Back 9 – Tom Green

By Colorado Avid Golfer

What celebrities or professional athletes have you played golf with?
Suresh Bhatnagar, via email

I’ve played with many high profile Colorado athletes, but maybe the most fun I’ve had doing that came with Scott Hamilton when he lived in Denver. He is a very fun guy as you might imagine. I had a chance to play with Dinah Shore back in the Jerry Ford Tournament back in 1988 – she was lovely. Probably the biggest celebrity I’ve ever played with is the legendary TV newscaster Jim Benemann.

Do you belong to a club—or do you like to play public courses?Ken Smith, via email

I am a member at The Golf Club at Pradera, but I probably play at least three-quarters of my golf at other courses. I get to many of Colorado’s public courses every year, too many to mention. I think in my 30 years here, the greatest growth in Colorado golf has not only been in the number of public courses, but in the quality of them.

You must get invited to a lot of charity events. Have you ever hosted one or do you plan to?Len Kazmarcyk, via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com

I guess the closest thing to ever hosting one has been with the Gold Crown Golf Classic every year—co-hosting that for a few years with Bill Hanzlik and Mark Wiebe. I really respect all of the work that goes into hosting these events, and the good that they do. I would consider doing it, if I could someday just organize the trunk of my car.

I’ve heard your son is a pretty good golfer. Has he ever outdriven—or beaten—his dad on the course?Leslie Janson, via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com

Only just about every time. Connor is going through that wonderful growth, where his capabilities and understanding of the game is surging by leaps and bounds. Let’s just say we love playing together, but are two trains headed in different directions.

What’s your favorite (clean) golf joke?Dick Dermer, via email

I didn’t know there were any “clean” ones.  

In the magazine it said your handicap was 8. Is that the lowest it’s ever been?Sandy Gaster, via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com

I’m not sure. I certainly was a much better player about 5-6 years ago. I like to think that my current game is “for entertainment purposes only.”

What’s your favorite golf destination outside of Colroado?Mark Mizrahi, via email

I guess there are three, and none of them will surprise you. I had a chance to play in Scotland, and while I loved St. Andrews, Turnberry actually became my favorite. Bandon Dunes is a unique golf destination with fantastic courses, but it’s a bit out of the way. Then there is, of course, Pebble Beach. The price is steep, so I asked myself on each tee “would I pay $25.00 to play this hole?”. Usually the answer was yes.

I heard you caddied on the PGA Tour. What was it like?Al Simon, via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com

First and foremost I had a great time because I was working for/with my friend Mark Wiebe. We always have a pretty good time together, especially on the golf course. It is also cool to work in close proximity of so many great players, to watch and absorb some of what makes them so good. I did it 3 times with Mark, and while Houston and Castle Pines were fun, Mark made three late birdies at Westchester in 1993 to get into a playoff with Vijay Singh. We didn’t win that day, but that was really cool.

Of all the people you’ve reported on, whom would you most like to spend four hours on a golf course with?Evan Bristol, via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com

There are so many, but—from golf —I’d have to say Arnold Palmer…just a brilliant blend of player and person. From outside of golf, it would have to be Bruce Springsteen. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t play the game, but it would be fun to just hang with him for 4 hours.

What do you think will happen first—the Broncos making the playoffs or Tiger winning another major?Tony Gutierrez, via email

I hope I’m wrong, but you’d have to think Tiger is quite a bit closer than the Broncos are at this point.

The way you seem on television, I can’t imagine you’re very competitive on the golf course. Am I right?Corinne Merz, via email

I do play in a few competitive events every year, but only because I like the events, not because I feed off the competitive aspect. I actually don’t keep score too often when I play. At the end of the round I usually know what I’ve shot (within 8-10 shots J). The game, for me, is fun—I certainly have more fun when I play better —but it is a game.

Next Up: Hollis Stacy, three-time U.S. Women’s Open Winner.