Things I realized about golf while watching the Boston Marathon

It’s rare for Masters Sunday to immediately precede the Boston Marathon. Usually, there’s a week or even two between the two historic events, but this week was one of those rare instances when The Masters ended, and the starting gun of The Marathon blasted the next morning.

Golf and running are my two main hobbies. If I’m outside doing something active, the odds are it’s one of those two activities. Every time I run in a race or stand on the side of the road to watch a race, I am reminded at the similarities between golf and running.

Watching thousands of people run a marathon highlights all the different styles and forms that people have. A runner who clocks 8-minute miles can look smooth as silk or like they’re running across hot coals. Some runners bounce, and others glide. Some plod and others float.

Stand on a driving range and the same is true. Swings with hitches and jerks can score in the 70s while well-dressed athletic moves may produce scores in the 90s.

Even my sister commented on the runners' various strides as we stood in Natick Center waiting for my wife to come through.

Running and golf are probably distant cousins in sporting terms. While running a marathon is not the same feat as playing 18 holes of golf, both sports challenge the participant mentally over the 4-5 hours of the race or round.

Someone once said that running a marathon isn’t about running 26.2 miles; it’s about running one mile 26 times. I liked that. If a runner allows thoughts about the finish line to creep in at mile 10, they are in for a long day, or they have to be steady enough to let the thought pass and keep running. I also liked thinking about golf as playing one hole 18 times.

Golf and running also have this wonderful accessibility. Running has no bifurcation. On Monday, runners shared the course with the best runners in the world while wearing the same shoes.

Imagine Scottie Scheffler putting out on Sunday at Augusta National and having to clear the green for a few 6 handicaps who signed up for the tournament, too, and behind them was a foursome of 12 handicaps who raised $12,000 for a charity.

Golfers and runners get to measure themselves directly against the most elite in the world. The 5-hour marathoner can finish and imagine what running a marathon in 2 hours and 30 minutes feels like.

Breaking 100 or running a marathon in under five hours can feel like a massive accomplishment on the same course that someone else shot 67 or ran 2:15.

And it doesn’t matter what their swing or stride looks like, which is one of my favorite parts about each sport.

Double Click(s)

I’m going to use this section to “Double Click” on something I discovered or thought about this week.

1. The PGA Championship should be in one location. The Masters was exceptional this year. The memories pile up and make the event better and better every year. Between understanding the shots and rhythm of the course to the context of the event, it’s such a pleasure to watch. I think one of the other majors needs to do the same. The PGA of America just built a headquarters in Texas with a couple of courses, one of which will host PGA Championships. Why couldn’t they just host the PGA Championship there every year. Augusta National has complete control and it allows them to improve the experience for the fan every year. Moving events around doesn’t allow for this. The Gil Hanse Frisco course is supposed to be awesome. Make it the only host course and elevate the PGA Championship.

2. London has 95 golf courses—that’s a lot of golf! This article argues that some of them should become housing. I bristle at stuff like this because I’ve been to courses that are the lifeblood of a community and help people connect and get outside. I’m sure there’s a balance, but it always feels like golf courses are the low-hanging fruit when it comes to land use. Malcolm Gladwell also went after golf courses in a podcast a few years ago.

3. Megan Khang and Alexa Pano are playing in the Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the year. Certainly worth popping on the television this weekend to see how they do and to see if Nelly Korda can win her fifth event in a row.

Merch Table

One way to help support me in my quest to play every course in the Bay State would be to spend a little money on some Bay State Golf swag. I always need gas money! Check it all out here.

When I’m not golfing…

I’m reading…

• Ezra Klein is giving up his Gmail. A good read in the NYTimes.

  “A few months ago, I euthanized that Gmail account. I have more than a million unread messages in my inbox. Most of what’s there is junk. But not all of it. I was missing too much that I needed to see. Search could not save me. I didn’t know what I was looking for. Google’s algorithms had begun failing me. What they thought was a priority and what I thought was a priority diverged. I set up an auto-responder telling anyone and everyone who emailed me that the address was dead.”

• I enjoyed this NYTimes feature on Rusty Foster, who writes a newsletter about media called Today in Tabs. He lives on a small island in Maine. Read it here. 

I’m listening to…

• Maggie Rogers’ new album Don’t Forget Me is very good. I also jumped back into Ray LaMontagne.

I’m eating…

• After the marathon, Tiff was craving a Monument Smash burger. I had their Chicken Alla Vodka sandwich. I mixed in a side salad because I had basically stood around all day.

• It’s grilling season. I love cutting up potatoes and putting them directly on the grill with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. 20-25 minutes.

I’m watching…

• No Laying Up traveled to Australia for three weeks in January. Their first Tourist Sauce episode dropped on Wednesday night. It was pretty good. Maybe not my favorite episode, but I’m excited to see what they cook up over the coming weeks.

• Apple TV’s Steve Martin documentary is superb. It has two parts. I watched part one this week, which covers his stand-up comedy career. I also recommend The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix about how the song We Are the World was recorded in a night. Some incredible stories and footage.

PLUGS

New stuff:

• I wrote about Don Forbes, who caddied at George Wright in the 1940s. I had lunch with him and he told me about his time growing up across the street from the course and how his grandparents sold coffee and donuts to construction workers during The Great Depression. Read it here.

• This week’s podcast is about five public courses I’m looking forward to playing. The list consists of courses I’ve played or walked before, but haven’t checked off since my quest started. The end of the podcast has a reading of the George Wright story. Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Old stuff: 

I'm (shamelessly) plugging...

• Bay State Picks: Best courses you can walk for less than $60.

• Bay State Picks: Nine-hole courses to play before or after work

• Bay State Picks: 18 public golf that is worth your time

• Bay State Picks: Easy 18-hole public walks

• Bay State Deep Dive: Myopia Hunt Club

   

• "On Course" New England Journal Podcast

  • LISTEN HERE (and subscribe!)

  • WATCH HERE (and subscribe!)

• Amateur Golf Podcast

  • LISTEN HERE (and subscribe!)

New here? Subscribe below.