Interview With Garrett Mack PGA Head Golf Professional Silver Spring Country Club

Below is an interview with Garrett Mack, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Silver Spring Country Club. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
An old friend of the family invited me to play 9 hole back in 1994. We had fun and starting playing once a week, which quickly turned into 3-4 times a week. It didn't take long for me to get hooked on the game.

What is your current home course?
Silver Spring Country Club

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
My proudest moment would be passing the PGA Playing Ability test. It took me a while to pass it, and at times I never thought I would. But one cloudy, cold, windy, and rainy day at Dretzka Park, I shot the two lowest rounds of my life (at the time) to pass with ease.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
People who don't rake bunkers, or fix ball marks. I know how hard the grounds crews work to keep the course in good shape and to me that just shows how inconsiderate some people can be.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
I don't really have a favorite club, but I do have a ball retriever I'm quite fond of.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Unfortunately I haven't been to any of the big name "golf destinations" like Kohler, or Pinehurst yet, so I don't really have a favorite. I have been down to Arizona a few times and enjoyed their courses, does that count?

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Augusta National.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
The Links at Lawsonia in Green Lake Wisconsin. I try to play there once a year and I always have fun.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
I would like to make the rules of golf much simpler and easier to understand.

Dream foursome (living)?
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
My step-father Bob Sullivan, my friend Phil Hunt, and Manuel de la Torre. These are the three people who introduced, taught, and gave me passion for the game of golf.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Since I'm not a big hitter, I would have to choose long drive. You can get lucky and sink a long putt, but nobody gets lucky and hits a 325 yard drive.

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
My best round is a 65, and I have had three Hole in Ones. At this point in my life I think that is as good as it will get. But to make a choice, I'd choose round of life.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight, I hate mornings.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power fade. Phil Mickelson couldn't win a major until he learned to hit a fade.

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Why can't we do both?

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bathroom.

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Depends on my mood.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand.

9) Walking OR riding?
Riding, it's faster.

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
I carry both.

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long par 5.

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Pants. Legs that look like mine usually come with a biscuit and a side of cole slaw.

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Not fair, I shouldn't have to choose. Both of these gentlemen are icons!

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Beatles.

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
I play for fun, but it's nice if you can win a little money.

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
What's a lay-up?

18) 18 holes OR 36?
Why stop at 36, if there's more daylight?