Caitlin Moyer is a Wisconsin based golf writer and marketer. She has worked with WGA and covered golf stories across the PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tours. Photo Credit: @cmoyer on Twitter

I spent last week at the American Family Insurance Championship, a Champions Tour event held at University Ridge G.C., in  Madison, Wisconsin. I worked with the tournament’s social team to help capture and create content, which has been an amazing experience with a wonderful team. It’s also led to a few key tips on my short game, and some amazing new memories on the course.

It all started with the Pro-Am Pairings Party on Tuesday night. The tournament’s host and Madison native, Steve Stricker welcomed everyone to the event, comedian Charlie Berens performed and a band played.

As pairings were announced, I found out I would be playing with Skip Kendall in the Pro-Am the next morning.

Like me, Skip is from Milwaukee. He also has 6 professional wins, including the Wisconsin State Open in 1988 and 1989, so I was looking forward to talking Wisconsin golf with him. 

However, as I showed up the course the next day, so did the steady, driving rain, which eventually washed out the morning Pro-Am. My plans for the round were dashed, but I still introduced myself to Skip. He is now giving lessons in Orlando, and as I expressed my widely-publicized putting woes, he offered to give me some pointers if the rain ever let up.

Without much content to capture, I was hanging out in the media room as it rained when I got a pleasant surprise. Skip found me, and proceeded to give me an hour-long(!) putting lesson on the room’s Badgers-red carpet. 

We talked about set-up, posture, grip, routine and more during that time and he even took some videos of me, which he later sent to me with reminders about the tweaks we made. 

I was floored. He went above and beyond to help me. Even though it was raining, he could’ve found many other things to do, so I was extremely grateful for the assistance.

The rain dragged on into the early afternoon, forcing the afternoon Pro-Am into a delayed 9-hole shotgun start. A few people were no longer able to participate. At the last minute, the officials offered me the chance to sub in, which I gladly accepted. Executive social media advisor Tom Bucheim and I were paired up with 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize and his caddie, Chris. And we had a blast.

Like Skip, Larry couldn’t have been nicer. He helped us read our putts and cheered for our good shots. His professionalism and even-keel were incredible, and we carried on a great conversation.

At one point I even said, “Larry, I know you’re a pro and all, but wow. You are just so consistent!” He was never really in trouble during the holes. The one time he was in the sand, he made a great up and down. Plus, his putting was truly incredible. 

Later that evening as I was driving the hour and a half back to Milwaukee, I reflected on the amazing 12 hours I spent at University Ridge. I went from thinking I wasn’t going to get to play any golf or capture any content to getting an impromptu putting lesson from a pro and the opportunity to play nine holes with an Augusta-born Masters champion. 

What a whirlwind! I was exhausted by the time I arrived home, but also excited to return to see what the new day would bring.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for updates!

Caitlin Moyer

Caitlin Moyer has been hacking and hoping since she was 10. Over the course of her career in the sports industry, she's had the chance to play the game with LPGA, MLB and NBA players, as well as NASCAR drivers and celebrities, but her favorite playing partner is her dad (even though he is a stick). Inventor and sole practitioner of the one-flap™ golf swing (patent pending).