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The 19th Hole
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 Hoffman stands out on Tour for his style as well as his play (PHOTO: Eddie Meeks). But the San Diego and Las Vegas resident also is making a concerted effort to step up and help junior golf programs through the Charley Hoffman Foundation, a new fund-raising venture that hosts numerous events, including a pro-am this month at Del Mar Country Club. While 2009 was a good year for Hoffman in terms of earnings, he didn’t record a victory, and that’s something he will strive to accomplish this season. He’d also like to see his beloved San Diego Chargers win a Super Bowl, and he enjoys playing golf with some of the players when possible. But his best times on the golf course come when playing with his dad, Ernie, and brother John. What made you want to start your own foundation? For many years, [San Diego native and Masters winner] Craig Stadler did the SDJGA Pro-Am. When he stopped doing it, SDJGA approached me to run it, and I did that the last two years. We raised over $120,000 at last year’s pro-am, and the majority of that went into running tournaments and making sure that the organization could keep their entry fees low. Living in both Las Vegas and San Diego, I was trying to find a way where I could give back to both communities and still be able to help the SDJGA. Starting a foundation was the first thing that came to mind. What does it mean to you to help junior golf? Without junior golf, who knows where I would be. I probably wouldn’t be playing golf and doing what I love to do, so I owe a lot to junior golf and that’s why I enjoy putting on this fund-raiser. Fees to use golf courses are getting more expensive, and we’re trying to limit that so it’s still affordable for all kids and not just kids that have country club money. As part of your Waste Management sponsorship, you wear a green glove to raise environmental awareness. How did that come about? My contract with them is just to wear the green glove, but I’ve extended that to sometimes wear green shoes, a green belt and green slacks so it’s more recognizable and so people can become more aware of the need to recycle and do what we can to help the environment and provide for future generations. What’s your biggest goal for the year? I start off with small goals, just trying to play well and put myself in contention, and then when you get in contention you want to win. When the wins start coming, all of the good stuff — like a spot on the Ryder Cup team — comes along with it. Have you had to change your equipment to accommodate the new groove rule? At the end of the year, I did tests at Titleist Performance Institute for spin and groove thickness. I’m not affected at all by it. I don’t think it’s going to be that big of a deal for guys. It may be a little bit of a bigger deal for players in the younger generation who grew up with those spin-milled wedges, since they’ve never really had to play with V grooves. I’ve always played traditional blade irons. We adapt pretty easily, and that’s why we’re the best at what we do. You’ve always seemed to stand out on the course. Any particular reason? I wouldn’t say I try to stand out, it’s more that I don’t want to look like everybody else. In golf, the crowd doesn’t really know who you are but they can walk down the fairway and know who I am because of my hair. Hopefully, it brings a few more guys to the sport who like to watch me play. |
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