The past two springs have given Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson the opportunity to indulge two of his passions — golf and winning.
With former Tech basketball star Jon Barry as a partner, Johnson has won the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge the past two years at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, an event that features teams of college coaches and celebrity partners from the ACC, SEC and Big Ten. Alabama’s Nick Saban, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer have been among the participants.
“You want to try to win when you play, but we’ve been fortunate,” Johnson said. “We’ve made some putts and some shots. A lot of times, winning in golf (depends on) getting a good partner, and Jon’s a good partner.”
The two victories have won $245,000 for Tech scholarships. The three-day event will start Sunday. In his office Thursday, Johnson answered questions about his game.
How he got his start: Johnson began playing at around the age of 12, when he worked as a caddie growing up in Newland, N.C.
“I just liked playing,” he said. “It’s a tough game; you never master it. Anytime you think you’ve got it figured out, you go the other direction.”
His game now: Johnson is a 7-handicap, though he said he couldn't play to that now because he doesn't play often. On Thursday, Johnson said he had played four times since July, but figured he would play about twice a week from now into July.
Johnson said the strengths and weaknesses of his game shift.
“Sometimes you get in a groove putting, sometimes you can’t putt a lick,” he said.
Where he plays: Johnson is a member of Cherokee Town and Country Club, which has two 18-hole courses at its Sandy Springs location.
“Two courses, they’re both really good, North and South,” he said.
Johnson’s game of choice is to divide up into foursomes, with the foursomes matched up against each other. Each stroke is counted, no mulligans.
Said Johnson, “There’s no messing around.”
Where he also plays: Other favorites are Peachtree Golf Club, Atlanta Athletic Club and Augusta National, where he has played eight or nine times.
“It’s just a great golf course,” Johnson said. “The tradition, the history, everything involved. It’s special any time you get to play there.”
Farther afield: Every other year in recent years, Johnson has taken a golfing trip to Scotland with Falcons coach Mike Smith, a longtime friend, and John Imlay, chairman of Imlay Investments, a minority owner of the Falcons and a Tech grad. They've played Muirfield and St. Andrew's, among other courses.
Said Johnson, “I’ve been fortunate enough to have gotten to play a lot of great courses through my job.”
Johnson’s evaluation of Smith’s game: Johnson said he has improved considerably in the past two or three years.
“I don’t think he probably played a lot before,” Johnson said. “I think he enjoys playing now; he’s gotten a lot better.”
Holes-in-one: Two, one at his home course in Newland and another at Reynolds Plantation in a round with sponsors at the Chick-fil-A tournament a few years ago.
On the Chick-fil-A tournament: "It gets competitive," he said. "I mean, you want to win. Fortunately, Jon's a really good player."
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