Do PGA players and recreational golfers smoke pot on the golf course?

Do PGA players and recreational golfers smoke pot on the course?

“Hell yeah,” said former PGA caddie and Golf Channel announcer Michael Collings during a radio interview with Golf Channel.

“Can I believe people smoke marijuana during competition? Hell yeah, it calms you down!” he said. “And I’ll be honest with you, it doesn’t bother me.” Collins wouldn’t name names, but when he walked into bathrooms and portable toilets on the course right after someone lit up to chill out, it became pretty obvious.

Collins was inspired by admission from professional golfer Robert Garrigus, who came clean about his marijuana use in a Golf Digest interview. In that interview, Garrigus stated, “Oh yeah, there were plenty of guys on the Nationwide Tour who smoked in the middle of the round. …We always talked about it. You could go in the Porta John and take your drags.” Garrigus said players could relax more and relieve some of the pressure they felt during a round. I don’t think you’ll ever see pot smoking at the Masters, or any major for that matter. Too much at stake!

I know from my own experience that smoking pot during a round can have devastating results when combined with beer and turn a good round into a mediocre round. However, there have been times when it was just the opposite. I’m not claiming to be a big pot smoker (on the contrary), but I did live through the ‘60s and ‘70s when pot smoking stated to be the thing to do, like in movies like “Caddyshack” in Bill Murray’s iconic role as Carl when he offered Chevy Chase his special hybrid grass: “This is a hybrid. This is a cross, ah, of bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, featherbed bent, and Northern California sensimilla. The amazing stuff about this is that you can play 36 holes on it in the afternoon, take it home, and just get stoned to the bejeezus-belt that night on this stuff.”

Movies like “Up In Smoke” glamorized the social buzz of it in hilarious comedies that started a revolution in usage and back-door acceptance. Now that support of legalization is sweeping the nation, pot smoking and/or edibles while playing golf may someday be as common as drinking a beer!

That brings up another point. November is election month throughout the country. The legalization of marijuana is headed to the voters in many states. Some like Nevada already have medical marijuana legalized. Utah voters will have a chance to vote on its medical usage. Twenty-five states in total will vote either way! Nevada, Arizona, and California plus eleven others will vote to legalize recreational use and join states like Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. It’s really just a matter of time before marijuana is legalized in one form or the other through out the U.S. Deep Roots in Mesquite just had its grand opening last month. It’s a medical dispensary and manufacturer for now, but it could usher in the first recreational shopping venue in Mesquite. You may want to check out The Travel Joint, a website devoted to enjoying a toke with friends in pot-friendly Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, including golf tournaments. It’s a bold new world, and golf hasn’t been left out!

It will be interesting to see how this subject will take main stage in the months and years to come. Even presidential candidate Hillary Clinton supports decriminalizing marijuana.

One thing is for sure: We all need to get out and vote our conscience and the consequence of those decisions. Like so many Americans, we’re all in this together. What’s the harm in a little pot smoking on the course if done sensibly? It’s up to the user to know their limits and play with others’ safety plus their own safety in mind. So don’t Bogart that shot, my friend; pass it over to me. See ya on the links.

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