Below is an interview with Peter Orrell, President and CEO of Junior Sports Corporation, owner/operator of the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, the International Junior Golf Tour, the Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy and the Heritage Academy.
The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.
When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game? I started late at around 30. I was introduced to corporate golf as part of my job at the time and quickly developed a passion for the game. Of course, starting that late in life, there was no real chance to become a low handicapper. Currently, I play to a 16....unfortunately.
What is your current home course? My home course is located close to my lake house in Mckellar, Ontario, Canada. It is a great course, the Ridge at Manitou.
To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment? As I say, I'm not great golfer, so my proudest moment was breaking 80.
What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course? On the course, it has to be slow play. A close second are the guys who insist on playing from the tips even though their handicaps are very high. Off the course, I just enjoy everything that is golf so there really is no pet peeve.
What is your favorite golf destination? It's a tie between Loch Lomond, Scotland and Mid-Ocean in Bermuda.
What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet? St. Andrews
If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play? Wow, that's a tough one. I'd go with Mid-Ocean.
If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why? I'd let the pros wear shorts. Sounds crazy, but it just seems inhuman to have to play in long pants when it's in the 90's.
Dream foursome (living)? Rickie Fowler, Steve Stricker, Jack Nicklaus and me.
Dream foursome (living or dead)? Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and me.
Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions
1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt? Long Putt.2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One? Round of Life
3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight? Dawn
4) Hit a power fade OR power draw? Fade
5) Beverage cart OR halfway house? Cart
6) Hot dog OR wrap? Hot Dog
7) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough? Sand
8) Walking OR riding? Walking
9) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid? Hybrid
10) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5? Par 5
11) Pants OR Shorts? Shorts
12) Palmer OR Nicklaus? Nicklaus
13) Beatles OR Elvis? Beatles
14) Play for fun OR play for money? Fun
15) Bump and run OR flop shot? Bump and run
16) Lay up OR gamble? Lay up
17) 18 holes OR 36? 18
