Interview With Matt S. Edlin Head Golf Professional Hidden Cypress Golf Club

Below is an interview with Matt S. Edlin, the Head Golf Professional at Hidden Cypress Golf Club. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

Can you provide our readers a brief biography?
Graduate of the Professional Golf Management program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Recently became a 20 year PGA Member. Have been in the current position for 14 years at Hidden Cypress Golf Club located in Sun City Hilton Head, Bluffton, South Carolina. Instruction experience includes teaching students of all ages and skill levels.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
I started golfing at the age of 7-8, and was introduced to the game by my father. First memory of golf was on a par 3 executive course. I hit my best tee shot and it looked like it had a chance to reach the green, and it was heading right for the pin. The ball ended up hitting one of the old time large fairway sprinkler heads, and bounced about 20-30 yards to the left of the green. Needless to say I was quite upset, but it made me more determined to learn the game and become a better player.

What is your current home course?
Hidden Cypress Golf Club

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
Being a part of my high school state championship golf team.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Golfers that do not respect the course and their fellow golfers by not taking care of ball marks, repairing divots, and most of all not raking the bunkers.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
Any hybrid club because I can use it from the fairway, rough, and even around the green for bump and run shots.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Northern Michigan, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
TPC in Florida.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Old Tabby Links at Spring Island Golf Club, Spring Island, South Carolina.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Allow golfers to place the ball in a bunker, without penalty, if their ball is resting in a footprint, or poorly raked bunker. This would at least give golfers a better chance to hit a proper bunker shot, rather than hitting from an already poor position. The tour players are always playing from nearly perfect bunkers, but the amateur golfers rarely get that chance.

Dream foursome (living)?
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Sinking Long Putt

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Hole in One since I am still waiting for my first.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight, as it is really quiet and peaceful late in the day.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power draw

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage cart

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bathroom

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Wrap

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
I prefer rough.

9) Walking OR riding?
Riding at this point, but I enjoy walking.

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Hybrid

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long par 5

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Pants

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Nicklaus

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Beatles

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Fun

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Lay up, but it all depends on the situation now doesn't it?

18) 18 holes OR 36?
18 holes