Monday Morning Sermon
The true gift of a team is not just in what it accomplishes but in the bonds that form through shared struggle and shared joy. Long rounds of golf, late nights of work, the quiet in-between moments, these are where camaraderie takes root. And in time, those bonds become the anchor that steadies you when life gets heavy.
This week, remember that greatness rarely comes from isolation. It comes from building something with others, investing in them, and allowing them to invest in you. Teamwork is about becoming more than you could ever be alone.
Lessons From College Golf
Welcome back, and happy Labor Day. Below is the third installment of a 4 part series discussing some lessons the game has taught me. New readers can catch up by reading the first two installments here: What the Game Taught Me and What Junior Golf Taught Me.
College golf was a transformational phase of my life. I worked hard enough and played well enough my junior summer/senior fall for a small D1 coach to take a chance on me.
Upon my enrollment, I certainly didn’t expect to play right away as a freshman. However, our coach took a meritocratic approach to qualifying which (after some solid qualifying rounds) allowed me to play in the first few events of the year.
While making the team was fun and rewarding, traveling was where the real team bonding occurred. The long drives in the van, fast food, and long days on the golf course forged memories and stories that will last a long time. Here are a few things I learned from those formative years:
How to Play on a Team (Again) - Although I played team sports growing up, learning how to be a part of a team at a collegiate level helped massively when it came to applying for jobs post college. Communication, dedication to improving your craft, and work ethic all shine through in conversations post-grad. You’d be surprised how many high level execs at big companies are ex-athletes.
Balancing Work with Play - Balancing practice, traveling for tournaments (3 days) with a full slate of classes each semester was no small task. I opted to sacrifice sleep, so I took my classes in the morning, practiced in the afternoon, and did my work at night. I created a schedule and stuck to it. Habits will formed, results followed.
Shared Experiences Matter - As I noted above, traveling with the team was my favorite part of college golf. I earned the privilege through hard work and good play, and reaped the benefits early. While the team as a whole was close, the road trips to tournaments across the country created memories that superseded traditional practice and social events. The long drives, 36 hole, 12 hour days, and eventful evenings proved to be the most memorable. The “travel team” would always return with 1-2 stories and a new nickname for one of the guys.
Study Those Better Than You - My short game improved exponentially within the first few weeks of arriving on campus and practicing with the team. The best player on the team was a sophomore who loved to gamble. This manifested itself in hour-long putting contests for meal swipes, beers, ProVs, and whatever else we could get our hands on. I always preferred hitting balls over chipping and putting, but these mini-competitions sparked an immense improvement in my putting, especially after losing a lot of meal swipes at the start. The lesson here is it’s not gambling if you know you’re going to win.
The Member’s Table - Pine Lakes Chowder
Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach is known as the Granddaddy of golf in the area. The course opened in 1927, and its white-pillared clubhouse still carries the weight of that history. In 1981 a new custom took root. At the turn, players were greeted with a steaming bowl of Manhattan clam chowder.
The chowder was served just beyond the first hole, and it quickly became part of the rhythm of a round at Pine Lakes. Golfers paused, warmed their hands, and shared a moment before heading back to the fairways. The stop gave shape to the day and a sense of belonging to the club.
When the chowder disappeared from the menu in 2010, members spoke up. It returned soon after, restored to its rightful place. It is a reminder that golf’s richest traditions are often the simplest.
Rule Explanation
As I played my penultimate round of golf for the summer on Saturday morning, I hit a tee shot into a red-staked lateral hazard. I found the ball, but wondered if under the Rules of Golf I was required to continue playing that ball. The verdict is as follows:
If you find your ball in a red penalty area, you have a choice:
Play it as it lies (if you can and want to).
Take penalty relief for one stroke.
Relief options under Rule 17.1d:
Stroke-and-distance: Replay from where the previous shot was made.
Back-on-the-line: Drop a ball behind the penalty area, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area directly between you and the hole.
Lateral relief (red areas only): Drop within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, no nearer the hole.
Using a New Ball
When you take penalty relief, you may use the original ball or a new ball (Rule 14.2a). You don’t have to play the ball you found in the hazard.
Underrated Golf Hole
Merion is a special place with many of the games greatest holes. With the shine that holes 5, 11, 16 and 18 receive, the most overlooked and underrated hole on the golf course is number 8. Tucked away on the far edge of the property, it’s my favorite short 4 in the country.
The Etiquette Ledger - Rules from the Past
Club or Organization: USGA / R&A
Era: Circa 1914–1920s
Rule: Steel-shafted clubs were strictly prohibited in play, banned as an unacceptable departure from established golf-club design.
Takeaway: In the early 20th century, golf's custodians resisted technical progress in favor of preserving the game's craftsmanship and classic feel. This rule change feels quite similar to the anchor ban from a decade ago.
Talk soon,
BTG
Resources
What else would you like to see discussed?
Email me [email protected]
How did you like today's post?
Invite-Only, On Purpose
My intention with BowtiedGolf is to grow it as the elite clubs do — through referrals.
If you’ve improved your look, laughed a little bit, or learned something because of this newsletter… why keep it to yourself?