The Charlie Rymer Golf Show Season 1, Episode 11: Rudy Gatlin, Giving Vets HOPE & Joe Namath Part 2

Join Charlie and this episode’s special guest, country music artist Rudy Gatlin, as they make their way around “The Granddaddy” at Pine Lakes Country Club for the show’s “Ridin’ with Rymer” segment.

Charlie also pays a visit to the North Myrtle Beach headquarters for Project Golf, a charitable organization whose grow-the-game initiatives include hosting programs for the local chapter of PGA HOPE (“Helping Our Patriots Everywhere”). This episode offers a glimpse of how PGA HOPE is already profoundly impacting the lives of wounded veterans with golf at its service core.

In Charlie’s podcast segment, “The Big Timer” finishes his conversation with NFL legend and Super Bowl III winner Joe Namath, where they get to dive deeper into the role golf plays in the life of “Broadway Joe.”

“The Charlie Rymer Golf Show” has aired on CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports that is available through all major cable, satellite and telco distributors as well as via OTT streaming service providers YouTube TV, fuboTV, DirecTV and Hulu.

Transcript

The Charlie Rymer Golf Show, starring Charlie Rymer.

Charlie Rymer:

Hey okay, let’s pick up the tempo!

Charlie Rymer here and welcome to my new show where we do things my way! As a former golf pro and media personality I know golf, but this isn’t going to be your grandfather’s golf show. I’m bringing you conversations with celebs and golf greats. Getting off the course and out on the water, then even getting into some good eats.

This is the Charlie Rymer Golf Show. Keep it in the fairway folks!

Charlie Rymer:

Today, all the gold is not in California. It’s right here in Myrtle Beach at Pine Lakes Country Club. I’m Charlie Rymer, and this is Ridin’ with Rymer.

Charlie Rymer:

Rudy, where you?

Rudy Gatlin:

What? I’m right here.

Charlie Rymer:

I’m going to tell you what, Rudy.

Rudy Gatlin:

What?

Charlie Rymer:

We don’t normally do this show like this, but you’re not normal. So we’re going to do a little bit different. So give me a hug.

Rudy Gatlin:

Oh.

Charlie Rymer:

So we got a couple of old guys here, granddaddys. This is the granddaddy of them all. This is where golf started in 1927 in Myrtle Beach. Did you play that year?

Rudy Gatlin:

Yeah, I shot three under that day.

Charlie Rymer:

I’m sure you did with hickory and all.

Rudy Gatlin:

Oh, sure.

Charlie Rymer:

All right. Well you’ve already messed things up. Go get in the cart.

Rudy Gatlin:

You know.

Charlie Rymer:

You don’t drive. You ride. It’s Ridin’ with Rymer.

Rudy Gatlin:

We can change it to Ridin’ with Rudy.

Charlie Rymer:

No, this is my show, Rudy.

Rudy Gatlin:

It was your show.

Charlie Rymer:

No, this is my show.

Charlie Rymer:

All right. So Rudy, let’s go back to the last century. I’d say ’85 to ’95, the celebrities that played golf. You were the top of that list. You were the top dog, weren’t you? There wasn’t anybody better than you in the ’80s and into the ’90s on the golf course.

Rudy Gatlin:

No.

Charlie Rymer:

That sings or entertains for a living.

Rudy Gatlin:

I was there. I was number one. I was playing so well, people said, “How you playing?” I said, “You know, I’m thinking about playing blindfolded.”

Charlie Rymer:

Uh-huh (affirmative).

Rudy Gatlin:

It was that easy. Golf has done an incredible thing for us, but we just grew up simple, hardworking.

Charlie Rymer:

Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Rudy Gatlin:

And then all of a sudden, we’re playing with all Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer. Couple old country bumpkins from Odessa, Texas. Golf has just really played a big part in our lives. The music has, of course.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Rudy Gatlin:

And the hit records and singing and touring and been all over the known world and parts of Wisconsin.

Charlie Rymer:

Mr. Palmer loved hearing you guys play. Tell me an Arnold Palmer story.

Rudy Gatlin:

Palmer. Good Lord, he came to our seniors event in Reno and just lit the place up because Arnold Palmer’s in town. It was a regular event for a couple of years.

Charlie Rymer:

At Lajet.

Rudy Gatlin:

At Lajet. It was the last tournament on the tour. And you know what the purse was?

Charlie Rymer:

A lot less than it is now.

Rudy Gatlin:

$350,000. Deane Beman called me one day and said, “Well, you’re going to have to bump it up. Rudy, one of these days, these guys are going to be playing for a million dollars.” And I went, “You’re kidding. No. No way.” Million dollar purses.

