Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2020 i Golf Magazine

AS LUCKY AS I CONSIDER MYSELF to have lived through the Tiger Era, I regret missing Jack Nicklaus in his prime. I certainly recall him battling Isao Aoki at the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusrol, lapping the field a few months later at Oak Hill to grab the PGA Championship and defying the odds in ’86 at Augusta National. But the way Nicklaus overpowered fields in the ’60s and achieved total game mastery in the ’70s, I would like to have seen that. Honestly, just to experience the 1-irons he hit (at Baltusrol in 1967, Pebble Beach in 1972, at the 15th hole on Masters Sunday in ’75) would have sufficed. (“Oh, I’ve hit shots, sure,” Nicklaus was quoted at December’s PNC Father/Son Challenge. “Most of them have been 1-irons.”)…

IN 1976, A MOST UNUSUAL duo arrived on the PGA Tour. Bill Mallon had studied physics and math at Duke, along the way winning a couple of collegiate tournaments. As a rookie his idea of a good time was haunting used bookstores, looking for rare finds about the history of the Olympic Games. His caddie Chris Greeley grew up as the son of a cop in a working-class neighborhood in Boston, but his hockey skills earned him a scholarship to a tony prep school. On the weekends he often looped for his classmates at Belmont Country Club. Chris had been recommended to Bill when the 1973 Massachusetts Open was played at Belmont; they won it and stayed in touch afterward. In the Tour caddie yards, Chris was the only looper…

This family recipe was adapted from Well Done!, a book by proud Ohio State alumns Barbara and Jack Nicklaus. Barbara credits her mom, Helen Bash, for passing it down. >Butter-½ cup>Powdered sugar-16 oz>Creamy peanut butter-1½ cups>Semisweet chocolate chips-12 oz>Paraffin baking wax-2 tbsp >Melt butter. >Combine powdered sugar and peanut butter in a mixing bowl. >Pour hot butter over mixture and mix well again. >Shape mixture into balls and arrange on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. >Cover with more wax paper and refrigerate overnight. >Melt chocolate chips over low heat. >Add paraffin wax so the chocolate sets with a shine. >Use toothpicks to dip balls in melted chocolate. (Leave an open spot on top so it looks like a buckeye.) >Return balls to baking sheet and remove toothpicks. Repair…

THE MODUS OPERANDI behind Vancouver-based Haywood Golf (haywoodgolf.com)is a simple one—make golf friendlier, hipper and more fun. For company founder Josh Haywood, the way to accomplish all three objectives was to remove one of the barriers to entry: the cost of buying a new set of clubs. The result: a direct-to-consumer equipment brand with products costing as low as $99 (wedge) and $650 (seven clubs). The wedges are forged from carbon steel with CNC-milled grooves for precise control, while the irons feature a two-piece construction that marries a stainless-steel body with an even firmer stainless-steel face for increased ball speeds. The standard finish is raw stainless steel (gearheads rejoice), but if you prefer something that has a bit of an edge, a black PVD should put a smile on your…

IF YOU TAKE KEEPING score seriously—an admirable virtue unto itself these days—or just appreciate some of the finer things in life when it comes to golf, there’s no more useful and handsome accessory than the venerable scorecard and yardage book holder. Louisville, Kentucky–based brand Bluegrass Fairway offers a range of high-quality, handmade and customizable leather golf accessories, including The Crenshaw ($95) featured above. The holders are meticulously crafted to ensure they age beautifully and fit comfortably in a back pocket. When you open the holder, the yardage book slips under the stretchy band on one side and your scorecard nestles into the flap pocket on the other. There’s a special place for your pencil, too, and custom initials can also be added. $70 to $100; bluegrassfairway.com…

Spring 1950 At age 10, Jack Nicklaus first tags along with his father, Charlie, for a round at Scioto Country Club, in Columbus, Ohio. Smitten by the game, he begins taking lessons with the club’s head pro, Jack Grout. Young Jack is a quick study. The first time he keeps score, he cards a 51 over nine holes. But the season’s most enduring memory comes when Charlie catches Jack throwing a club in frustration. The paternal scolding that follows is a defining moment that shapes how Jack comports himself throughout his career. More important than any swing tip is learning how to play the game. June 9, 1953 At 13, Jack wins the Ohio State Junior Championship, his first of three consecutive victories in the event. Summer 1953 He breaks…

