Below is an interview with Jeff Johnson, the Director of Instruction at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.
Can you provide our readers a brief biography? Raised in Ventura, CA, starting playing golf at the age of 12. I have played in hundreds of tournaments from local junior events to National Amateur tournaments, played on the #1 ranked U.C.L.A. Men's golf team, to mini tours and the P.G.A. Tour's L.A Open.
From this playing experience, working with worlds top instructors and from teaching players of all levels for over 30 years, I feel that draw from a wealth of knowledge and can help golfers enjoy this great game to the fullest.
When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game? Driving by the local golf course with my dad at age 12, I mentioned that I would like to give golf a try. A week later, I took my first of six beginner golf lessons and have been playing ever since.
What is your current home course? Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment? Playing on the #1 ranked UCLA Men's Golf Team.
What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course? Players who do not respect the golf course.
What is your favorite club in your bag and why? Six iron. It is right in the middle of the set.
What is your favorite golf destination? Whistler, British Colombia
What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet? Augusta
If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play? Pinehurst #2
If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why? Speed of play...have 4-somes strive for 3 hour rounds rather than 4 hour rounds.
Dream foursome (living)? Jack, Tiger, Phil and Greg Norman.
Dream foursome (living or dead)? Hogan, Moe Norman, Bobby Jones and Payne Stewart.
18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions
1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt? Long Drive2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One? Round of Life...haven't had it yet!
3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight? Twilight...the light and shadowing shouldn't be missed.
4) Hit a power fade OR power draw? Power draw.
5) Beverage cart OR halfway house? Neither, pack a lunch.
6) Bathroom OR bushes? Bathroom
7) Hot dog OR wrap? Wrap
8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough? Thick rough
9) Walking OR riding? Walking
10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid? Carry both.
11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5? Par 5
12) Pants OR Shorts? Pants
13) Palmer OR Nicklaus? Nicklaus
14) Beatles OR Elvis? Beatles
15) Play for fun OR play for money? For fun.
16) Bump and run OR flop shot? Bump and run.
17) Lay up OR gamble? Lay up.
18) 18 holes OR 36? 36
