Origin Stories…
Five stories about how the obsession began - and how it has shaped our thoughts on the sport
Grant Welmers - “Go For It!”
Definitely NOT Dearborn Hills with my Dad 2017 - Waterville, Ireland
I barely remember my first round. I know that it was at Dearborn HIlls Golf Club, an executive-style short course with pristine conditioning in my hometown of Dearborn, Michigan. I know that it was for my fraternity’s charity outing with a few dozen of the most depraved humans I’ve ever had the chance to know. I know that it was a circus filled with keg stands on tee boxes, groups pantsing each other on the greens, shots of 90-degree whiskey, a few carts in a pond, one guy who may, or may not, have broken his arm (He did), and more strokes than are acceptable in a fourman scramble on a par 63 course. What I didn’t know, especially at the time, was that this was nothing like real golf - and everything like real golf.
The beauty of the game is that it is a blank slate. Do you want to go out and shoot a personal best - grinding over putts, taking proper knee-high level drops, pacing out 42 yard pitch shots - Go for it!…as long as you arent holding up the group behind you. Do you want to go out with a few buddies after work for a quick nine and spend three times as much money on the beer cart than on the greens fees - Go for it!…as long as you have a designated driver. Do you want to spend every Sunday morning with your dad as if it was as sacred as a church service, enjoying the time together and reading putts down the dewlines? - Go for it!…as long as you dont let him lose just because he is old. A round is whatever you want it to be, even if that is a circus with a gaggle of fraternity brothers mooning each other on the greens and cannonballing shots of Jameson until you puke.
I like to think that I can, and have, gotten all these things out of golf over the 13 years that I have been playing. I am able to play along the spectrum of golf - like a loudly dressed chameleon. Whether it is our annual golf outing The Goat Rodeo Open; the trip with my dad to the southwest of Ireland; or just hacking around our local home courses - the majority of my favorite memories in life have come on, or around, a golf course. Maybe that is what helped solidify my obsession. I have made and cemented friendships through the game that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. I think that is what 5&4 is about for me - A place to discuss all things about the game I love, with the people I love playing with (sometimes), in between rounds together.
Jeff Waterstradt: “Chasing the Dragon”
1st tee at the Donald Ross Memorial at Boyne Highlands; Boyne Michigan - 2020. Full Tiger Blood
I have been around golf most of my life. My old man - Johnson - would take me on the course when I was a kid and let me drive the cart and caddie for him, which was the biggest thrill for me. He was a pretty good player; single digit handicap, probably a 4 at his peak. I enjoyed watching him play, but hockey was my world at the time, and unfortunately other “things” were more important as a teenager growing up in Redford, Michigan. I did not actually play a real round of golf until after I graduated high school. Johnson had asked me to play in an outing with him, a good friend Erik, and Erik’s dad. Erik was an outstanding golfer, he played on our high school team and in the Junior Olympics. My dad was still a 5, or 6, at that point, Erik’s dad was probably a 10, Erik was a stick, and then me.
I had never really swung a club, other than taking putts when I was a kid - I remember burying a 100-foot putt on the Donald Ross designed Warren Valley - although it was probably more of a 35 foot, but when you are that age everything is bigger. I had watched a lot of golf on television, but for some reason I had never taken the step to play it. So when my dad invited me under the pretense of “Hey, come out, just have fun. Make some lucky putt, thats what you are there for!” I took him up on it, and was excited.
We were playing Brae Burn Golf Club in Plymouth, Michigan in a fourman scramble charity outing for some bar I cant remember, that probably isn’t even around anymore. I played as expected for a first timer - missing the ball, duffing shots when I did connect, I think I even hit one backwards. I fulfilled my purpose early, though, and made a big birdie putt and “lagged” a mid-iron about 130y (Yes I said lagged, as it never left the ground, but boy it ran) to the front of the green when everyone else had missed.
So I had done it, I was validated and I enjoyed being out there watching Erik bomb 300 yard drives and Johnson drop irons out of the sky to 10 feet - I even managed to hit a few in the air that day. I was having a great time, but it wasnt really about the golf at that point. Golf for me was watching The Masters with Johnson and an occasional outing, or putt-putt, and that was it. Then we stood on #14, 152y par 3 with my dads 7i - because its the only club that I had established any sort of distance with - and stood at address. I took my standard “get-out-of-the-way-and-let-the-real-golfers” swing and right then as the ball was mid-flight it clicked - I got it. Somehow I got the right shoulder turn on the right plane and everything lined up. Divot after the ball and all; right sound, right feel and it carried 152y to the left of the pin. I had hit the green. I didn’t put it to 3 feet or anything, it was a good 20 feet away; but the feeling, the flight, watching it land, I now understood and it all made sense.
From that second on I was hooked; and every round I play I am chasing that shot again. The feeling of a pure strike, even if it is the only one among 103 other shots that day. Its enough to bring me back again and again - to motivate me to work harder. The whole game clicked, all the pro’s shots on TV, what my dad and his buddies hoot and holler about on the course or get so angry they throw clubs about. One shot. Thats all it took. Golf for me is about that one shot. Thats what I ‘m chasing.
Trent Toor: “Loud Robot”
I have played a lot of golf over my years, but if I go back to think of where it all began it would have to be in Washington State at a course in Scott Lake. It wasn’t anything special; I couldn’t tell you what I shot, specific holes, or even what the name of the course was, but what I remember is that it was a great day of golf with my uncle and grandpa. There were some good swings and some very bad swings, many lost balls, numerous mulligans and I am sure the occasional three-putt. It was my first round with my first set of clubs - Spauldings and they were the coolest things around. My love for the game started on that unknown course in Washington.
That seed has been transformed into quite the passion in the years since. My game has developed and evolved since then. I spent one summer taking lessons - something that I need to spend a few more summers doing at this point. Unlike then I am a big fan of having a few beers or hard seltzers on the course, which may or may not help my handicap. My scores have started to come down this year. I used to never be able to break 100 and now most rounds are in the low 90s and high 80s. This year I had my best round ever an 85, which only strengthened my love for the game. I keep hoping that that next personal best is waiting on the next tee.
Whether it is our annual Goat Rodeo Open buddies’ trip, the Duel at Forest Dunes, or just a random Saturday golfing with the fellas; golf has provided me with many new friendships and memories that I won’t forget. I thoroughly enjoy finding new courses and it has helped me enjoy golf on a different level than before. Recently one of the best takeaways has been its ability to help reconnect with friends during COVID.
If I were to pick areas that I was strongest in they would be:
My mental game: I leave most shots behind me; good or bad I move on to the next shot. I’m not known for throwing clubs, loud outbursts, or anger; unlike some others on this site. (Cough…Grant…cough cough… Slessor)
Putting: I love putting. I may not be the best putter out there, but I think I can hang with most guys I know.
Irons: My strength with my irons helps offset my terrible slice off the tee.
My golf fashion: I will own every loud shirt and golf belt known to man, as long as I can afford it. I love fashion, shoes, and coming up with an outfit that pops. I have more golf hats and shoes than most people need. This year alone I’ve tried four or five new shirt brands and plan on reviewing some of them on the site.
Steve Slessor - “All YouTube and No Range Makes Stevey a Scratch Stick”
I thought we had people (read: Grant) to take care of shit like this and write my history for me…
I’m the Goat Rodeo Open IX Champion
Youtube golf videos>Practice
God, Guns, Drugs, Sex, and Rock and Roll…in that order
The End