LOUDMOUTH GOLF CHINA
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In October 2013, I was in Beijing on a project for Starbury, and I heard that the BMW Masters were going to be played at Lake Malaren Golf Course in Shanghai. By then, I had staffed the Starbury team so well that it wasn't hard to get away for a quick weekend. I made a couple of calls, arranged some passes to the tournament, and jumped the quick flight from PEK-PVG.
A lot of big PGA names in this event, Ian Poulter, Miguel Jiminez, Louis Oostheizun to name a few. All the big boys we watch on the Golf Channel that make it look easy. This was actually my first time to go watch a pro golf event.
A shuttle took me from the hotel to the course, and I pulled out my camera as soon as we got there. What a magnificent place! Lake Malaren was all decked out, crisp and colorful. The course is on the water, so it was windy, but I had planned for that already.
I went over to the range, checked out a few guys, and then caught some guys on the first tee. To see Miguel Jiminez do that stretching routine where he tries to turn his body into a piece of elastic is pretty cool. I don't know if you have ever seen him do it, but it's one of a kind for sure. The circular knee rotation thing that he does to get those knees loose and ready.. the whole sha-bang!
I walked ahead to get in position where I could see some tee shots land in one fairway, and I could see another group teeing off in another direction. A good vantage point to see how guys could predict the landing zone so precisely, and listen in on a little caddie talk. He who walks with the wise grows wise, so the golf tournaments are not just a source of entertainment for me, but a great opportunity to learn.
In one group, an errant tee shot was heading to the right, coming straight into the area where I was standing. "CAN QIU!!!" the Marshall screamed. That means "Watch for the Ball" or "FORE" in golf language. The few of us quickly moved to the side and the ball dropped in a few feet away from us.
As the group approaches us, I see that its Louis Oosthuizen, South African golfer and winner of 2010 PGA Open Championship. "Sorry about that guys, I didn't get to close, did I?" he said jokingly with a wry smile. Everyone knows at a golfing event that you have to be heads up, and you can't get mad if a guy sprays one and hits you in the top of your head. In this case, the guy will probably apologize, give you a signed ball/glove, and then they have to go on and hit their next shot... and hope they don't hit anyone else.
I got a good photo of Louis, and then I saw John Daly over in the other fairway. I always liked Daly. He had on some of those crazy printed pants that he is known for, so we wasn't hard to miss. Daly is a world talented player, that, in his own words, "just likes to grip it and rip it." I love watching that style of play. As a former basketball player, I'm so used to read and react situations. Quick decisions, getting a shot off quick at just the right angle, things like that. The longest shot in my hoop game was a free throw, or in golf putting. So watching Daly helped me embrace that style even more.
A lot of big PGA names in this event, Ian Poulter, Miguel Jiminez, Louis Oostheizun to name a few. All the big boys we watch on the Golf Channel that make it look easy. This was actually my first time to go watch a pro golf event.
A shuttle took me from the hotel to the course, and I pulled out my camera as soon as we got there. What a magnificent place! Lake Malaren was all decked out, crisp and colorful. The course is on the water, so it was windy, but I had planned for that already.
I went over to the range, checked out a few guys, and then caught some guys on the first tee. To see Miguel Jiminez do that stretching routine where he tries to turn his body into a piece of elastic is pretty cool. I don't know if you have ever seen him do it, but it's one of a kind for sure. The circular knee rotation thing that he does to get those knees loose and ready.. the whole sha-bang!
I walked ahead to get in position where I could see some tee shots land in one fairway, and I could see another group teeing off in another direction. A good vantage point to see how guys could predict the landing zone so precisely, and listen in on a little caddie talk. He who walks with the wise grows wise, so the golf tournaments are not just a source of entertainment for me, but a great opportunity to learn.
In one group, an errant tee shot was heading to the right, coming straight into the area where I was standing. "CAN QIU!!!" the Marshall screamed. That means "Watch for the Ball" or "FORE" in golf language. The few of us quickly moved to the side and the ball dropped in a few feet away from us.
