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Camaraderie is one of golf's superpowers.
The post-pandemic years have seen an incredible rise not just in overall rounds of golf, but organized opportunities for golfers to gather in groups and spend quality time together.
Enter the GolfPass Academy Tour, which is our own take on the concept:
Step 1: Invite a few dozen GolfPass+ members and their guests to a nice golf course.
Step 2: Bring in four world-class golf instructors to put on a free golf clinic for attendees.
Step 3: Let those attendees loose to enjoy a round of golf together.
Simple, fun and gratifying for all involved. No hoops to jump through, no convoluted competitive formats shoehorned in. Just the simple satisfaction of sharing a round.
I had the chance to take in the experience at the most recent GolfPass Academy Tour day in March at TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, Fla, a challenging Bobby Weed design that hosted a number of PGA Tour Champions events and was in such perfect shape that it looked ready to do so again at the drop of a hat.
The festivities started with a fun clinic hosted by Vince Cellini and conducted by Blair O'Neal, Nathalie Sheehan, Devan Bonebrake and newcomer Bryce Cope. After a quick lunch break, I was fortunate to get to tee it up in the afternoon with Bryce, as well as one of our GolfPass+ members, Ivan, and his guest, Aaron.
In short, we had a first-class time together. Bryce is a rising star in golf instruction - look for more from him on GolfPass soon - and Ivan and Aaron couldn't have been better playing partners. Ivan is a classic young post-pandemic golfer; he grew up playing baseball but has now fallen straight down the golf rabbit-hole. In just over a year of playing, he's managed to bring his handicap down to low double-digits. I look at him and other budding golf obsessives with a hint of envy. I am years-deep into my own golf addiction, and while the passion has never ebbed, there's something different and special about that early joy of discovery. You just can't watch a great film for the first time twice.
Nearly every time I visit a golf course, I am reminded of what a social sanctuary it can be. Interpersonal friendliness is at an all-time low if the news and social media cycles are any indication, but from the first tee to the 18th green of a golf course, it remains easy as ever to let distractions and differences dissolve. Nothing removes the "stranger" tag quite like a round of golf. Besides, the game is already so challenging, so mentally and physically involving, that bringing outside baggage into a round is more or less impossible; it's too heavy a load to carry.
March 4 will go down as one of my favorite golf days of 2025. I often travel solo, meandering in and out of a golf course's daily flow. That's fun, but being part of a big happy group of GolfPass teachers, members and staffers was just what the golf doctor ordered.
How to be a part of the next GolfPass Academy Tour days
The GolfPass Academy Tour rolls on into the summer, with two dates circled on the calendar:
- Tuesday, June 10 - New York metro area (golf course TBD)
- Tuesday, August 19 - Chicago metro area (golf course TBD)
GolfPass Academy Tour days - clinic, followed by golf (both free of charge) - are only open to GolfPass+ members. It's the newest perk of membership and, in my opinion, one of the best. To learn more about GolfPass+ and to join, click here.
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