Signs of a Good Host

I recently saw a picture of “Backpack” the bear, winner of “Fat Bear Week”.

Naturally, I pondered the nature of hibernation and it’s relation to my junior golf performance. As one does.

What would have happened if I lived in a warm climate year round? Could I have milked every ounce of talent out of my ectomorphic frame? Could I have secured a singular pity invitation to the Crump?

Who is to say?

I do think there’s regenerative healing that comes from sustained absence from any endeavor or passion. Balance gained from a hibernation, whether it be as a bear or a human, is a net positive.

Many people ask me about standard operating procedure as a guest. I answer with many of the same refrains, which can mostly be translated to "read what I have already written".

Anyway, a reader emailed me and astutely pointed out that I, of all people, have not yet written about how to be an effective host. That changes today.

Before talking about the tactical elements of excellent hosting, I’d like to emphasize the importance of inviting guests who make it easy to be a good host.

Please read that a few times, internalize it, and then continue.

Business golf aside (where you don’t really have a choice), guest selection is a balancing act. A guest who takes the invitation too seriously, or not seriously enough, will tip the scale unfavorably.

I wish there were a mathematical equation to help you, my loyal readers, choose the right guests. But alas, it can only come from a gut feeling. An instinct which can only be developed by playing a lot of golf with a plethora of characters.

For the sake of this example, let’s pretend you’ve invited an acquaintance to come play at your club for an overnight.

A good host over-communicates, no exceptions.

Let’s say you’ve met this person a few times, or maybe perhaps have only met them online. It’s best to assume they know absolutely nothing about the club, it’s rules, and what is expected of them.

While it may seem inane to s-p-e-l-l out your instructions, it’s better for the guest to arrive with all of the information they need. A bit of upfront communication could include:

If you’ve chosen your guest well, this part should be easy.

Expectations are things like use of technology, general etiquette, and pace of play. When you’re invited to a club, these are the type of rules that separate it from traditional public golf.

It’s about buying into the collective expectations of the membership and rules set forth by the club. It’s not about your preferences, as we can all do without our cell phones for a few hours.

Anyway, these can be communicated via text or in person. I prefer in person if possible.

As another general rule, the host pays for everything. It’s part of the responsibility. If my guest beats me to paying the caddie, I can live with it, but the general expectation should be that you, the host, foot the bill.

The beauty of golf is its reciprocal nature. Whether it be the next week or the following year, the invitation is almost always paid back.

Good hosts communicate early and often, set expectations, and are there to ensure guests enjoy the day while playing within the lines.

Communicate, set expectations, and enjoy the day.

When I was sixteen, I bought a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 off of eBay. I used that putter for eleven years.

It survived junior golf, college golf, and every tourney in between. I was never a particularly good putter, but used that one nonetheless.

“Tinkering is for head-cases!”, I told myself. It was going to take a lot for me to change putters.

But then, during Christmas of 2023, my brother offered to get me fitted for a putter for the first time in my life. He directed me to the putters made by Paradise. He had just used one in a KFT event.

I went to get fitted with his “guy”, an operator of a hole-in-the-wall shop in South Florida.

Just as you want it to be.

BTG life tip: Sales is an emotional game. Anyone who pitches you on the technical aspects of their product does not know what they are doing. Humans buy emotionally, and justify a purchase with facts. Go watch any old Apple commercial.

The putter felt right in my hands from the moment I picked it up. I didn’t know the length, lie angle, or any of that nonsense. It just felt right.

With a quick grip adjustment, I had found the flat stick for me. A beautiful Heron blade. It’s been in the bag ever since, save for a few moments of mallet-induced weakness.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I received an auspicious message from the Paradise team. They had seen my Instagram post including their putter and wanted to partner.

I’ll never advertise products I don’t use or believe in. I’ve held out on ads for this long because nothing has felt right - until now.

So, welcome to the show, Paradise Putters. If you feel so inclined, purchase a putter through this link to support our ongoing partnership.

As always, reach out with any questions.

Thank you to reader Nelson for submitting his Mackenzie for review.

I don’t have a lot to go on here, but it’s hard to make a Sunday bag look bad.

Throw some knit head covers, a few alignment sticks, and a players towel on there and you’ll have a bag that looks good 99% of the time.

The caveat with the Mackenzie is skill level. I think you have to be really good or a mega architecture nerd to carry one. Could be me, or it could be their Pacific northwest lineage.

They’re cool, but in a crunchy, exclusive, “better than you” kinda way.

I’m going on incomplete data here as I can’t see the clubs themselves, but the bag itself seems to be well put together.

Score: 8.4

Want to show off your bag? Email me a picture of your bag and a sentence why it should be featured. [email protected] or reply to this email.

Thanks for reading.

Talk soon,

-BTG