When I started this blog, I said I would generally write about issues related to higher education, but once in a while I would write about subjects or hobbies that personally interest me like golf.
I’ve been playing golf for almost 30 years, but haven’t found the time to hit the links for more than a couple of rounds in the past year or so. I love the game, though. Through business and some great friends, I have had the good fortune to be able to play many great courses around the United States and overseas: Pine Valley, Oakmont, Baltusrol, Merion, Oak Hill, Pinehurst #2, Congressional, Baltimore Country Club, Doral, Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Old Head, Tralee, Royal County Down, and Portmarnock to name a few. I have yet to make a hole-in-one, but have made five eagles on par-4’s which is a supposedly harder feat, but there’s no celebratory tradition similar to a hole-in-one.
My wife and I enjoy watching some of the major tournaments in person. We have attended the U.S. Open (men and women’s), the PGA, the Masters, and the Ryder Cup. We had a busy schedule this year and have not been able to make any of the tournaments. However, this weekend, the Sr. PGA Tour Championship will be played in Baltimore at the Baltimore Country Club. In recent years, the PGA and PGA Tour have provided free admission for tournament events to active duty and retired soldiers, sailors, and airmen. The PGA recruits sponsors at each of the tournament locations to subsidize some of their charitable activities. We were asked if APUS would consider sponsoring the hospitality tent for active duty and retired military personnel and we agreed given Baltimore’s proximity to our locations in Charles Town, West Virginia and Manassas, Virginia as well as many military personnel and many of our students stationed within a 75 mile radius of Baltimore.
We’ll have people in the tent and on the course throughout the weekend. Our location is near the 17th tee, which is ideal for the closing holes of a close tournament. If you’re in Baltimore and the weather looks nice, stop by and say hello. If I happen to be in the tent and not on the course, I’ll be glad to talk about golf or higher education.
