It was amazing to hear the stories about everyone's lives and how the game of golf has played a role across some very different sets of circumstances. That, to me, was the coolest part of it.
Matthew Gang: Did you have fun playing at TPC Avenel and Creighton Farms golf courses?
Joe Del Rossi: Yes, both days were fantastic, great experiences, great courses, great conditions, great people. So yeah, it was, it was a fantastic time.
Gang: What was your best memory from the golf course from either day?
Del Rossi: I've never played in an outing where the charity was a core component of the event. To have golfers from the Special Olympics, wounded warriors, and from the First Tee, that dynamic of each individual and the different things that they're going through and sharing was really cool. It was amazing to hear the stories about their lives and then ultimately how the game of golf has played a role. Golf has given them exposure to other individuals, you know, across some very different set of circumstances. So that, to me was the coolest part more than anything else. I mean, even better than meeting PGA tour players. I've been lucky to have done that a bunch in my career but to actually interact with the organization that the events include was the coolest part.
Gang: Did you have a favorite hole or great shot?
Del Rossi: I don't know if there's one shot. I really enjoyed more than anything the camaraderie and spirit of what was going on. I'm sure I had a few swings and I was like oh that's a good shot. But nothing sticks out.
Gang: Can you tell me a little bit about your playing partners?
Del Rossi: I had a young high school girl who played with me from the First Tee in D. C. Northern Virginia area, and a wounded warrior from California. He did some time over in the Middle East and Afghanistan and served our country there. I had a different playing partner from wounded warriors and Special Olympics on both days. Both days it was a good mix of players some different personalities and from different parts of the country. They all had different experiences from where they grew up and where they've traveled and done all sorts of different things. It was a good mix over the course of the two days to touch some different people.
Gang: What else did you like about your trip?
Del Rossi: The format was great, and the people were great. The experience was amazing. I played in probably a couple of 100 golf outings in my career. This was one that really stood out probably the most impactful because again, seeing the different groups together, different communities, playing with those individuals from those three different organizations. You firsthand got to see how each of those individuals and organizations benefit from the event. They share a love of the game of golf which brings them together. That was pretty awesome. Obviously two great courses, great facilities and all that sort of stuff too
Gang: I agree. What is your all-time favorite golf course that you have played?
Del Rossi: There are two courses I put on this list, Pine Valley and Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. I think they're both probably in the top five in the world. And I’m lucky to have played both.
Gang: Who is your favorite musical artist?
Del Rossi: I listen to a lot of different types of music. The easiest way for me to answer this is to say I have seen this one band, one singer in concert 55 times - Dave Matthews. You go to Vanderbilt, correct?
Gang: Yes I do.
Del Rossi: I worked at Vanderbilt a long time ago. I wanted to go into sports management, sports administration, and work in college athletics, which I did for the first 10 years or so of my career. The first job I had on campus was working at Vanderbilt in the athletic department. I was at a baseball game working a baseball game at the stadium there and the teams were warming up and they were playing warm-up music and it was a Dave Matthews song. That’s the first time I ever heard him. They were kind of a college band at that point and from there they got pretty popular. How about you?
Gang: My favorite music is country.
Del Rossi: When I moved to Nashville, I didn't like country music at all, it wasn't as probably mainstream as it is nowadays but when I left there, I was a big fan. When I put the radio on it's usually a country station.
Gang: Is there anything else you want to talk about today?
Del Rossi: Again, it was a great outing. If it's possible, I would be interested in contact info for my playing partners. It would be great to keep in touch and stay in touch.
Gang: Thank you so much for your time and I hope we get to play golf together again in the future.
Del Rossi: I'm sure I'll be up in D. C., so when I'm in the area I'll let you know. I would love to connect.
Gang: Yes definitely.