Charlie Rymer:

All right, Rudy. You’ll notice that my golf ball is right in the middle of the fairway.

Rudy Gatlin:

Wow. Wait a minute. What are you doing out here?

Charlie Rymer:

I’m going to show you how to properly play-

Rudy Gatlin:

Fairway.

Charlie Rymer:

An eight iron. But we got this guitar here.

Rudy Gatlin:

Oh, we do.

Charlie Rymer:

It might be cool. Would you play me that song? The one that y’all did so well with. It’s [inaudible 00:03:31]. You know the one I’m talking about?

Rudy Gatlin:

I got you [inaudible 00:03:35] right here, buddy. I won’t bother you back here, will I?

Charlie Rymer:

No. You can’t bother me at all.

Rudy Gatlin:

All the gold in California.

Charlie Rymer:

That’ll work.

Rudy Gatlin:

Is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills in somebody else’s-

Charlie Rymer:

I think I made it.

Rudy Gatlin:

You might’ve made it.

Charlie Rymer:

Sing it for us, Rudy.

Rudy Gatlin:

Is in and a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills in somebody else’s name. It don’t matter at all where you played before, California’s a brand new game. Now, the real country version is, well, you would know, you being a country bumpkin. All that there gold in California. All that there gold.

Charlie Rymer:

Who’s the most fun person you ever played golf with? Just straight up fun.

Rudy Gatlin:

One incredible story would be playing with Jack Nicklaus.

Charlie Rymer:

Now, I don’t think about him being fun to play with.

Rudy Gatlin:

Well, he wasn’t-

Charlie Rymer:

He’s scary to play with.

Rudy Gatlin:

Fun. Scary. But we played at Palm Springs at the Skins game one time. I took Nicklaus clothes that he gave us at [Muirfield 00:04:43].

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Rudy Gatlin:

I took him out there and I hit some good shots with Jack. I was playing with Jack and I wanted to get a good shot from Jack. Well, the golfer of the century said, “Good shot.” Come on, Jack. Give me a little something.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Rudy Gatlin:

But it’d be like him singing and me going, “Yeah, it sounds good, Jack.” I’m probably not going to compliment his singing.

Charlie Rymer:

No, definitely not.

Rudy Gatlin:

I knocked some in there like this. Come on, Jack. Give me … Well, we played at a golf tournament, TPC, a year later and I got to play with Jack. Three guys hit, then I hit, then Jack was last.

Charlie Rymer:

Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Rudy Gatlin:

I said, “What the heck?” 275. Sawed the top half of that ball off. It’s on a rope. And all of a sudden, the crowd from up … We had a big crowd.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Rudy Gatlin:

All the way down the fairway. All the way around the green.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Rudy Gatlin:

All of a sudden, [inaudible 00:05:26].

Rudy Gatlin:

The noise just starts coming back down the fairway. It hung on the lip.

Charlie Rymer:

[inaudible 00:05:34] been a drive or driver.

Rudy Gatlin:

From a Double Eagle.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Rudy Gatlin:

In front of the golfer of the century. And I almost got to turn to the golfer of the century and say something, ladies and gentlemen, that had never been said to Jack Nicklaus. And that was, “Jack, nevermind. We don’t need you.”

Charlie Rymer:

Can we go play some golf or what? Huh?

Rudy Gatlin:

Well, I’d rather just talk, but.

Charlie Rymer:

Come up here on this tee and I just want you to hear a pure strike.

Rudy Gatlin:

Just hear it.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay?

Rudy Gatlin:

Uh-huh (affirmative).

Charlie Rymer:

That’s going to require you to not talk, which I know is very challenging.

Rudy Gatlin:

Okay. It, it could hurt my ears.

Charlie Rymer:

A little closer maybe.

Rudy Gatlin:

This is just pureness right here.

Charlie Rymer:

You listening? You ready?

Rudy Gatlin:

I’m ready.

Charlie Rymer:

I mean, how pure did that sound?

Charlie Rymer:

So talk to me a little bit about Myrtle Beach. Gatlin Brothers were based here for four years. You guys had a theater here. It was pretty good setup because you’d play at night and you’d play golf during the day.

Rudy Gatlin:

My toughest decision every morning was which golf course am I going to play today. That was it. I think I played 36 different courses.

Charlie Rymer:

So you didn’t even-

Rudy Gatlin:

Living here.

Charlie Rymer:

So you didn’t even get half of them in four years.

