A Good Walk

September brought a special surprise today; cool weather—perfect conditions for eighteen holes of golf. Today, I had the chance to play Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club, one of the true gems of golf in America. Over the years, I’ve been able to play some amazing courses, but I truly believe that East Lake is golf as it was intended.

East Lake Golf Club was built in 1906 as the Atlanta Athletic Club. The director of the club’s athletic program was none other than John Heisman. It was built in a time and place where there were no automobiles, let alone golf carts. The sense of history just oozes out of the grounds and striking Tudor clubhouse. Inside the clubhouse is an impressive collection of memorabilia from Bobby Jones, one of American golf’s pioneers and a club member. In 1966, the course was sold and East Lake Golf Club was formed. Over the years, the course has hosted many championships, including a Ryder Cup.

There are still no golf carts at East Lake. So four of us, with a pair of double-bagging caddies, struck out in the cool, overcast morning. The tight zoysia fairways and extremely fast greens were a challenge, but it was the thick rough that did me in. Regardless of my score—and honestly, I did okay on a course hosting a PGA tournament, the Tour Championship, in three weeks—it was a magical day.

Walking those plush, hilly grounds inside the ropes and among the grandstands and hospitality tents being erected, it was great to soak in a little of the mystique of being a pro golfer, even without the game. But most of all, it was fabulous to walk these historic fairways and to work with a great caddy (thanks Ransom)—to play the game as it was intended.