Michigan Golf Journal April 2020

Editor’s note: this Q&A was completed with MSU Coach Izzo in late 2018, but considering the fact the COVID-19 situation caused complete chaos in the world of sports – as a small solace to what players and fans lost this late winter and early spring, we thought it would be fun to reprint Izzo’s perspective about the game of golf. Enjoy. MSU coach Tom Izzo needs little introduction to sports fans in any arena. Yet, what so few know is that he grew up playing golf with his father in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula . Admittedly, the high demands of a hugely-successful NCAA coaching career eats into the time available to still play golf, but Izzo remains fond of the sport and shared his thoughts one-on-one with Michigan Golf Journal . Q When did you fall in love with the game of golf? A “I was 10 or 11 years old and my dad took me golfing a few times. Not that we had many courses in the U.P. – and the season seemed like it lasted three months because of the weather. But my dad golfed, and I always enjoyed it and got pretty good at it at a young age. Just had good eye-hand coordination, not anything else. I liked golf. I thought it was a great, great sport.” Q Do you still play? A “I don’t play enough. I went from liking golf to loving it, but since I’ve been a head coach I don’t think I average more than 6-to-7 times a year, and that bothers me because I’d love to play more. When I got the job and had kids, that combination is tough for golf. But I had a chance to Tom Izzo Talks Golf With Tom Lang Continues on page 8 >> Michigan Golf Journal Coach Tom Izzo On Golf