OVER THE YEARS, various people have been called the Next Nicklaus, with varying results. By birthright, Jack Nicklaus II was the Next Nicklaus. But Jackie grew up to be tall, slender and easy-going, and much more like his mother, Barbara, than his father, Big Jack himself. Ben Crenshaw was a Next Nicklaus, at least for a while. Eddie Pearce, Hal Sutton, Bobby Clampett and John Daly all carried the mantle at various times. And then there are two special-case Next Nicklauses, Gary Nicklaus and Johnny Miller. Johnny, now 72, retired last year after 29 years as a broadcaster for NBC Sports. In the mid-1970s there was a stretch when nobody played better golf than Johnny, except for Nicklaus, and Johnny looked like he could be the next Nicklaus. Gary, now…

It’s not often a golfer gets paired with Jack Nicklaus in just his fourth tournament as a professional. Especially when that pro took up golf only five years prior. But Greg Norman isn’t your average golfer. And neither is Nicklaus. Long before he became a World No. 1 and the winner of two Open Championships, Norman was but a shaking 21-year-old rookie. The scene was the 1976 Australian Open, and the Shark was paired with the Golden Bear. Norman had collected his first professional win at the West Lakes Classic in Adelaide the week prior and was granted a spot in Nicklaus’ marquee group at the Open at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney. The galleries were enormous, and all eyes were on Jack. But Norman, with his flowing blond…

I was thrilled to see the new Top 100 Courses in the World list (Dec. 2019 – Jan. 2020 issue). While I don’t necessarily agree with the order of the rank, I love GOLF’s rating process. Evaluating a course should never come down to a composition of numerical values. I’ve always used the approach of “I know it when I see it,” which seems to mimic the way GOLF executes its rank. Evaluating one’s top 3 or top 10 courses is easier to define than splitting hairs between, say, No. 76 and No. 77, which I suspect is how your competitors do it. —Adam Joyce, via e-mail Ecologically Speaking… All of us at Audubon International were pleased to see that 16 of our Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) courses…

1.22 The dollar figure (in millions) of the winning bid for Jack Nicklaus’ iconic 1967 18-karat yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date Reference 1803 wristwatch. It was auctioned on December 10, 2019, to benefit the Nicklaus Children’s Healthcare Foundation. Average performance by international and developmental tours in True Strokes Gained as measured against the PGA Tour in 2019: 3.47 Expected wins for Jon Rahm from January to September 2020, according to the stat mavens at Data Golf. That’s more than Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson. 3 The number of Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 3-woods Henrik Stenson used in competition from 2011 to 2019, prior to retiring the club in favor of the Epic Flash Sub Zero. 6 Joaquin Niemann’s age in 2005, the last time the International team led following a…

Q: Who will have the best pro career: Matt Wolff, Collin Morikawa or Viktor Hovland? Off the record… “Hands down, Hovland—a game that will last.” “Morikawa hits it so much better.” “Morikawa has the better swing.” “Hovland is so solid all around.” “All capable. It will come down to who wants it the most.” “There’s no way Wolff’s back holds up with that swing. I love Hovland’s fundamentals.” Q: Will Tiger win another Major? Off the record… “We all said no before and he did, so I say yes.” “Two more Masters. He’s going to have to get lucky, though, because his body is breaking down.” “Yes, and I would’ve never said that two years ago.” Q: Who knows more about the golf swing: you or Brandel Chamblee? Off the record… “I don’t…

MIKE GOODES WAS PLAYING the finest golf of his life at age 49. In one year, he won the three most prestigious amateur tournaments in North Carolina against men 20 or 30 years his junior. At a plus-5 handicap, his golf life was nirvana. Then he got a wild idea. Why not turn pro at 50 and make a go of it on the PGA Tour Champions? He’d never played professionally; he hadn’t even played college golf. He also had a day job—running a plastics recycling company. But his wife and business partner supported him. So why not try to fulfill every amateur’s dream of teeing it up with the legends and making a run at the prize money and prestige? Then a strange thing happened: Goodes made it. And…

