There’s something quietly majestic about golf. It doesn’t demand attention with stadium roars or flashy lights. It unfolds slowly, deliberately—like a conversation between generations. Golf, perhaps more than any other sport, lives comfortably across ages and abilities. It’s not just a pastime. It’s a shared language, a lifelong bond, and, in many ways, a bridge between the young and the old.

A Game Without an Expiration Date

At its heart, golf is uniquely timeless. Where most sports favor youth, speed, and raw physicality, golf welcomes wisdom, patience, and experience. You can start at five or at seventy-five. A round of golf can be as leisurely or as competitive as the group playing it. There is no shot clock, no age bracket. Just a tee time, a little sunlight, and a willingness to play.

I once watched a grandfather and his 9-year-old grandson walking side by side down the fairway—one with a cane and a push cart, the other skipping ahead, driver in hand. They weren’t just playing a game. They were telling stories, teaching lessons, building something between them that no screen or streaming service could replicate.

The Handicap: Leveling the Field

Golf’s handicap system is one of the game’s most democratic features. It allows players of differing skill levels—and by extension, different generations—to compete on relatively equal footing. A teenager with a single-digit handicap can play a meaningful match with a retiree who’s playing bogey golf. The game doesn’t exclude. It adapts.

It’s not about hitting the ball the farthest; it’s about knowing how to play the course, how to recover, how to stay patient. These are life skills, not just sports skills. In golf, a 10-year-old can outplay an adult not because of power, but because of discipline and mental sharpness. And that’s part of what makes it beautiful.

Time, Conversation, and Connection

Eighteen holes is a gift of time—four hours away from screens, noise, and distraction. In that time, parents bond with children, friends reconnect, business partners find common ground. For grandparents and grandchildren, those hours on the course become memories stitched together by stories, laughter, and the occasional errant shot into the woods.

There’s an unspoken rhythm to golf that mirrors life itself. The ups and downs. The challenges. The need for composure and resilience. It’s a sport, yes—but also a meditation, a masterclass in grace, a celebration of presence.

A Sport That Grows With You

Unlike sports you outgrow or age out of, golf grows with you. The course you played as a kid feels different at 40, at 60, at 80. Your swing changes. Your focus shifts. But the game remains loyal. It evolves with your body and your mindset, always offering new lessons.

It’s not just a sport you play. It’s a sport that stays with you—for a lifetime.

Fun Fact: In 2020 and 2021, the Par 3 Contest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making its return in 2022 all the more cherished by players and fans alike.

Every April, as azaleas bloom and the eyes of the golf world turn to Augusta, one beloved tradition kicks off the festivities with charm, smiles, and a dose of superstition: The Masters Par 3 Contest.

Since its inception in 1960, the Par 3 Contest has been a lighthearted prelude to one of the most prestigious events in golf. Held the Wednesday before the first round of The Masters, this fan-favorite exhibition takes place on a 9-hole course nestled within the Augusta National grounds. Though its tone is far more relaxed than the main event, the Par 3 Contest is steeped in its own rich history and lore.

The idea was the brainchild of legendary Augusta National Chairman Clifford Roberts, who envisioned a more casual, fan-friendly event that would complement the seriousness of the tournament itself. The course, designed by George Cobb in collaboration with Roberts, features holes ranging from 70 to 140 yards, wrapping around a series of picturesque ponds and creeks.

What sets the contest apart is the joy. It’s not uncommon to see legends of the game handing off putters to their grandkids or teeing off with their children. Many players invite their families to serve as caddies, often clad in the iconic white Augusta jumpsuits. These moments create some of the week’s most heartwarming and viral images—tiny toddlers sinking putts, Hall of Famers laughing with their spouses, and multi-generational bonding that transcends the game itself.

Over the years, the Par 3 Contest has produced unforgettable highlights. In 2008, Gary Player, at 73 years old, aced the 7th hole. In 2015, Jack Nicklaus hit a hole-in-one at the age of 75—adding to a staggering total of over 100 aces recorded during the event’s history.

It’s also become an informal showcase of golf’s greatest legends. In many years past, you might see Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player—collectively known as the “Big Three”—sharing laughs and swinging side by side. Today, stars like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth keep the spirit alive, bringing their kids, friends, or even celebrities along for the ride.

Despite the fun, there’s one unspoken truth players know all too well: No winner of the Par 3 Contest has ever gone on to win The Masters in the same year.

