Swing easy and accept the extra distance

Golf Across Continents: What the Game Taught Me About the World

Playing with a professional caddie adds a layer of depth and delight to any round of golf. It’s more than someone carrying your bag—it’s a partnership shaped by trust, humor, and an almost uncanny understanding of the game. Every time I’ve had a caddie beside me, the round feels elevated, more connected to the roots of golf itself. They don’t just guide you to the right target; they guide you to the right miss—and, just as importantly, the smartest way to recover.

I’ve been fortunate to play golf in all 50 states and across multiple continents. Along the way, I’ve kept lists—favorites, hidden gems, great experiences—but this one might be the most fun.

What 36 holes in a Texas day can teach you...

There are golf rounds where you remember the score, and then there are golf rounds where you remember the stories. 

Over the years, I’ve accumulated a small golf library—somewhere around 200 books. Like most things in golf, it didn’t happen all at once. It was built slowly, one recommendation, one gift, one curiosity at a time.

There’s something about a set of irons that marks time better than a calendar. You don’t just remember the clubs—you remember who you were when you swung them. My first set came out of my sister-in-law's parent's garage.  They were a mismatched set of 3-5-7-9 iron, 2-wood, 5-wood and putter.  I was 12 and just learning.  After a couple of months, Mom took me to Kmart.

There is no single formula for a great golf trip, and that is part of its appeal. Some trips are built around a large group and a lot of noise. Some are best shared with your spouse. Some are taken alone, where the beauty of the experience is that the world comes to you. I have been lucky enough to enjoy all three, and each has shown me something different about why golf travel is so memorable.

There are places in golf that feel important—and then there is the Masters Tournament.

Touring professionals make putts from four feet with almost boring consistency—well north of 90 percent. Scratch players aren’t far behind, and even a solid 5-handicap golfer will convert the vast majority of their chances from that range. In other words, these are putts that are supposed to be automatic. And yet, for me, they’re anything but. I’m not a particularly good putter from inside four feet, and it shows up every round. Somewhere along the way, I’ll miss one—sometimes two—that I fully expect to make. The kind that don’t just add a stroke to the card, but linger a little longer as I move to the next tee, quietly reminding me how a round can slip away from just a few feet.

There are some courses that announce themselves with famous names, grand clubhouses, or eye-popping green fees. And then there are courses like Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colorado — places that earn your respect one hole at a time. Designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1991, Walking Stick has long been one of Southern Colorado’s best public golf experiences, with a layout that blends prairie, desert, and mountain views into something quietly memorable.

Golf is a game that resists Hollywood.