Rudy Gatlin:

Man, we tried. We gave it our best shot. Thanks for a great day here at Pine Lakes Country Club. I’ve been looking forward to coming over and doing this for a long time. Really enjoyed it. What do you got there, caddie?

Charlie Rymer:

Rudy, this has got so much left to right in it, there’s no way you can miss it left. He’s going to miss this low and right.

Rudy Gatlin:

Low and right, you think?

Rudy Gatlin:

Oh.

Charlie Rymer:

Was it low and right? Nothing’s changed. You still don’t listen to me, Rudy.

Rudy Gatlin:

Whose putter’s this right here?

Charlie Rymer:

No, no, no, no, no. Watch my …

Rudy Gatlin:

Watch this.

Charlie Rymer:

No, no, no, no.

Rudy Gatlin:

This thing. I wonder if this thing will fly.

Charlie Rymer:

Rudy, come on. Give me the putter. Give me the-

Rudy Gatlin:

Okay.

Charlie Rymer:

Thank you, Rudy. Buddy, it’s always fun hanging out with you. Appreciate you coming and Ridin’ with Rymer.

Rudy Gatlin:

Enjoyed riding with you, Charlie.

Charlie Rymer:

Finally found somebody crazier than me. Come on, Rudy. Let’s go in here. I’ll buy you some iced tea. You going to need it.

Rudy Gatlin:

Yeah.

Charlie Rymer:

I needed something to just calm me down a little bit.

Rudy Gatlin:

That was low and left.

Charlie Rymer:

I thought I had-

Rudy Gatlin:

I know!

Charlie Rymer:

I’m at the Barefoot Resort, home of Project Golf and PGA HOPE Myrtle Beach. That’s Hope, H-O-P-E, Helping Our Patriots Everywhere. Whenever I come here and participate in one of the clinics, I’m blown away by the amazing people and their inspiring stories.

Charlie Rymer:

The PGA HOPE Myrtle Beach chapter is run by Gary Schaal, former PGA of America President and Vietnam veteran. I got to sit down with him and learn a little more about this great endeavor.

Charlie Rymer:

So Gary, you’ve done some amazing things in your life. You’ve been President of the PGA of America. You’ve served in the military. And I get the feeling though, right now at this point in your life, being Executive Director of Project Golf and getting a HOPE chapter started here in Myrtle Beach might be the thing that you’re the most proud of. Am I correct?

Gary Schaal:

You’re right, because the feedback is enormous. The three pillars of Project HOPE is we want to develop junior golfers and beginners, and disabled veterans, help them assimilate back into society a little bit, do some things that gets them with other veterans, gets them outside, gets them away from the TV clicker. But I found personally … We know we’re not supposed to ask about an injury or a disability, but they want to tell you about it.

Charlie Rymer:

Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Gary Schaal:

They really want to tell you about it, but not until they like you and trust you.

Charlie Rymer:

How much fun is it for you to come out to PGA HOPE?

Charlie:

Oh, I love it. Oh, yeah. Here’s a great advantage. I played the game. I just got to get back into it. It’s not going to take me long if I have the cart.

Charlie Rymer:

Is that a challenge for you, finding the vehicle that lets you play golf?

Charlie:

Oh, yeah. The real challenge. It’s like I never played golf before. Everything’s so different. I can’t move an inch of my feet. I can’t widen my stance.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Charlie:

Just everything that has to be done is going to be a little different.

Charlie Rymer:

You still got it, Charlie.

Charlie:

Oh, yeah.

Charlie Rymer:

The man’s still got it. That’s awesome.

Charlie Rymer:

Golf is good. You’ve seen it your whole life. So veterans that have had injuries in particular, severe injuries or struggle with PTSD, it’s always been counterintuitive to me to think that golf would appeal to them, but it does on some deep level that I find really amazing.

Gary Schaal:

The veterans are saying, “When can I do some more?” And the spouses are saying, “Thank you for doing it.” And then we had a guy in last class and we were sitting around talking like this and he said, “Do I look any different?” I said, “Nope.” I said, “You look old, just like me.” And we were joking around. And he said, “I think I got this PTSD nailed.” I said, “Tell me more.” He said, “Well, I’ve always had nightmares ever since” … He was a Vietnam vet. I said, “That’s a long time.” He said, “Yeah, yeah. They come and go. But I’m replacing them.” I said, “What do you mean?” He said, “Well.” I said, “New medicine?” “No I’m going off my medicine.” “Then how you doing it?” He said, “Well, you remember when we played over here the other day and came to the seventh hole, I hit that seven iron across the pond on the green? That’s what I’m dreaming about now. I take my best shot, my best two shots, my best three shots, and I stack them up and I go to bed and that’s my medicine.”

