 |
 |
REFLECTIONS |
Santa Claus, Gift-giver
 |
Photo by Anthony Masters Photography |
Yes, Virginia, Santa is a golfer.
A staple on the celebrity pro-am circuit, Santa Claus has actually been hitting golf balls since the very beginning of the game. These days the long-time golfer, clad in his trademark red-and-white, draws an even bigger gallery than Justin Timberlake.
There’s a good reason for his popularity. One night a year, on the evening of Dec. 24, jolly old St. Nick makes a celebrated trip around the world to deliver toys to all the good boys and girls of the planet.
With the assistance of eight tiny reindeer and traveling from his main office in the North Pole, Santa delivers everything from a wooden train set to a new set of Callaway irons.
The first year Santa made the legendary trip around the world to deliver gifts has never been determined, and the man himself won’t share that information. With a twinkle in his eye and laying his finger beside his nose, he simply smiles and laughs a jolly “Ho, ho, ho!”
When Santa Claus isn’t managing the work of his elves or shoveling the snow and ice, he’s checking his list of who’s been naughty or nice.
— Seth Jones, associate editor
"I play more golf than people might think. I’m a 7 handicap. Honestly, as soon as that last toy is delivered, I take the sleigh and the eight reindeer down to Palm Desert for a week. I get in 36 a day while Dasher and the guys just lounge around by the pool. I know quite a few superintendents — in fact I have a whole list. I’m a member at Christmas Lake Golf Course (Santa Claus, Ind.). Kevin Laswell (three-year GCSAA member) is the superintendent there, and does a great job. Chuck Wollner (14-year GCSAA member) is the head superintendent at Christmas Mountain (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.), and I really enjoy teeing it up with him on the Oaks Course out there. I try to never get superintendents anything turf-related for Christmas. I may be able to deliver gifts all around the world in one evening and make a sled fly, but that doesn’t mean I know my Christmas goose from my goosegrass. The science behind that industry is even more complex than my magic dust. The superintendents are at the very top of my “nice” list. Not only do they make my rounds more enjoyable when I’m away from the North Pole, but they’re also environmental stewards, and I love that. They work hard, take care of nature, and quite a few of them still leave out cookies for their old pal, St. Nick. I may work hard for that one long day each year, but the superintendents work hard the entire year. My cap goes off to them. I wish them all a great grow-in season, and a merry year to come." — Santa Claus |
RELATED articles
IMAGE archive
AD archive
RECENT issues
 |
 |
November |
October 2004 |