry Mex, Chi Chi Rodriguez, JC Snead, Ben Hogan clubs)


I turned 30 in 1997 and in April, after working around the business since I was 13, I had secured my first real "job"...as Caddiemaster at Rockrimmon CC in Stamford...


Environmentally, I remember how I felt the 87-97 period was a fallow one...Norman was always thwarted, John Daly held some promise (I still think the 95 Open win was as amazing as I ever saw) but I couldn't find any traction with the Strange, Simpson, Janzen , Montgomerie, Faldo, Floyd, Lehman, Nick Price days...there didn't seem anything so dynamic  going on, so I was really primed for Woods after his amateur run and entry into Milwaukee right after... I was much more involved with the games of my players on the golf course...7, 12, and 16 hcps as they may be... I caddied for Siwanoy's fampus Sno-birds many times in over half a foot of snow.


It was also by this time that I started to see how the predatory puffery of swing coaches and video and new equipment held new fascination for people (remember VAS irons, Dave Pelz featherlites and the first Pittsburgh persimmon Burners?)...Ledbetter and Butch Harmon were now gurus...I had never ever heard of Scotty Cameron, but the first equipment controversies had already bubbled...the Ping Eye 2/box groove stuff.


I will say, that caddying had gotten a lot easier from 1987...Bushwhacker replaced Burton and then stands starting appearing and rain gear was finally something you didn't mind wearing even when it wasn't raining...but now local clubs were requiring bibs and some jumpers...


As for since, I'm sorta of the wrong person to ask...in 2003 my fiancee passed away under tragic circumstances, and slowly I found serving the golf of other people en masse (as a caddiemaster does) was unsatisfying...I asked what are they going to put on my tombstone: "He got member's out for play."? So I resigned in 2007, at age 40 I went back to school to finish a few undergrad credits and pursue an mfa with an inchoate idea to write about the game and teach others about writing...


Concurrently I was compelled to return to caddying and am able to enjoy the game in the guise of the player in front of me...the mass of it? the commerce of it? the industry of it? It's been good for pockets, but a destruction really. About 5 years ago, I guided a 24 HCP to a C flight President's Cup win against a 27 HCP...he won on #17 and played 18 to realize his lowest round, an 83 and was as happy as the day his daughter was married. That's about all it means to me and where its gone...the more commercial stuff that infuses the game, the more I retreat into these experiences, otherwise I'd barely touch the game again...


But I like talking about it here...for the most part.


cheers  vk

[Jason Topp]

In '97 I was 30 years old and recovering from ACL surgery on my left knee.  My wife was 8 months pregnant and not only on bedrest, but required to lay on one side.  Our son was 18 months old running around the house and we had no chance of catching him.  He usually wound up at the neighbor's house.


I probably played 3x per month at a local municipal course.  Our foursome would start calling for a tee time at 7 am on Wednesday and it frequently took 45 minutes for one of us to get through.   Purportedly, the course did 100,000 rounds per year in Minnesota on three nines and an executive nine. 

[Bob Montle]

I called my buddie up yesterday because it was the 21st anniversary of our day trip to see a Tuesday practice round. A lifetime has passed since then. A few notes:

Justin Leonard and Davis Love III were playing persimmon drivers.
   I was driving with a persimmon 3-wood and using used Hale Irwin irons.   
   Now I drive with an oversized Callaway and hit the ball the same distance I did then.
   But now with more muffs and mis-hits.

I had never played a top 100 course.
   Still only one in the states but three trips to Scotland have been incredible.

At 37 I felt old.
   I was 48 and felt like 32.  Now I’m 69 and feel 59

I took pictures with a disposable camera purchased at God knows where.
   Have cameras just gathering dust.  All pictures taken with I-phone now.

For me, the game hasn't changed with the exception that I walk more often now.
   1997 was the year that I gave up golf because I couldn’t score like I used to,
   My score was all important.  If I bogeyed (or worse) on the first few holes then I was ready to quit the round.
   Started playing again in 2012 with a new attitude.  Each round is a journey and the destination (score) is less important.
   I’ve joined a local public course and love the tournaments, special events and just walking nine all alone after work.
And finally, I enjoy meeting strangers and becoming golf buddies.

Without question, life and golf has never been so good.
   Exactly!

[Ira Fishman]

I was 39 years old and had essentially given up golf because our first daughter was born in 1993 and our second in 1995.  Largely at my wife's urging, I started playing again just as I was getting close to 50.  I made a decision though whose wisdom for me has been profound--I would no longer keep score.  I just wanted to enjoy a game I loved and realized that my obsession with my score in my first phase of golf (Age 13-37) had interfered with that enjoyment, particularly as I was never all that good and certainly not as good as I thought I should be. 


