Seemingly every athlete wants to be an entertainer or some type of celebrity. Conversely, celebrities and entertainers often dreamed of being athletes. Most of us average guys might be a little jealous of an athlete or entertainer, but the athletes and celebrities themselves are not immune to a little envy. Athlete or actor, singer or sports star, everyone wants to be something that they are not.
Fortunately for all these athletes and celebrities they do occasionally get to spend some time together doing something besides that for which they are best known. My favorite example of this is the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Here actors and celebrities and even athletes from other sports get to mix it up with professional golfers. Here on the exquisite links of the Monterey Peninsula athletes and celebrities get to tee it up with golf’s best. Here the entertainers get to be athletes and the sports stars get to spend some time on their second favorite sport.
In most sports your average celebrity cannot be on the same field of play with a professional. However golf is a different sport entirely. Instead of going man against man it is man against the course. On a golf course musician Kenny G can play right along with Phil Mickelson. Actor Ray Romano can play with Dustin Johnson. Even athletes from other sports like Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo, fresh from the rigors of the NFL season, can tee it up with reigning FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker.
ESPN’s Chris Berman and Fox News’ Bret Baier get to step into the arena and have others critique their performance. Wayne Gretzky, arguably hockey’s greatest player, gets to show that he can still swing the sticks. For professional surfer Kelly Slater this great event affords him the opportunity to spend a few days on the golf course yet still keep an eye on the Pacific surf. Then there is actor Bill Murray who will once again make his annual pilgrimage to one of golf’s true shrines.
If watching the celebrities is not your thing then watch for the stunning scenery. Host course Pebble Beach is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. The panoramic views of the Monterey Peninsula are simply incredible. It must be difficult for the entertainers and professional golfers to stay focused on the task at hand while admiring the course and the coast. Or perhaps they are wondering what it might be like to walk 18 in the shoes of one of their playing partners.
Dwight is an avid golfer.
