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The 19th hole
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 Former Angel Darin Erstad caught the golf bug after getting involved in charity events (COURTESY: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). Erstad was a star around the diamond for the Angels, shining as both a valuable run producer and a steady defensive player. Not only was he the first player in Major League Baseball history to win a Gold Glove as both an infielder and outfielder, he also was the first player ever to drive in more than 100 runs from the leadoff position (in 2000). The 35-year-old didn’t have a formal retirement ceremony but says he is done playing professional baseball. Although Erstad still owns a house in Newport Beach, he lives full-time in Nebraska with wife Jessica and their three children — daughter Jordan, 4, son Zack, 2, and newborn son Adam. This month, Jessica will host the seventh annual Not So Serious Women’s Golf Outing at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, with proceeds going to the Child Abuse Prevention Center. Darin, an avid golfer himself, will serve as co-chair. What made you want to get involved with Jessica’s tournament this year? I tried to help out a little bit in previous years, but it was kind of hard when I was playing baseball. I’m real proud of my wife for putting it all together, and I’m just trying to help out any way that I can. Have you officially retired? I didn’t officially retire, but I knew I was done playing this winter. I kind of just tried to slide into the background, I didn’t really need to announce anything. So now that you have a little more time, this is obviously something you can accommodate. Absolutely. I think this is the last year Jessica is going to host it in California, since we have moved back to Nebraska and she’s going to start doing her charity stuff here. this is kind of the final sendoff, and it’s fitting we have a theme of Baseball All-Stars and the All-Star Game is in Anaheim. It ties together really well. You must have been quite the friendly player if you were able to grab memorabilia from so many high-profile players. I was very humbled by the fact that everybody sent stuff back. You don’t get to see it, but they all have huge hearts and they want to help people, and this is a great cause. Plus, I kind of think they like my wife and her tournament more than they like me (laughs). Do you still have a house in Southern California? Did you play a lot of golf there? Do you miss the area? We have a house in Newport Beach. But our kids are going to going to school in Nebraska, her family is from here, I’m from North Dakota and my family is all still from there. We’ll keep our place in California, but we just have too many good friends and too many connections here. How did you get started playing golf? When I had free time as a kid — and I didn’t have much — I would play a little bit. I loved to play, but I just didn’t have time. As I started Major League Baseball and had a little bit of time in the offseason, I started doing a couple of charity events here and there, and it kind of stuck. As time’s gone on, I became more and more interested in it, and my wife loves to golf too, and we spend a lot of time out there together. It’s just a great way to bond together. I’ve got that bug. I think a lot of baseball players are drawn to golf because it’s just as hard, if not harder, to hit a golf ball than a baseball. And it’s a tremendous challenge as well. So you started playing more when you were in MLB? In 1999 I probably started playing a handful of times per month. When I was a bench player the last few years, I probably played a little bit more than I did when I played every day. Now, I just love to play. It’s relaxing, it’s a great challenge — there are so many different challenges you face all at once. Have you been playing more golf lately? How do you like golf in Nebraska? A couple of times per week. With the newborn, I’m trying to help out a little bit around the house, and not that you can make up for lost time, but I’m trying to spend more time with my kids. It’s nice to see them when I wake up every day. Where do you like to play in Nebraska? We just joined a club called Fire Thorn in Lincoln. And, we’re members at Dismal River, which is a club in Mullin. When you were on the Angels, where did you like to play? We lived pretty close to Pelican Hill, and that was by far my favorite place to play. We played a ton there. Another place we really liked to play was Talega down in San Clemente. And then I’d ride the coattails of a few of the guys and go play over at Shady Canyon when I got invited. What do you like about the game? For me, it’s the challenge. It’s mind-boggling how hard the game is. I think like when you hit a home run or you square up a baseball, that feeling is of everything just fitting perfectly together. In golf, you’re the same way. Obviously you don’t do it as many times as an amateur golfer but when you square it up and everything just falls into place, the feeling is just something you can’t recreate. And being on the course, there’s beautiful green grass, the company, the little side bets — all kinds of good stuff. What’s the most money you’ve ever won on the course? If I keep one dollar more than I give away, I’m a happy camper. I’m not a high-stakes gambler, but I can play for pennies, that’s fine with me as long as I win. A penny goes a lot farther. What do you consider to be the strongest part of your game? That’s debatable because I don’t think I have one (laughs). I think I’m a pretty good putter. If I can get on the green in regulation, I’ll score pretty well. But getting there is the problem. What’s your handicap? Last I checked it was a 6.5. Are you a fan of the PGA Tour? Any favorite golfers to watch? I have it on right now (first round of The Players Championship). I’m flipping between that and the Phillies/Cardinals game. I love to watch courses and see how the players dissect those things, especially ones that I’ve played. I’ve had the privilege to play at Sawgrass once, and it’s just fun to relate to the shots they face. I love it. I like watching Phil Mickelson. I kind of cheer for the lefties a little bit. I like Mike Weir, too. I love watching Tiger, too. Just the excitement that he brings. I like Chad Campbell because we have the same advisor, so I pull for him. You’ve had so many great moments in baseball. What has been your most memorable moment in golf? (Laughs) I’m so bad at this. I’ve never had a hole in one, but my wife has, so she’s got that over me. We had an off-day last year and I played Oakmont CC in Pittsburgh. I had to win the last three holes to take down Russ Ortiz and I won the last three holes. He framed me his ball and the scorecard, and it was memorable because the year I was with the White Sox in 2007 we had a day off that fell during the U.S. Open and we got to go up there and follow the guys and I got to see my parents, too. It was awesome to get to play the same holes and see those same shots. And doing that to Russ was pretty fun. Was Oakmont the toughest course you’ve ever played? I think so. I hit the ball straight that day, so I had a fighting chance, but it could be awfully difficult. The course that’s given me the most trouble is Dallas National. I have all kinds of problems there. Is Russ a pretty good player? Yeah, he’s pretty good, I’m guessing he’s about a 2 or 3 handicap. He’s a pitcher — pitchers have nothing else to do but play golf. Of course they’re good. Who’s the best baseball player you’ve played golf with? I would say probably Phil Nevin, just as far as consistently playing well. Including yourself, who would be in your ultimate foursome? My number one would have been Kirby Puckett. I was a huge fan of his growing up in North Dakota, and he was in Minnesota. He’s the man. Then, I’d say Tiger. I’ll keep that last spot open and take some resumes for it. Perhaps a player from your days on the Angels? Troy Glaus had a nice swing, he was good. Our pitchers really didn’t play that well. Troy Percival might be the worst golfer I’ve ever played with. He loves the game, he’s just not very good. He’s a reliever, those guys are a different breed. Our starters really didn’t play that much. Benji Gil was a pretty darn good golfer. |
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RSS SubscribeReaders Feedback:
The Erstad's have done great things here in Orange County that very few know about. Jessica's leadership and Darin's support has helped the Child Abuse Prevention Center serve over 2,000 children and parents over the past 8 years. As competitive as they both are, they are just as intense in giving back to the community. We will miss them alot. It's your good fortune Nebraska!!
| Comment at 6/21/2010 |
I grew up in Jamestown North Dakota, and it was a pleasure to watch Darin compete in baseball, football, hockey, and track and field. He was a state champion in both hurdle races, and hockey may have been his best sport. His talent in football was also obvious as he played for the Huskers in college.
A truly nice man who has never had an ego, he is the pride of Jamestown, and North Dakota. Have a great life Darin.
| Comment at 2/5/2011 |
