The Golfing World According to Marcel Du Plessis
OBSERVATIONS – Part 1.
The sport of Golf has given men and woman all around the world a lot of things to be thankful for. The fellowship between friends when playing a round, the great stories of that one perfect shot that are regurgitated over and over again, the much needed thirst quenching beer after a long round and for some people, an excuse to get away from their husbands, wives, girlfriends or boyfriends for just a while to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing (depending on your game) day out.
However, the game of Golf has also given us something that we are not always very conscious of, a way to evaluate the personalities of your fellow players. I’m sure that most golfers out there have heard the saying “you can tell a lot about a man by the way he plays golf”. To me, this holds particularly true.
Over the last 13 months I’ve had the pleasure of playing golf with a stellar group of guys. I’ve gotten to know most of them quite well and have made some great friends along the way. This has also allowed me to observe them while they play golf and I must admit, I can see a lot of their personalities coming through in their golf game. The way they play their shots, their mannerisms, their attitudes, all of which are pretty good examples of what they’re like outside of golf. I’m going to share some of my observations of 3 guys that I’ve played the most golf with, and hopefully my fellow SOS tour members agree with me.
First on my list of victims, Andrew Robertson aka Chip, aka No, No, No, No, No!
- No, No, NO, NO! Robertson
Observing Chip playing golf can be quite a sight to behold. Every shot, every hole with Chip reminds me of the pyramids of Egypt. Not because of its majesty or greatness, but because it takes him about the same amount of time to find his ball and play it, than it took to build them. There have been numerous occasions of all the players in his fourball already standing, waiting on the green while he is still 150m behind looking for his ball. He is known as the slowest player on tour for a reason although he will argue that point non-stop. Coming home from year end tour last year we had to drop the Hulk off at home. As we stopped outside his gate his old lady came to greet us. She said hello to everyone in the car but when she saw Chip, her first words to him were “Did you hold everyone up again this weekend Chip”? Testimony that even people that don’t play golf know that he operates at the same speed as a herd of buffalo stampeding through peanut butter (thanks for that one Rich). But that is Chip, through all of his slowness and sloth like demeanour there is a perfectionist. A guy who always has to be sure of every decision he makes and who never does anything half way. Very calculated and very precise with no regard to what other people think about him. A guy who does what he wants, how he wants and when he wants. Admirable qualities if you ask me. A pain in the arse if you ask anyone else
Next up, the tour charna, Richard “Dick” Gaugeler, aka Mr Mulligan.
- Muscle Mulligan
Being of German descent, I can see some of that same German precision and engineering come through in his golf game. Not only does he have a firm body, GRRRRRRRRRRRRR, but he also has a firm approach to his game. I think everyone that has played a round with him has noticed his little ritual that he does before he plays his shot. The arm extension with his club above his head and the little squat before he addresses his ball. With muscles like that I suppose the need to keep them loose and warm before a swing is essential. Or it could just be the need to do some exercise to keep looking tit hey! However, those rituals and muscles tell me one thing about this hunk of man meat, he is a disciplined, hard working man who adheres to a strict set of rules and never deviates from them. He is very driven and focussed and will do exactly what is necessary to reach his goals. Much like Adolf Hitler.
Another thing I’ve noticed about Richard when he plays golf is that when he’s played a good shot he always gives his club a little kiss. This, no doubt, is very cute. It makes me wonder if he gives his biceps a kiss after each set of dumbbell curls at the gym? Nonetheless, this tells me that he is thankful for what he’s got and also not afraid of his feminine side. Which is quite prominent.
Last on my list, Nicholas “Ax Man” Rebello.
- ola! Do you have some wood for me to hit?
Whenever his name comes up I picture a little hamster/ferret/rodent like creature who’s staple diet consists of ecstasy and Red Bull. Not because of his appearance (which is very pretty according to some ladies) but because of his energetic spirit when it comes to golf and post golf fines. Always trying to get better at his game, always asking for help with his swing from fellow players (which has become less and less as he is well on his way to becoming a top notch player judging by some of his most recent scores) and never giving up. I remember playing golf with him at Benoni Lake a few months ago and things weren’t going his way. I can remember one hole where he spent so much time in the trees and struck so much wood trying to get his ball back in play that I thought he may have swapped his clubs for a chainsaw and turned into a lumberjack. Nevertheless, he soldiered on. Shrugging off all the bad shots and taking everything in his stride. No wonder he won the tour’s “Spirit of Golf” award last year.
It’s through all these observations that I have come to know these guys quite well over the past year. Golf has given me a different view of the people that I call my fellow tour players and friends. It has let me see them at their best and at their worst, but if ever there was a way to determine a man’s worth, it is through the game of Golf.