JUST missed aligning Issue 100 with my own birthday this week, but we're better for it. That's the perspective that being 35in' and thrivin' gives you.
Instead I will say thanks to everyone who wrote in last week with their thoughts and suggestions for the future of Breakfast Balls. Love hearing what you're digging and I'll 100% be working in your suggestions for new content, starting off with a little twist on a classic below.
OUR COLLECTIVE LIV ANTIDOTE
This week, Pinehurst No. 6 welcomed 96 players to the inaugural Adaptive U.S. Open. A tournament created by the USGA for golfers with physical, visual and intellectual disabilities.
And in a world where golf media is obsessed over an endless cycle of LIV announcements, then fallouts, then quotes about the fallout, then quotes about those quotes... it was really nice to see headlines and quotes like the following:
"You realize when you’re out here … how much more this is really what golf is, and that other stuff is just that other stuff... I think a lot of times we get so caught up in one percent, we forget about the real people who make up this game.” - Mike Whan, USGA CEO
You could select any one of the 96 different stories from the field this week and marvel at the kind of good which golf can provide in people's lives.
There were the people you knew, like Amy Bockerstette who stole the show at the 2019 WM Phoenix Open when she played the 16th with Kuchar and Woodland, carding a par in front of the stadium of fans.
Or Jake Olson, the blind former USC long snapper, who absolutely crushes the ball and snakes double breaking putts on feel alone.
But if you have the time this weekend, the USGA published a storyline for every participant. Even if it just serves as a simple reminder that golf shouldn't be about the small fraction we see on TV each weekend but rather the community of us all who understand that golf is a mindset and a lifestyle that pushes us to always go farther.
And with that in mind... allow me to introduce you to Matt Snyder!
Matt reached out this week and shared his story of having his leg amputated after a car accident 7 years ago. And how getting back on the golf course became his goal after the surgery.
Fast forward to today, where Matt not only shines as the best dressed guy at every tournament, but boasts a 14 handicap and a simple message to the BB readers.
"If I can inspire just one person to get up and work through their adversities, then I am making the world a better place."
Folks, ya can't say it much better than that.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Checking in on Max Homa's Twitter feed
WHO DOESN'T LIKE VACATION??
Normally, I'm all in on anything Homa is up to on Twitter and his clapback at Henrik Stenson's LIV announcement was classic Max.
But this one broke my brain a bit as who wouldn't be all-in on an Italian vacay?? Pizza, pasta, vibes—bored in 12 hours?? You okay, Max?
This week on Golf Reddit
THIS CAN'T BE TRUE...
In the spirit of international golf experiences, I came across this Reddit thread that was climbing the charts. Now, excuse me if this is some Reddit joke that I completely missed but this can't be true, right?
Golfers in Europe, the UK and Australia can't play music, eat hot dogs or have beverage carts??
Is this a local ordinance issue?
How have no golf courses seen these brilliant innovations in the overall enjoyment of the game and not immediately put them to use in their own venue?
Am I stumbling upon a business idea?
Have the LinksDAO country club group bought their course yet?
Would you, LinksDAO, like to bring me on as a strategic partner? I don't have a crypto wallet, per se, but I do have the Ridge wallet which is made of metal and is "non-traditional".
Apologies in advance for even writing Ridge wallet in this issue, as I now guarantee you get some targeted social ads because of it.
LPGA Superlatives
MOST LIKELY TO... HAVE WORKED AT A LAKESIDE BOAT RENTAL COMPANY AS HER SUMMER JOB
Lauren Hartlage.
It was the sunburn pattern for me.
Look, I vacationed in the WAY upper north part of Wisconsin growing up and as I perused the headshots of the LPGA for the first installment of Superlatives, I realized there was a 45% chance I had listened to how to put on a safety vest from Lauren at some point in my life.
*Reader Note - an excellent recco from reader Kyle D. I was getting tired of roasting PGA pros anyways.
Photoshoot Spotlights
EVER WONDER WHERE WE PLAY?
NEW SECTION ALERT!
This one was born out of a Slack conversation I had this week with Bill.
"Yo Bill - where on earth do you and the crew do all these photo shoots? And my follow up, how do we convince my wife, my son, Jason, BB finance, and the larger brand team to start letting me tag along?"
"Scottie, love you. But also, lol, nice try. Enjoy San Diego."
"Cool. Then can I at least know where these courses are so I can start updating my course bucket list?"
"That I can do."
And so here we are, as I give you all a little taste of the always epic places our crew picks for photo shoots.
Kicking it off with the panoramic paradise that is
Kelly Plantation Golf Club in Destin, Florida.
What makes 'em worth visiting?
1) Miles of waterfront holes means it's one of the few courses where dolphins are more abundant than squirrels.
2) Complementary drinks and chilled apples are served at the turn. Love a unique amenity and the team at Kelly are the textbook definition of Southern Hospitality.
3) The signature hole 6 is a straight up peninsula. For those who slept through geography class, that's essentially an island without the boat travel to get there. And they let us set up a friggin' drum kit on it... again that Southern Hospitality!
Masters ticket week!
ANNNND I'M SKUNKED AGAIN
Let me save you another minute or two of your day, if you didn't get an email, you didn't win.
BUT, we check anyways, don't we?
I was reading today (on Reddit I want to say? So ultimately who knows on its accuracy...) that the chances of being selected are like 0.5%, which weirdly feels both too high and shockingly low. But they went on to mention that it translates to winning once every 185 years. So we can file that under evidence for being shockingly low.
Long story short, there's always next year.
Have a Breakfast Balls-worthy tip? Secrets to teaching an infant to love golf from day one?
Hit me up! The hot line is always open.
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