Rod Spittle
Rod Spittle is truly an inspiring story on many levels. Spittle was a great amateur player who went against turning professional at an early age, and chose a career in the insurance business. In 2004 he turned professional to get his game in shape for a shot at the Champions Tour. Looking at it, the Champions Tour is most likely the toughest tour to qualify for and has to be one of the most competitive tours as well. With only 8 players gaining full exempt status in their qualifying school, and only 60 players earning a year's privilege through the Tour's money list. It is truly remarkable that Rod Spittle is making a mark on the Champions Tour...
Mr. Spittle is a great player and it seems each week he is gaining more and more confidence and respect on Tour. Watching him play on Sunday was a treat, and a true inspiration as just a few years ago he was teeing it up in the same tournaments on the Great Lakes Tour as my peers and I.
Mini Tour Golf is a grind, and many players never venture beyond two or three seasons before they call it quits. Either they run out of funds, realize their game isn't where it should be, or find other life adventures. I know over the course of six seasons I've played on the Great Lakes Tour, only a handful of guys have played in over 80% of the events like myself. I would lose count of how many names have come, played, disappeared, reappeared, then found a new career. It's a shame, because so many of these players could really play, and the only thing holding them back were themselves.
This is why I respect what Rod Spittle is doing on the Champions Tour. It doesn't matter what age you begin a journey. If you have the heart to play and the will to compete, you can break through at any time. Mr. Spittle played the Great Lakes Tour not only to sharpen his game, but it was close to home, affordable, and the fields were deep enough to give him a feel for where his game stood against other players chasing similar dreams.
Tom Lehman may have won on Sunday, but every Mini Tour player in the world should walk away with a little jump in their step knowing that this could be them in 20 to 30 years or next year. You don't have to be a college stand out, a National Champion, or qualify for an Open Championship to become a success in tour golf. Talent is not everything but believing you belong with the best is most important.
Mini Tour Golf is a grind, and many players never venture beyond two or three seasons before they call it quits. Either they run out of funds, realize their game isn't where it should be, or find other life adventures. I know over the course of six seasons I've played on the Great Lakes Tour, only a handful of guys have played in over 80% of the events like myself. I would lose count of how many names have come, played, disappeared, reappeared, then found a new career. It's a shame, because so many of these players could really play, and the only thing holding them back were themselves.
This is why I respect what Rod Spittle is doing on the Champions Tour. It doesn't matter what age you begin a journey. If you have the heart to play and the will to compete, you can break through at any time. Mr. Spittle played the Great Lakes Tour not only to sharpen his game, but it was close to home, affordable, and the fields were deep enough to give him a feel for where his game stood against other players chasing similar dreams.
Tom Lehman may have won on Sunday, but every Mini Tour player in the world should walk away with a little jump in their step knowing that this could be them in 20 to 30 years or next year. You don't have to be a college stand out, a National Champion, or qualify for an Open Championship to become a success in tour golf. Talent is not everything but believing you belong with the best is most important.