As the group approaches us, I see that its Louis Oosthuizen, South African golfer and winner of 2010 PGA Open Championship. "Sorry about that guys, I didn't get to close, did I?" he said jokingly with a wry smile. Everyone knows at a golfing event that you have to be heads up, and you can't get mad if a guy sprays one and hits you in the top of your head. In this case, the guy will probably apologize, give you a signed ball/glove, and then they have to go on and hit their next shot... and hope they don't hit anyone else.
I got a good photo of Louis, and then I saw John Daly over in the other fairway. I always liked Daly. He had on some of those crazy printed pants that he is known for, so we wasn't hard to miss. Daly is a world talented player, that, in his own words, "just likes to grip it and rip it." I love watching that style of play. As a former basketball player, I'm so used to read and react situations. Quick decisions, getting a shot off quick at just the right angle, things like that. The longest shot in my hoop game was a free throw, or in golf putting. So watching Daly helped me embrace that style even more.
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After the second hole of watching Daly, I saw a lady around the green with the same pants that he was playing in. I walked over to introduce myself to her, and told her I noticed she was rocking the same pants as Daly.
"Oh, that's because he's my boyfriend," she said. "It good luck for him when we match."
I laughed at her endearing response, and then two other guys walked up wearing those colorful pants with the unique prints. "What's up with the pants guys?" I asked. They were all so interesting to me.
The two guys were Barry and David, and David was the CEO of Loudmouth Golf pants. His company produces golf gear in those unique prints, and has some PGA and LPGA players as brand ambassadors out on tour. They were all out here supporting John Daly, following him hole to hole.
I joined in with those guys for a few holes, traded cards, wechats, and phone numbers, and shared some cool stories about being in China. Barry and David are avid golfers well connected in the sport, so they shared some cool places I could play when I travel around China. We agreed to hook up later at Hooters Shanghai and unwind a bit.
The cool thing about this story is that Barry, David and I became good friends after this. David had his Loudmouth gear on the shelves at Lake Malaren, so he took me back to that course one day after the tournament so we could play a round there. I shot an 86 and had a great time. Anytime I was in Shanghai for more than a day or two, I always made it a point to reach out to the guys and connect.
I learned that David Suzuki of Loudmouth golf passed away in July 2020. I hadn't spoken he and Barry in a while, so i reached out to Barry one day and he shared that news with me. Left me shocked and sad. It makes all of those memories of that day at the tournament all the more intense and valuable. We are going through life on a one way ticket, with no returns or do-overs. I'm so glad I got a chance to meet a good person and bond over the game of golf. Rest in Peace my man David Suzuki.
"Oh, that's because he's my boyfriend," she said. "It good luck for him when we match."
I laughed at her endearing response, and then two other guys walked up wearing those colorful pants with the unique prints. "What's up with the pants guys?" I asked. They were all so interesting to me.
The two guys were Barry and David, and David was the CEO of Loudmouth Golf pants. His company produces golf gear in those unique prints, and has some PGA and LPGA players as brand ambassadors out on tour. They were all out here supporting John Daly, following him hole to hole.
I joined in with those guys for a few holes, traded cards, wechats, and phone numbers, and shared some cool stories about being in China. Barry and David are avid golfers well connected in the sport, so they shared some cool places I could play when I travel around China. We agreed to hook up later at Hooters Shanghai and unwind a bit.
The cool thing about this story is that Barry, David and I became good friends after this. David had his Loudmouth gear on the shelves at Lake Malaren, so he took me back to that course one day after the tournament so we could play a round there. I shot an 86 and had a great time. Anytime I was in Shanghai for more than a day or two, I always made it a point to reach out to the guys and connect.
I learned that David Suzuki of Loudmouth golf passed away in July 2020. I hadn't spoken he and Barry in a while, so i reached out to Barry one day and he shared that news with me. Left me shocked and sad. It makes all of those memories of that day at the tournament all the more intense and valuable. We are going through life on a one way ticket, with no returns or do-overs. I'm so glad I got a chance to meet a good person and bond over the game of golf. Rest in Peace my man David Suzuki.