Charlie Rymer:

There you go. I bet you hadn’t hit one that looked like that. Have you?

Speaker 6:

I can’t tell you last time I hit a seven iron that far.

Charlie Rymer:

Right. So that’s just a power source.

Speaker 6:

That felt really good. My whole career and mentality has been to break.

Charlie Rymer:

I can see that. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 6:

And break.

Charlie Rymer:

I believe that.

Speaker 6:

I’m first through the door. I’m first everything.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Speaker 6:

Just break.

Charlie Rymer:

But [inaudible 00:12:18].

Gary Schaal:

Golf is good for you.

Speaker 6:

That’s why I need golf.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Gary Schaal:

See if it’s a whole different change.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Speaker 6:

It is.

Gary Schaal:

It really is. But it’s good for life, too.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah, so like to gain control of golf, you’ve got to give it up. It’s same thing with life. I don’t have control here.

Speaker 6:

Right.

Charlie Rymer:

And then when you let it go, then you find this power source that you didn’t have before. And there’s symmetry to that. Yeah.

Charlie Rymer:

Don’t you think this game has this uncanny ability and it’s doing it right now to bring people together, especially people that need healing?

Gary Schaal:

The numbers say yes. And we’ve been saying, “We’ve got to take care of our vets.” And what I would say is we’re making a difference. They paid. And we’re just trying to do something right and make it better for them.

Charlie Rymer:

If like me, you’re inspired by these veterans and their stories, you can check out projectgolf.org to learn more about the initiative to support our veterans and grow this great game of golf.

Charlie Rymer:

Last week on the Charlie Rymer Podcast, we talked to the legendary Joe Namath.

Charlie Rymer:

How’s your golf game right now, Joe?

Joe Namath:

At its worst. Coach Bryan made the world of difference. People just jammed up to see Coach Bryan Jordan and Arnold out there, man, and I was … You talk about scared to death.

Charlie Rymer:

And this week, he’s back to finish our conversation.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay, so let’s talk about some nerve wracking things. Average person taking a snap in the Super Bowl, hitting a golf shot in a celebrity event in front of live cameras on network television, or opening night in a Broadway play. Those are three things that would terrify a lot of normal human beings. Which one was more nerve wracking for you and why?

Joe Namath:

If you’re not running with that adrenaline, if it’s not affecting you, you’re not alive, man. And you kind of learn to calm down, you kind of learn to breathe, you do learn to appreciate the situation, but the heart starts pumping, man. You’re excited, everyone around you is excited, whether it’s backstage or on the field, man, you’re ready to go. And then you go back into your training, your routine. If you guys let those nerves get in there every time, you never would … Well, you would make a putt, but not as often as you’d like.

Charlie Rymer:

It sounds to me like you’re saying, “If you’re not feeling nerves, you’re not living.” And I want to switch gears just a little bit because I know you love golf. And if you don’t know, the odds for an amateur to make a hole-in-one in golf, 26,000 to one. Now, a little birdie has told me you’re the hole-in-one king. How many holes-in-one have you made?

Joe Namath:

Seven.

Charlie Rymer:

No way.

Joe Namath:

My former wife had a dream that she saw three hole-in-ones that day. We went out to the golf course. She was with me. I was playing with my father and we got to the fifth hole and there were two guys following us. On the first tee, we said, “You guys go ahead.” They were two Canadians. And then they didn’t want to go ahead of us. They didn’t know the course. So we get to the fifth hole, we get up there and it’s a 189 yard hole. I hit a three iron, bounced, rolled, and went in the hole for a hole-in-one. Now, we were celebrating and all, those two guys are still waiting. I said, “Come on. You guys go through. Go through.” The first guy stepped up to the tee, knocked it in the hole.

Charlie Rymer:

No way. So there’s two balls in the hole at once?

Joe Namath:

Back-to-back.

Charlie Rymer:

Wow.

Joe Namath:

189 yard shot. Back-to-back.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, as I mentioned, the odds of an amateur making a hole-in-one, 26,000 to one. I’d hate to calculate what it would be back-to-back. That’s unbelievable.

Joe Namath:

Back-to-back.

Charlie Rymer:

Really super cool stuff. And I love hearing you tell the golf story. You seem to be getting more fired up telling the golf stories than football stories.