Tenison Park Lee Trevino found his game, and his hustle, at this East Dallas track. “Pressure,” he said of those days, “is when you play for $5 a hole with only $2 in your pocket.” Genesee Valley Park Calvin Peete, a 12-time winner on the Tour, picked up golf in his 20s at this course in Rochester, N.Y., where he sold wares from the trunk of his car. Foothill Golf Course Current PGA Tour bomber Cam Champ first learned to rip it at this nine-holer in his hometown of Sacramento. His foundation now runs the joint.…

Los Angeles, Calif. Favorite course: Prestwick GC, Scotland Handicap: 8 You’re in public relations. Would you ever intentionally miss a putt to let a client win? Absolutely! Seriously though, golf with clients is about giving them a window into what I’m like. Hopefully, that comes off as enjoyable. Does working in fashion make it harder or easier to nail your on-course look? I want there to be a direct line between my everyday look and how I look on the course. That’s my goal. It’s taken me a long time to figure out how to project my style, and I don’t stray far from it. Favorite piece of golf clothing? For me, it’s clothes that hold memories, like a shirt that reminds you of a buddies trip to Bandon or a…

IF BATMAN PLAYED GOLF, he’d probably stick a Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12.5 putter ($429) in his bag. It’s one of the meanest-looking mallets out there, with a futuristic profile that offers a multitude of performance benefits. The wing-like extensions in the back of the heel and toe position more weight along the perimeter to increase the overall stability and MOI properties of the head. While Cameron putters are designed to fit a wide range of players based on research and experience, sometimes all it takes is player input to inspire new head shapes. “Every time we introduce a new putter line, I receive requests from Tour players and dedicated golfers for additional setups and configurations,” Cameron says. “Phantom X 12.5 is the result of some of those requests.” With…

THE CNC-MILLED “INFINITY” FACE on Cobra’s King SpeedZone driver ($450) is meant to turn heads—just ask Rickie Fowler. “It’s probably one of the coolest looks I’ve seen—the way it flows over the edge of the sole and crown,” he says. “It shows we’re pushing the limits in design.” The latest version of the face design—first introduced with King F8—offers 95 percent more CNC milling and wraps into the crown and sole. The benefit of taking out superfluous titanium is twofold: increasing discretionary weight and enlarging the sweet spot for faster ball speeds. The face is paired with a sturdy T-Bar Speed Chassis comprised of 50 percent carbon fiber, thanks to two large caps in the heel and toe. The removal of sturdy titanium netted a weight savings that was used…

DID YOU KNOW? POULTER IS NICKNAMED “THE POSTMAN” BECAUSE HE USUALLY DELIVERS DURING THE RYDER CUP (14-6-2 RECORD).…

TO ANY FAN of a certain age (I was born in May of 1963), Jack Nicklaus was an inspiration, the player after which you patterned your game, including how to act in victory and defeat. His evolution as a course architect has been equally enjoyable to study. Too many designers develop a single style, then stick with it. Not Jack. As he once stated, “You have to have variety. You have to have imagination, and you have to be able to adjust with the times, and that’s what we’ve tried to do.” A simple scan of the photos on these pages proves this as anything but lip service. Nicklaus edged into course design with the help of his friend, the legendary architect Pete Dye. After Dye had Nicklaus hit shots for…

TOM WEISKOPF 16 PGA TOUR WINS, ONE MAJOR MY FIRST Ryder Cup was 1973, at Muirfield, after I had won the British Open that year, and I remember we had a meeting following the first day of play. I’d lost my first two matches. Jack says to our captain, Jackie Burke, “Put me with Tom tomorrow. He needs a win!” We were playing alternate shot against Brian Barnes and Peter Butler. I asked Jack on the first tee which holes he wanted to tee off on, odd or even. He said, “It doesn’t make any difference—you pick it. I don’t care.” Coming into the 16th, a par 3, we were all square despite playing so much better than them. I played a middle iron into the green, to about 18…

KOLBY “K-WAYNE” TULLIER (right) has a rapper-style nickname and, if so inclined, could name-drop to impress any MC. We’ll do it for him: Tullier’s clients include Justin Thomas, Harold Varner and Lucas Glover among his 10 or so PGA Tour pros, and Jessica Korda, Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson among a similar stable on the LPGA. Mind you, that’s just in golf—Kolby also trains the NFL’s Cody Parkey and Demaryius Thomas, as well as MLB pitcher Will Harris. Having turned a boutique facility into a jacked-up juggernaut in his native Baton Rouge, La., Kolby moved to south Florida three years ago to become director of sports performance for golf fitness maven Joey Diovisalvi, aka “Joey D.” Ham-and-egging it like Salt-N-Pepa, together they’ve had three World No. 1s, eight majors, a…

ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY CONTESTED topics in instruction circles over the decades has been whether anyone should copy Jack Nicklaus’ signature “flying” right elbow at the top of the swing. Obviously, it worked for Big Jack (it helped him keep the club-face square for a longer period of time during his swing, which in turn allowed him to play the ball forward in his stance and hit up on it for high, powerful woods and irons), but the question still begs: Will it work for you? In my opinion, any player who doesn’t possess Tour-level flexibility and speed ought to consider letting his or her right elbow fly. It definitely makes it easier to get the club in a higher, more powerful position at the top, and who wouldn’t…

IF THERE’S ONE THING recreational golfers need to understand about the bunker swing is that it’s completely different in almost every way to a regular full swing. Not making the necessary adjustments leaves you no chance to escape. The biggest error to avoid is “driving” with your lower body to start your downswing. When you move like this, you’ll have a terrible time controlling the low point, or where the clubhead enters the sand. So long consistency. To groove a swing you can trust in sand, copy what you see here, courtesy PGA Tour up-and-comer Abraham Ancer. The Reynosa, Mexico, native has all the right moves.…

IN ANY SPORT, A STAT IS USUALLY MORE interesting and relevant if it’s associated with a player’s or team’s success. In baseball, for example, OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) quickly gained acceptance because of its correlation with a team’s ability to score runs. A similar approach in golf would investigate a player’s ability to score green—call it money earned per event (MPE)—based on rank in various stat categories. In 2019, the top 10 players in proximity to the hole (on approach shots) rank averaged $69K per event. Nice, but no comparison to the players in the top 10 in GIR ($92K) nor those in the top 10 in strokes gained on approach shots ($164K). If you include Nos. 11 and 12 in SG approach (Koepka and McIlroy), that MPE value…

THE GOLDEN BEAR is one of the greatest putters (if not the greatest) to have ever played. That’s not just me saying it—everyone puts Nicklaus near or at the top of the list. What’s interesting is that despite universal agreement on Jack’s putting acumen, very few modern players have adopted his style. What gives? A lot of it has to do with the improved conditioning of today’s greens and, honestly, a misunderstanding of Nicklaus’ method in general. The first thing you notice when you study Jack’s putting method is his setup: that big forward bend toward the ground, head positioned behind the ball and flared left foot. Nicklaus is on record stating that the hunched posture and open stance helped him visualize the line more clearly—a benefit for any golfer…

“I wore a yellow shirt on Sunday at the ’86 Masters, and I knew Craig would be looking down. It was magical for me.”—JACK NICKLAUS Play yellow. Before Tiger’s Sunday red-and-black ensembles, there was Jack Nicklaus in yellow—shirts, sweaters, you name it. The tradition began as a tribute to Craig Smith, a fan who died of cancer at age 13 in 1971. (“Play Yellow” remains the mantra of Nicklaus’ goal to raise $100 million for the Children’s Miracle Network.) When Nicklaus triumphed at the 1986 Masters, he was wearing “Craig’s shirt.” For a modern twist on the classic look, check out the Bobby Jones brand’s solid quarter-zip lined wind sweater ($195). The light yet warm merino wool is comfy and universally flattering. You may not be able to play like…

ONE OF THE WORST THINGS you can do when chipping is use your wrists to “lift” the ball into the air. Good chippers know that the loft of the club—not your hands or wrists—is what gets the ball airborne. As a result, they tend to keep their wrists passive and, more importantly, their left wrist flat. An easy (and affordable) way to groove a flat left wrist is to slide a paint can stir stick into your glove. The stick makes it impossible to “flick” your left wrist. (It’ll hit your forearm if you try.) In fact, your left wrist has no option but to bow or remain flat. You really have it right when you create some daylight between your forearm and the stick at impact, like I’ve done…

