How’s your golf game? I probably haven’t played for seven weeks. Every once in a while I can shoot a good score, but I have no expectations. At one time I had expectations to shoot low scores, and I could once in a while, but not very often. At one time I was a plus-
handicap and I could shoot low scores, and it’s probably one of the most frustrat- ing things to not be able to control the golf ball. It’s hard enough for amateurs anyway. For me, it makes it even more of a challenge because I used to be able to fi nd my ball. I still fi nd it, just not the same distance anymore. ••• You picked up golf during your rookie season in the NBA. What attracted you to the game, and why have you continued to stay involved in the sport? I guess it’s that golf is such a solitary game. You can go work on your game. It’s such a hard game, my good- ness. If anyone wants to be frustrated, all they have to do is take up golf. I watch these pros play, and
they hit the ball beautifully, and they can’t score. I know
As general manager of the Lakers, Jerry West built championship teams with Kobe Bryant (top left) and Magic Johnson (bottom left). West averaged 27.0 points per game in his 14-year NBA career.
how frustrated they get, and it’s usually about putting. They can hit the ball beautifully, and not make a putt. It just has one of the most dynamic effects on people in terms of how you really feel about yourself, about your golf game, and the confi dence level that you need to play is amazing.
My game is just not nearly
how I enjoy playing golf, I know that. Too many shots. It’s just really one of the most diffi cult things ever, and I think those are the things that always piqued my inter- est. There’s no diffi cult game like golf. The emotions that you feel when you play, and the confi dence you feel when
you play well. I just love to
play golf. My in- terest is obviously waning now. It’s just not as much fun, that’s for sure. I’m a 6-handicap, and I just feel like a 20-handicap. ••• You were known as a per- fectionist in the NBA. Your career-low round is a 63 at Bel-Air Country Club. Have you ever thought about how good you could have been at golf if you focused on it ex- clusively? I didn’t really start playing until I was about 24. I’m kind of a solitary person, and it was something I could
SPRING 2013 /
NCGA.ORG / 33
PHOTO: SCGA
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