#GolfChat Questions – Happy Gilmore Swings

This weeks #GolfChat Bio is the man who came up with the idea for the #GolfChat Bio . . . Jeremy White, aka @connectgolf.  Be sure to check out his #GolfChat Bio this week and tell him what you really think of his tweets.

Golf Chatter Bio: @connectgolf

Real Name: Jeremy White
Location: Sydney, Australia

What Do You Order from the #GolfChat Bar?

It’s 10 AM in Sydney when #golfchat rolls around, so I have a coffee and look forward to 7:30 PM when the kids go to bed. At that time I will usually have a red wine. I am partial to vodka, lime and sodas and pretty much any cocktail with ginger beer (ginger ale I believe the Northern Hemispherians call it). Moscow Mules (vodka, ginger beer, crushed mint) are a favourite. Dark & Stormys (rum, ginger beer) are good too.

How Did You Get Into Golf?

I grew up next to a golf course. They had kids’ lessons for $1.50. I’d walk the dogs along the fence and pick up balls. I had a mate who trained his dog to retrieve golf balls, so when we were feeling cheeky, we’d hide in the forest alongside the 18th fairway at about 200 and let the dog loose when someone drove it down the middle. They eventually caught us.

When you’re exposed to golf as a child, it never really leaves you, even with the usual distractions of a teenager or twenty-something. You always come back.

What Are You Doing in Golf and Why?

I’m building an app for social (recreational) golfers. A lot of effort goes into running social golf events or trips, so the app is designed to make it more efficient. It also has course discovery, live scoring and leaderboards and chat.

Favorite #GolfChat Topics?

I like talking about rules (particularly the stupid ones), handicapping systems, junior initiatives, golf-tech, drinking, Jason Day and making dad jokes.

Favorite Golf Quote?

“Drive for show. Putt for dough.” – Dad (he claimed it, but most likely stole it from someone else and forgot – ironically he’s one of the worst putters in history) 

Favorite Golf Destination and Why?

Tasmania – an island state on the SE tip of Australia. It has the two best public courses in the country at a place called Barnbougle. It is Australia’s version of Bandon and in fact one of the courses was designed by Tom Doak (my favourite course designer) – it is ranked #11 in the world (Golf Digest). The other was designed by Bill Coore and is ranked #24 or something. Bucket list stuff. I’m heading there later this month (Nov 2015) for the second time. Fricking excited!

How Do You View the State of the Game of Golf?

I get a bit feisty when people talk about slow play and similar irrelevant issues being the cause of golf’s perceived ills. Yes, slow play sucks, but it doesn’t stop people playing. I could go on, but in the interests of space, if anyone wants to read a blog I wrote about it, here it is: http://connectgolf.com/blog/slow-play-is-not-the-enemy

If Golf Inc. can get past the slow play distractions, there are significant opportunities to better engage the 50 million or so social golfers in the world. Golf is time-consuming and people are time poor, so the game has become less accessible for that reason. Social golfers simply need more flexibility in the game to be able to play it more often. Again I wrote a blog about that too: http://connectgolf.com/blog/social-golf-is-a-sleeping-giant

Who Are Your Favorite #GolfChatters and Why?

I like the fun banter in #golfchat so if you’re into that sort of thing:

@golfblogger
@regripped
@aspittle
@front9back9
@citizencage
@cencalhack
@golfunfiltered and of course Mr. #Golfchat himself
@zebwelborn

Favorite Golfers and Why?

Jason Day – a great kid with a good story, plus he’s an Aussie
Jordan Speith – keeps beating Day, but is impossible not to like – needs to embrace impending baldness and shave his head
Rory McIlroy – prodigious talent – has it all, but what interests me is can he motivate himself to stay at the top
Zach Johnson – what that guy can do with a wedge is ridiculous

Weekly Reminders

Do you have updates to share with the #GolfChat community.  Email me with the cool things you’ve been up to and I’ll be sure to share those with our #GolfChat members!

Comment below if you have any comments, questions, or ideas as it pertains to #GolfChat.

Learn more about some of my Top 82 Golf Twitter Accounts to follow in 2015 – http://19thholemedia.com/top-82-golf-twitter-accounts-follow-2015/

Want to get more involved with #GolfChat and be notified via email about upcoming #GolfChat’s and opportunities.  Sign up for the #GolfChat newsletter!  – https://welborn.leadpages.net/golfchat/

Do You Have Any Suggestions for #GolfChat Questions?  Share Them With Us!