‘I LIKE TO HAVE TO THINK MY WAY AROUND A COURSE’
Scratch-handicap TV presenter Dan Walker on his “mild obsession” with the game
What got you started playing golf?
I played loads of football and tennis as a kid, then some of my mates from school started jumping on the local municipal in Crawley to play the last six holes after school. That’s how I started. I grew up watching great Europeans such as Faldo and Seve and I always dreamed of playing sport – scoring in the FA Cup final, playing at Twickenham or holing a putt to win The Open. Then, in later life, the social side of golf came into it; I’ve got a pretty hectic working life and three kids, so the only time I stop, don’t look at my phone and switch off is when I play golf. I find it really relaxing; even if I’m having a bad day I love playing golf.
Can you sum up your game?
I like to have to think my way around a course. I loved the course at Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius, where I played the Celebrity final of the Legends Tour this year, because you couldn’t just get your big stick out and give it a whack on every hole. I hit a lot of 3-irons, even 5-irons, to position myself. The greens were so small you had to plot your way round. Whenever you play with really good pros – as we did that week – you see how they are always planning. They accept par and move on, it’s not always about being a resident of Birdie Town.
What do you most like about the game?
I’m not obsessed by golf, but I love the technical aspect – there is a mild obsession there. If you are ever in a lift and you’re practising your swing, that’s when you know you are obsessed. And I can barely go past a mirror without checking my wrist position as I take the club back… But that’s a good place to be. You’re always learning at golf and I love picking up new information. That’s what I loved so much about being at Belle Mare Plage; yes, I was at a lovely resort in the Indian Ocean, but I loved watching the pros – even just how they chipped out of the ‘sticky’ grass. I loved watching their tempo, always within themselves.
Have you had any lessons?
I didn’t have for many years, but now I go and see a former European Tour pro in Sheffield called Ben Mason, probably once every couple of months. And I’ve got a really good friend who is head pro at Trafford Driving range, Pete Styles. Because of my job, I’ve had the benefit of spending time with Pete Cowen and Jonathan Yarwood and you hoover up so much information. I could speak to Pete for hours.