Click4TeeTimes

SITE

SEARCH

GOLF COURSE SEARCH:

GOLF CALENDAR

submit your event here
May 2012
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
293012345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829303112
3456789

The 19th Hole

Untitled Page

Greg Maddux

One of the best pitchers ever to step on a mound has always enjoyed stepping up to the tee.

BY ELI MILLERPublished: April, 2010

Greg Maddux employs more power than finesse in golf (PHOTO: Eddie Meeks).
Greg Maddux won 355 games and had a superb 3.16 earned run average over his 22-year career as a pitcher in Major League Baseball. Among the many hurlers who play golf on a routine basis, Maddux is one of the best. The native of San Angelo, Texas, who turns 44 this month, had a handicap index of 3.2 a few years ago.
   
Although the renowned right-handed starter made his living with intelligence and accuracy on the mound, he admits his golf game is more like that of a powerful closer, with plenty of distance off the tee yet not much consistency in finding the short grass.
   
Earlier this year, Maddux returned to play at the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta, and he talked for a bit following his round on the Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West.

What made you want to come to the Hope?
It’s fun, I enjoy it, and I got invited. It’s just cool watching these guys play. It’s fun watching how the pros pace themselves and work their way around the golf course.

What are some of your best memories from the tournament?
[Former Atlanta Braves pitchers] Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and I played with Arnold Palmer one day, and that was pretty cool. Just to see Arnie play golf, talk to him, watch how he interacted with the fans and how he still was able to play golf as well as he could was pretty special. Playing with Tom Kite was awesome, as was David Duval, Charley Hoffman — there’s always a story you can take home with you.

As a pitcher, you were all about location and changing speeds. How does your golf game compare?
Well, it’s just about trying to find it and hit it again, really. You control the spin on a baseball, and you try to control the spin on the golf ball. I don’t do that very well, but I like to play.

You played for the Padres and the Dodgers. Any favorite courses in Southern California?
Yeah, I have lots of them. In San Diego, I liked Del Mar, San Diego and La Jolla country clubs, Torrey Pines. In Los Angeles, I love Bel-Air, Sherwood, the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club, Riviera.

Besides Glavine and Smoltz, who were some of your favorite baseball players to play golf with?
I had fun playing with Jake Peavy, Steve Avery, Derek Lowe — there are always two or three guys on your team that you go out and play with. It’s a good way to get away from the game, just to be outside and enjoy yourself.

Who was the best?
Smoltzy, hands down. Not even close. Smoltzy can play.

You’re now an assistant general manager for the Chicago Cubs. What made you want to come back to the game?
I love baseball, and I love Chicago. It’s an opportunity to see if I like the other end of it. I’m going to try to make the best of it. Hopefully, I can help.