Weinstein Carnegie Exclusive Interview with James Bosworth

It's been a bust news week for the Back9Network, as CEO James Bosworth was interview by the highly popular Weinstein Carnegie Philanthropic Group blog early in the week. You can view the interview by visiting the blog site here.

Gina Antoniello, Director of Marketing and PR, also makes an appearance in the video.

I heard no barbers were harmed while finishing Jamie's haircut.

About Back9Network: Back9Network, based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a lifestyle multiplatform television network and media company. Back9Network was developed as a complementary alternative to traditional media's focus on professional golf tournament coverage. Focused on compelling storytelling, interesting personalities, features and fashions, interviews and instruction, travel, gear and much more, fans of all kinds will want to hang with the Back9Network. Back9Network.com, the online clubhouse for Back9Network, delivers a fresh perspective on the golf lifestyle and its worldwide influence. Back9Network's leadership includes respected and outspoken executives from the golf and media industries. Back9Network recently moved into its new Corporate Headquarters and TV/Video Production Studio in Hartford, joining ESPN, NBC Sports and YES Network in Connecticut. For further information, visit www.Back9Network.com

Man Falls Through Golf Shop Ceiling

Earlier today I wrote a piece for the Back9Network detailing the following video of a man falling through a golf shop ceiling:

I couldn't help but ponder the following questions:

1) Why is Ron climbing around inside the ceiling? My initial thought was that he was a burglar trying to break in, but then I noticed he’s wearing the same “uniform” as his coworker, “Billy.”

2) Is this something that happens every day in this shop? Notice the casual conversation that starts between the two men. It’s as if they just witnessed a light bulb burning out instead of a man almost killing himself.

3) What’s the standard operating procedure for emergencies at this workplace? Apparently “Step 1” is to immediately start taking pictures with your smartphone. Don’t worry about calling the paramedics, they probably heard the crash anyway. These things tend to take care of themselves.

4) WHY ARE YOU NOT HELPING THE MAN ON THE GROUND?

5) Who’s the third guy that walks into the frame LONG AFTER Ron takes his spill? Is he a customer? Another employee? Also, see question No. 4.

Military Golf Man's Unique Quest

John Zook is the type of guy you’d love to sit down and have a beer with at a neighborhood dive.

The retired Chicago military veteran is a joyful, boisterous fellow who, at well over six feet in height, towers over most anyone. Speaking to Zook is like conversing with a friend you’ve known for years despite having just met the man. He is friendly, engaging, and a gentleman to the core. It is truly evident that he is a man highly respected by his peers, both civilian and those in fatigues.

What is most interesting about Zook, however, is neither his demeanor nor his respect for our country. It is his undying commitment to complete a mission he started almost a decade ago: playing every military golf course in the United States.

It all started with a love for the game of golf that has stood the test of time and life experience. While he is hesitant to describe the sights and sounds of a career serving our country in the military, Zook attributes his engrained sense of discipline to his upbringing and experiences in the field.

“You might say I was trained to do something like this,” Zook told me during a recent phone conversation. “It takes a lot of patience and dedication because, heck, there are alot of courses to play.”

For those who don’t know, each branch of the United States Military – the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines – lays claim to a number of golf courses on its respective military bases. While many of these courses are open to the public, the majority are reserved solely for military personnel. Consider it a perk that comes with the sacrifice.

How many of these military courses exist? At the time of this writing, there are roughly 185 different 18- or nine-hole courses across the country.

Playing nearly 200 golf courses is a tall order for any man to do by himself. Assisting Zook with fulfilling his quest are his long-time friends and ex- Chicago military brethren LTC Thomas Wilczak, COL Bill Logel and LTC Dennis Cassaza. Each man has either accompanied Zook on one of his many golf rounds or has played a military course as a single.

“As much as I would love to eventually see and play every course, having a team help with this goal makes it that much more achievable,” Zook acknowledged.

The mission began in 2010 in the form of a Chicago-to-Phoenix road trip. The group would ride through a number of military bases during the drive, including stops in Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Let’s just say they took the scenic route.

In 2011, the mission expanded to other areas of the Midwest. In the process of playing as much golf as possible, the group took in the sights of the country, including painted deserts, massive forests, plains and mountains.