Traveling golfers have long been confounded by the inconvenience of travel bag storage. Sure, these XL body bags are convenient for protecting your investment when on a trip. But storing that monstrosity at home is a real problem. Luckily, the brilliant minds at Sun Mountain have a solution: the Kube, a full-size golf travel bag that folds into an ordinary-looking (and blessedly compact) suitcase when your clubs aren’t in it. When folded, the case measures only 9 x 13 x 14.5 inches and weighs a mere 6.8 pounds. The unfolded bag features internal dimensions of 52 x 14 x 14 inches—enough room for about every standard-size cart and carry bag. And if you’re worried that the minimalist design will limit the protection of your clubs while they’re in transit, spare…

IT’S HARD TO BEAT A GOOD MILKSHAKE on a hot day—or any day, if we’re being honest—but you don’t often find them on golf club menus. Unless, of course, that club is Dublin, Ohio’s Muirfield Village, affectionately known as “Jack’s Place,” where the Buckeye Milkshake has been a staple since 1976. The milkshake’s name refers to buckeye candy or, rather, peanut butter dipped in chocolate (see Mrs. Nicklaus’ recipe, right). The milkshake’s recipe is a closely guarded club secret that is never shared publicly, but the basics include premium ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate (but not buckeye nuts—they’re poisonous!). Sounds deceptively simple, doesn’t it? As time has gone on, word of mouth helped the made-to-order milkshakes grow in popularity, and they soon achieved a certain lore that has only…

1,000S Upon thousands of AI-analyzed impacts used to engineer Callaway’s powerful new clubfaces 1 Cobra driver fast enough to handle Rickie Fowler’s swing 23 Things worth talking about in Ian Poulter’s bag 110 The dollar cost for FJ comfort and performance in all weather conditions 1 Classy scorecard holder NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO, the smarty-pants at Callaway were wise enough to partner with a brain even bigger than any of their own: a supercomputer with whiz-bang capabilities in club design. The collaboration gave rise to Epic Flash, the first driver ever developed with the aid of Artificial Intelligence. Featuring a convention-flouting face that was thinnest at its center and thicker around its edges (most modern driver faces are designed the other way around), Epic Flash was introduced in early 2019 and…

BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF A popular golf shoe design is no easy task. Thankfully, FootJoy didn’t have to reinvent the wheel with the new FJ Flex XP. Created on the same platform as the FJ Flex that was introduced last year, the new version offers a 100 percent waterproof upper that’ll keep your feet bone-dry in soggy conditions. The shoe still retains the Versa-Trax outsole for maximum traction and grip during the swing, as well as a buttery EVA midsole that enhances comfort and stability. And while the shoes are waterproof, you don’t have to worry about things getting swampy, thanks in large part to a breathable, lightweight performance mesh that allows moisture to escape. A sneaker-like appearance also makes it possible to wear them on and off the…

SO YOU’RE READY TO SPRING for new irons. Given the sheer cost of even a gently used set, it’s imperative the specs are dialed-in before throwing them in the bag. The last thing you want is a set of ill-fitted sticks that penalize a good swing. More often than not, shaft length has a lot to do with common misses. Here are three things to consider when it comes to finding the ideal length for your swing. 1. Lie boards lie. Lie boards can tell you a lot about club delivery (whether the heel or toe is digging), but you shouldn’t put your trust in it to determine shaft length. The heavy-duty thermoplastic board does not accurately represent what will happen on the course, making it irrelevant in a length…

Jack Nicklaus is more than a golfer, he’s an idea. It’s one thing to be the greatest champion the game has ever known. But to also be the quintessence of class, dignity and sportsmanship? And then to leave behind a legacy of philanthropy and hundreds of sublimely crafted playing fields for others to enjoy, all the while serving as the patriarch to a huge, happy family? Well, Jack represents something bigger than himself. He is the American ideal writ large, a Midwestern boy who achieved fame and fortune through the dint of talent and hard work. But instead of letting that go to his head, he’s retained his humility. Nicklaus’ wins are legendary, but in many ways it’s the losses that elevate him to an icon. It’s one thing to…

