Tales From The Golf Shop
The Weekend at Steamboat Golf Club
Matt Meisenger and his son Dylan came in on Sunday. Bartender Julies asked, “What’s shakin’?”
Matt replied, “Double chins and flabby thighs.”
Dougie the Plumber played over the weekend. One of the benefits of working at SGC is that I’ve come to know a good number of tradesmen who play there, which is invaluable in a town like ours. Doug has come to know the furnace in our home better than his girlfriend, and has bailed us out of many a dicey situation over the winter.
Holidays tend to bring out folks to the course who think it will be a fun novelty to take a spin around the course. We’ll get couples who want to play by themselves because they are beginners and don’t want the pressure of other folks with them, or large groups who in addition to wanting riding carts, also want to know if they can get carts for their non-playing spouses and/or friends. Then there are groups who, before teeing off first thing in the morning, throw down a couple shots of Fireball (a/k/a Satan’s Drink) and buy a six pack or two from to consume as they zig-zag around the course. I’m usually glad when my shift ends on such days.
Veering away from the goings on at SGC . . .
I was working at the club on Saturday when subscriber Milt DeReyna texted me about the death of 30 year old PGA Tour pro Grayson Murray. We both suspected suicide; this was later confirmed by his family the following day.
Murray was a talented but troubled young man, having battled depression and alcoholism in his adult life. There were several incidents that marred his career, including an unfortunate club throwing tantrum at the 2022 US Open. Later that year he was involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident.
When the PGA Tour/LIV Golf League framework agreement was announced nearly a year ago, PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan flew to Canada to meet with the Tour players competing in the Canadian Open. It was a brutal, contentious affair, with Murray being especially critical of Monahan, telling him, “We don’t trust you, Jay. You lied to our face.”
Rory McIlroy, who was still carrying water for Monahan, cracked, “Just play better, Grayson,” to which Murray responded with an angry “Fuck you, Rory.”
But to his credit, Murray did play better, and appeared to have his demons under control, winning the 2024 Sony Open in Hawaii. He credited his faith, as well as his engagement to Christina Ritchie, in contributing to a new found sobriety.
One can only surmise what led him to take his life. He leaves behind his parents, many friends and fellow competitors on Tour, and far too many questions.