Military golf courses haven’t always been seen in a positive light, however. A recent article published on the PGA.com website questioned the amount of taxpayer dollars that go into maintaining each course annually. Contrary to what the PGA article may lead you to believe, Zook assures me that no taxpayer dollars are ever used on any military golf course. If anything, veteran and family donations help keep these courses running. Many of the courses are located in areas of high land value, which can appear a bit pompous or arrogant, depending on your political views.

In the article, a Hawaii-based course – Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, which Zook has yet to play – was profiled as a favorite leisure spot for President Obama. Yet another publication, Salon, expressed its disapproval of these expensive-to-maintain courses, calling them a “luxury that is out of reach for the ordinary American.” Of course, as the PGA article correctly points out, getting shot at in a combat zone is also something the “ordinary American” is unlikely to experience.

In the midst of a government shutdown, when focus on political spending is more evident now than ever before, many financial experts point to closing military golf courses as a “no-brainer” solution to recouping funds. It is true that many of these courses charge visitors greens fees lower than market value while continuing to pay for course maintenance at regular prices. At the end of the day, of course, the question becomes whether these courses are meant to produce revenue for the government or to serve as a benefit to the men and women of our military.

All politics aside, Zook’s quest is more a testament to one man’s love of a game that undoubtedly brought him serenity following a military career that was anything but relaxing. Each military golf course is equipped to offer these brave men and women everything they need to enjoy their afternoon, including golf club rentals, driving ranges, practice facilities, golf lessons (many complimentary) and extremely affordable greens fees (most range between $10-$40 for 18 holes).

Keeping track of where Zook and his team have played also proved to be a difficult task. With what started out as a “we’ll see how far we get” goal that turned into a multi-state journey, Zook knew that he needed an organized method of tracking his progress. To do so, Zook created a simple spreadsheet that listed every course in every state, including phone numbers, addresses and player exclusivity.

While the experience of visiting over 200 courses on military bases is rewarding enough, Zook and his team added a stipulation to their goal: to collect a golf ball, scorecard and ball marker coin from every course they visit.

“Chances are many of us would never see these courses again in our lifetime,” Zook explained. “At the very least, the golf balls could remind us of how far we’ve come.”

To date, the foursome has collected over 125 logoed golf balls, coins and scorecards during its quest.

Today, Zook spends most of his time at home enjoying time with his family and friends. While he and his team of ex-military golf fanatics still have a handful of courses yet to play – specifically those located throughout Alaska – Zook’s goal seems more realistic now than ever before.

“It has been a fun, wild ride up to this point,” he admitted. “None of us will ever forget it.”

(The above article was originally written by the author for the Back9Network, where it can also be found.)

Grand Theft Auto V Includes Golf Mini Game

The newest installment of the video game mega-hit series Grand Theft Auto released this week to high critical acclaim and fan excitement. I admit I was one of the thousands of fans to wait in line for the midnight release at my neighborhood store. Grand Theft Auto V boasts the largest video game map in history, which means there is plenty of room for a giant golf course in the fictional city of Los Santos. Even better? You get to play the course in a unique golf mini-game.

Pretty cool stuff if you ask me. I especially like the fact that you can get into a literal fist fight before even stepping on the first tee box. Game tip: if you do decide to go all medieval on someone, you'll be kicked off the course pronto.

For more coverage of Grand Theft Auto V be sure to check out my friends at the Back9Network by clicking this link: http://back9network.com/article/grand-theft-auto-golf-takes-off-on-social-media/

Goodbye 2012!

Greetings fans of ChicagoDuffer.com! We have finally hit December, and even though it is unseasonably warm in the Midwest these days (70 degrees in Chicago!), the golf season is at its end. This year has been one of the best from the standpoint of this blog, and I can only hope that next year will bring similar success and more readers!

I would like to thank all of you, my faithful readers, for giving me the inspiration and dedication to keep this blog going. While new doors and opportunities have opened for me since this blog's inception, I will do my best to bring even more informative content in 2013.

With that being said, I am taking the rest of the year off from ChicagoDuffer.com so I can be ready to get things started off right next year.

In the meantime, you can still read my work at the Back9Network and SB Nation. With any luck, you'll also be able to catch me on CBS in the very near future!

As always, take care of yourselves and thank you once again for your continued support!

Happy Holidays,

Adam