Q: I’ve seen Tour pros beat up bunkers, toss putters and break irons. Is there any benefit to “losing it” on course? —T. Stratton, Ft. Worth, Texas A: “The best fighter is never angry.” Obviously, Lao Tzu, the author of the above quote, never hooked his tee shot on 18 with two presses on the line. Advice here abounds. Many of my younger clients tell me that their coaches (and parents, of course) advise them to always keep a level head and to control their emotions when they’re competing. That’s fine, but, in my opinion, anger alone is never an issue when it comes to elevating—or hindering—performance. Here’s a deep thought: The anger you feel after hitting a poor shot isn’t the anger that impedes your ability to access the skills…

HE PLAYS A GAME WITH which I’m not familiar,” Bobby Jones said famously of Jack Nicklaus. Believe me, a lot of us felt the same. Nicklaus in his prime was a breed apart, a golfer of otherworldly athletic gifts with confidence and mental sharpness to match. None of us had ever seen anything like him. But unfamiliar is not the same as unrelatable. After competing against Nicklaus early in my career, I went on to become director of instruction for Nicklaus Academies Worldwide. I also worked alongside Jack’s instructor, Jim Flick, at the Nicklaus/Flick Golf Schools. So I’ve spent many years watching Nicklaus closely, keen to understand the swing and psyche that made him so great for so long. Nicklaus played a different game, all right. But I still believe…

I’ve never found much use for exercise balls. I see people sitting on them at the gym, but outside of that—you got me. It turns out, they can be very helpful swing aids. In fact, as up-and-coming coach Lucas Wald explains, they can make any backswing tons more powerful. Here’s how. Step 1 Wedge an exercise ball between a wall and your backside as shown. Press into the ball and settle into your golf posture. Step 2 Start your backswing. As you swing to the top, load your weight into your right hip. Your goal while doing this is to “roll” the ball toward your left hip. Stop and repeat several times. Re-create this feel on the course and the ball won’t know what hit it!…

THERE ARE MANY NICKLAUS “SIGNATURE” moves you can borrow. My favorite was his indelible head turn away from the ball, a subtle rotation that triggered one of the most winning swings of all time. The reason for it was simple—to initiate a fuller, more powerful shoulder turn. What you may not realize is that this trigger was just part of Jack’s pre-shot routine. To fully understand Jack’s trigger, we have to look at something Jack did before he addressed the ball. When lining up, Jack would pick an intermediate spot somewhere between the target and the ball. (See page 109.) He’d then draw an imaginary line through all three and set up his feet parallel to that imaginary line. This is when he’d make his first move, by turning his…

The bedrock of modern coaching was once annotated film and video. More recently, ballflight and club data from measuring devices such as Trackman and FlightScope have powered the bulk of the analysis. Today, 3D technology is pushing its way to the forefront, mapping every millimeter of body and club motion with laser-like precision, all in real time. The main setback with 3D technology is that it’s not very accessible to weekend golfers, and the systems themselves are prohibitively expensive. One startup, however, is trying to limit these barriers to entry: Dragonfly Golf (named after the only insect boasting a 360-degree field of vision). It debuted in beta last year at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and plans to hit the market in select areas in 2020. It’s fascinating stuff—just…

NOT ONLY DID JACK NICKLAUS’ HEAD house one of the greatest golfing minds in history, it also served as the center point for his entire swing. His legendary head action (or lack thereof) was instilled early on by his teacher and mentor, Jack Grout, a staunch believer in keeping the head steady. Often, Grout would grab hold of young Jack’s golden locks while he swung to stop him from swaying off the ball. Careful what you read into this lesson: It’s about centeredness, not movement. Nicklaus never tried to keep his head “still.” Look at any sequence and you’ll see that Jack rotated his head to the right to trigger his backswing (see page 114), turned it to the left on his forwardswing and then raised it as he moved…

There’s a video of you on the internet playing a pro-am with Trevor Immelman, and you sink what appears to be a 30-foot putt pretty nonchalantly. For me to act casual about sinking any putt, let alone a 30-footer, it must be a doctored video. How’d you get your start in the game? I’m from Indiana, and my mom was a club champion. She probably could have played pro. Then we moved to Beirut, and that was pretty much the end of golf for a while. Not a lot of golf in Beirut in the ’70s? A lot of sand, but not a lot of golf. When you first got famous, what was your most indulgent splurge? Probably joining a golf course—Bel-Air—in 2001 or so. A friend encouraged me to…