Ed the “Dad” Golfer

As my girlfriend Sarah and I sift through classic golf photos, imaginatively piecing together stories from days long gone, inevitably, we stumble upon embarrassing (but all-too-relatable) moments captured in black-and-white with handwritten snark. Recently, we discovered a pair of snapshots that, together, tell a tale as old as golf itself. 

Meet Ed, the ‘dad’ golfer. Looking cool and feeling confident (we imagine) in his aviator shades, Ed is poised for an absolute strike, something as crisp and clean as his undershirt. Instead, he ends up in the weeds and — even worse — on the brunt end of cursive sarcasm: “Look at the ‘Pro.’ “ “Lose something, Ed?” 

I laughed. Sarah laughed. Teasing someone about an errant golf shot is a timeless, good-natured
form of human connection. In Ed’s day, golf was certainly tougher than it is now. No forgiving titanium drivers. Just wooden shafts with rigid blades and muscle-back irons: the equivalent of swinging a butter knife. I can only imagine it was equally fun and frustrating, much like it is today. In 2025 — even with better equipment — we’re all just like Ed, chasing that elusive perfect shot and spending too much time in the tall grass.

Then and now, golf is a journey. So, next time you’re on the course, take a moment to appreciate that. Sure, the shots don’t always land where you want them, but that’s what makes golf special. Every missed shot and unexpected outcome is a part of your story. 

Perhaps a moment of your golf journey will be captured on film — or should I say, memorialized in the cloud — for future generations of golfers to admire and amplify, like we have done with Ed’s.

Jefferson Burgess, Editor-in-Chief

jefferson@bobirdie.com