Joe Namath:

Oh, man, I got to play with Arnold Palmer. Jackie Gleason, we had a charity event. You know charity events, but Jackie Gleason on television down here in Miami said, “I’m going to challenge that big mouth Broadway Joe to a $10,000 bet,” to go to the charity that we’re having. It was at the Miami Country Club, I believe. I was crazy. I was choking up whenever I heard that. 10 grand. He challenged me? God almighty, what am I going to do? I took 10,000 cash with me that day. I didn’t want to get embarrassed.

Charlie Rymer:

Uh-huh (affirmative).

Joe Namath:

Well, it was a cloudy day and it was windy and Jackie had the worst day playing golf. I mean, he was off. And at the eighth tee, we were getting ready to tee off and Jackie steps up and he said, “Broadway, this weather’s getting nasty and all.” And he says, “I think we’re going to make this a nine hole event.” I was seven up.

Charlie Rymer:

Uh-huh (affirmative).

Joe Namath:

He said, “I’m going to concede this to you.” And Arnold Palmer said, “Boy, Jackie, it takes a big man to know when to go ahead and concede and you’re a big man, that’s for sure.” People loved it.

Charlie Rymer:

Tell me a little bit about Arnold Palmer. Did you have a chance to spend much time with him? I’m sure the Pennsylvania roots ran deep.

Joe Namath:

I got to meet him the first time back in ’64 up at Oakmont Country Club, and he and Perry Como were talking. And boy, I’m just looking over there and they looked over and saw me and just gave me a little wave to come over. It was all right. And so I walked over there, man. I was just so tickled. I got goosebumps.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, I know they appreciate the time that you spend with them and you’ve mentioned charity a couple of times. Golf and charity. Being a part of this industry, what golf does for charity, not only in this country, but beyond, is amazing. And tell me a little bit about some of the events that you’ve had using golf to raise money.

Joe Namath:

We raised a lot of money starting out in the early years with the March of Dimes Foundation. And we still work with the March of Dimes Foundation and contribute to them. But we have our foundation that … We’ve held several charities and we’re just thankful. What support we get from, as I mentioned, the guys in football, baseball, basketball, TV guys, movie stars, they all care. They all have a big heart and want to help those that need some help, man. They need some loving and some help. So we have a great team that handles this thing and we’re happy for it.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, that’s wonderful, Joe. And it’s just so amazing to see what golf does with our heroes like you coming together. Joe, I want to finish with this. I’m heading down your way to Jupiter-Stuart-Tequesta area next week, and I need a reservation at a good place for dinner. You got any suggestions for me?

Joe Namath:

You bet I do. Yes. The Lucky Shuck or The Beacon, and you call me please.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah, I heard-

Joe Namath:

Let me know. Give me a heads up and I will certainly try to make you feel at home.

Charlie Rymer:

I hear the new restaurant is hot. You can’t get in there.

Joe Namath:

It’s been good. Let me just put it that way. It’s been good.

Charlie Rymer:

Ladies and gentlemen, the amazing Joe Namath. Thank you so much, Joe.

Joe Namath:

Thank you, buddy. Take care. And call me if you come down here.

Charlie Rymer:

To listen to this entire conversation with Joe Namath, go to playgolfmyrtlebeach.com.

Charlie Rymer:

It’s vital to stay positive during a round of golf. When things go south, take a personal inventory of all the positive things around you. Some days in golf and in life, the only positive you can come up with is that that gator on the last hole didn’t gobble you up. It might not be much, but at least it’s a place to start. That’s it for The Charlie Rymer Golf Show. Keep it in the fairway, folks.

Charlie Rymer:

Rudy, where are you?

Rudy Gatlin:

I’m right here, Charlie. How you doing? Now, where’s reverse?

Charlie Rymer:

That’s what I was worried about.

Rudy Gatlin:

Yes, Charlie.

Charlie Rymer:

Now, why don’t you do it the way we were going do it, Rudy? Get your ass back over there.

Rudy Gatlin:

Get your ass in the cart, Charlie.

Charlie Rymer:

This is going to be a tough show.

Rudy Gatlin:

You might want to use some of that.

Charlie Rymer:

No.

Rudy Gatlin:

It was funny. I thought it was funny.

Speaker 9:

If someone asked you to ride with Rymer, what do you say?

Rudy Gatlin:

If you asked me if … What? What was the question? If someone asked me to ride with Rymer, what would I say? Well, I’d say I thought I was riding with Kelly Tilghman. That’s who that guy was. I’ve seen him. Oh, was that? He was the guy that was on … had a great career on the tour for about 30 minutes. That’s awful.