Call it superstition or coincidence, but many contenders intentionally avoid trying too hard to win the Wednesday event. They’ll joke about laying up on par-3s or missing short putts on purpose. For those laser-focused on the green jacket, taking home the crystal trophy from Wednesday might feel like a kiss of death.

While it’s technically an exhibition, the Par 3 Contest captures something that often gets lost in elite competition: pure joy. It’s a chance for players to breathe, fans to connect, and Augusta National to showcase its softer side. In an event known for its rigid traditions and rules, this one feels like a sweet exhale before the storm.

Whether it’s a child’s first swing, a legend’s final walk, or a spontaneous hole-in-one, the Par 3 Contest continues to add magic to Masters week—reminding us all that golf, at its heart, is a game to be enjoyed.

The Masters Par 3 Contest might not crown a green jacket winner, but it wins hearts year after year. It’s living proof that in a sport built on precision and patience, there’s still plenty of room for fun, family, and a little bit of luck.

The Story of my unique friendship with Bernhard Langer.

Next week marks the end of an era—Bernhard Langer will tee it up at Augusta National for the final time. The two-time Masters champion has become a fixture at the tournament for decades, not just for his legendary discipline and longevity, but for the quiet impact he’s had on so many within the game. With his farewell on the horizon, we thought it was the perfect moment to revisit a personal story that highlights the side of Bernie most fans don’t get to see.

👉 Read on to learn how Bernhard Langer and I became unlikely friends in a moment that proved golf is about more than just scores and trophies.

I do not personally know any famous athletes. Yes, of course, I’ve had the opportunity for the quick handshake or photoshoot at an event or book signing but that is the extent of it.   There is however one exception, my friendship with Bernhard Langer, who just last week won his 46^th event on the Senior Tour and recorded the most wins ever on this tour, surpassing Hale Irwin, a record many thought, including myself,  would not be beaten just a few years ago.   Langer is a true golf legend and one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport. That’s Undebatable!

As a golf enthusiast and owner of ClickitGolf, I’m happy to hang around with anyone who is a single-digit handicapper, yet alone a professional golfer, whether on the PGA, LPGA, Senior Tour, Korn Ferry and now of course the LIV Tour.  I love asking questions and learning about their day-to-day routines and everything associated with the game.

People always will ask me “How did you become such good friends with Langer?”. The answer is relatively simple.   Bernhard and I live in the same community in South Florida. With both of us living here for decades, I would always see him on the range but never had the courage to say hello;  I don’t know why, but I always figured he was preparing for an upcoming tournament and didn’t want to be “That  Annoying Guy”.  

One afternoon, he and I were hitting relatively close to each other on the range.  I walked over and said with a smirk on my face “I heard you are a good golfer, but I would love to play you in a different sport to see who is a better athlete?’  Pretty good opening line if you ask me and his response was classic.  

His comeback was “How about ping pong at my house later this afternoon?”  I didn’t know if he was kidding, or if this was a sincere offer.  A few minutes later, he gave me his address, cellphone # and said, “I’ll see you at 5 PM”. Although I used to play 30+ years ago in my NJ basement, I had not played in years. But, there was no way I was turning that offer down!

Like riding a bicycle, it came right back.  I remember our “first date”  like it was yesterday, it was on this random Friday when a mere game of ping pong started our friendship.  Many years later, I now consider Bernie one of my closest friends.   We played ping pong each week and during Covid, we were playing 4 to 5 days a week while he was not traveling and playing in events – we had a fun $5.00 trophy made and it would go back and forth to our houses depending on who won that day.    All of a sudden, I am playing a weekly pong match with a Masters champ and arguably a GOAT in the game of golf. In his trophy case, I made sure that this plastic $5 trophy was seated right next to his 2 Master’s Trophies!

Eventually, transitioning from ping pong to playing golf with him was definitely an out-of-body experience.   I’ve been fortunate to play many rounds with him since– Quite candidly, the first time we played, I was a nervous wreck (Let’s be honest – who wouldn’t be). That’s when it hit me…on the 1^st tee, I literally I couldn’t hold the club – I   just prayed that my tee shot went up in the air and relatively straight……. thankfully it did!   We now play a dollar a hole and only once in all these years have I beaten him (of course, he is giving me a ton of shots as he plays to a plus 5 when we play – so there’s that!).

More important than his golf, Langer is a better man than he is a golfer.  A true family man, very devoted to his faith,  humble, and a genuine friend.  I feel very fortunate to call him my friend and look forward to many years of ping pong, golf, and family time together.