So for the past 10 years, I have enjoyed a good walk upspoiled and discovered architecture.  (I also have avoided playing in mixed couples events for want of a handicap!).  I am extremely fortunate that my wife loves the game too.  We have been blessed to go on many wonderful vacations built around golf.


The 1997 Masters does hold a powerful familial memory.  Our younger daughter is Biracial.  I remember holding her in my arms watching Tiger's triumph and thinking that she was going to grow up in a different and better society.  And you know what?  Despite all the negatives we face and all the obstacles we still must overcome and all of the attitudes that may never change, I was right.


Ira

[Matthew Petersen]

I was 16. I had never played any golf course worth anything. I had burgeoning ideas about strategic golf, but based on the kind of golf courses I was playing they mostly boiled down to "not hitting driver off every tee might not be a bad idea." I walked virtually every round I played and had no need to take pictures of anywhere I played.


I was in Chicago (visiting) the weekend of that first Masters Tiger won. It was April, but the one of the coldest weekends I remember. Snow and wind absolutely howling off the lake. Augusta truly looked like paradise.

[Jason Thurman]

I was playing Hogan Jr clubs still, I think. I hit it way farther now.

[jeffwarne]

'97 was the year I first played Narin and Portnoo-playing in late October on a perfect day without a cloud in the sky.
Not a soul around-this was quite common then-and still is at some places.
Had a quick pint with the pro/bartender and was off to Donegal GC-a sharp contrast to the quaintness and quirk of Narin.
Also made a visit to Rosapenna, checking in at a local bar in Dowlings, playing what is now the Old Tom Morris course with the Coastguard 9.


On this trip I missed Dunfanaghy(a gem and a heck of a town), Portsalon( now my personal favorite in Ireland) St. Patrick's(NLE),Northwest,Otway,Greencastle, and Gweedore---relying on James Finnergan and not personally having yet discovered the internet.I'm pretty sure I knew of Cruit and Ballyliffin but chose not to fit them in-given I also played in Northern Ireland on the same trip.
The internet changed my golf travel world and I have since made multiple trips to Donegal to play the above.


Hitting a shot into the wind required a lot more skill then as low and spinless was best, a difficult feat with a balata ball. Those who could do it had great advantage-now equippment has made such skill virtually useless as the wind efects the lower spin tee shots far less-and often such shotmaking efforts are counterproductive and inferior to standard trajectory shots.

I had seen Tiger at Doral in '97, this was the period he was working on his short iron distance control. He was impressive. I followed him the front 9 at Augusta, watched him him snap it in the bushes on 2, snap it in 2 fairway on 8, and shoot 40 on the front 9 where I pronounced him overrated and went to watch someone else.....

[Thomas Dai]

Back in '97 I'd have been using either Maxfli/Titleist balata or maybe, if they were out then (can't quite remember if they were) the Titleist Professional or the original Maxfli Revolution ball. I was using Mizuno blades, a metal headed graphite shafted driver and fairway club, having been late in switching from persimmon.
There then followed a long 'trail for the holy grail, the equipment secret' that I guess many of us followed in the same period encompassing deep cavity backs, ProV1/equivalents and the gradually increasing in size (and cost) metal drivers and fairway clubs and, ...drum roll....., a new entry club....hybrids/rescues.
Now as age, strength and costly experience have shown that there isn't really an equipment holy grail out there, it's back to using an original Anser, and a half set of slight cavity forged irons, a couple of Vokeys and a soft but spinny ball with a big headed modern driver.
However, I have in the last couple of years discovered the joys of playing yee olde original hickories with a soft ball and from more forward tees and this may be the most fun of all.
A couple of great developments during the period since 1997 though.....excellent waterproofs and properly waterproof shoes.
atb


PS - great comment by Jeff about balata balls, the wind and skill. Bring there performance characteristics back....although in a more durable form.....oh yes, that was pretty much what the Titleist Professional and original Maxfli Revolution ball did. Big sigh!

[Matt Kardash]

I think a subtle change has been the good player's ability to put massive spin on pitches around the green. I see so many occasions now where a player is in a position where 15 years ago there was no chance to get the ball up and down. Now it's a pitch, 2 bounces and it stops next to the hole. Easy.

[John Kavanaugh]

I think a subtle change has been the good player's ability to put massive spin on pitches around the green. I see so many occasions now where a player is in a position where 15 years ago there was no chance to get the ball up and down. Now it's a pitch, 2 bounces and it stops next to the hole. Easy.

I'm afraid that is an unintended consequence of every course these guys play having gone to closely mown chipping areas. It's how a working man makes a living.

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