The ObserverGolf This article is more than 21 years oldCommon ground
This article is more than 21 years oldThe wild men of rock who'd rather be playing golf
ALICE COOPER
Handicap: Two
Tipped to be the first person with a woman's name to receive membership at the Augusta National, Cooper has quit his life-threatening drinking habit and found God. More importantly, he has also found the higher power of golf. Sadly, though, whenever Alice takes to the fairways, so too do his less than deferential disciples. 'I saw someone defecate in one of the holes once,' he recalls. 'There was just this pile of, you know, excretion in the hole. Not pretty.'
NEIL YOUNG
Handicap: 18
Once upon a time, Neil Young was the free spirit of the music world, a staunch left-winger who penned the memorable lyrics, 'It's better to burn out than fade away.' Today, the 57 year old spends his days wearing perma-pressed slacks and playing foursomes with the kind of Republican crowd he once despised. During last month's Pebble Beach pro-am, he entertained the galleries by topping one off the first tee and barely made it past the ladies' tee.
MEATLOAF
Handicap: 22
As one of the biggest acts - literally - in the rock world, golf nut Meatloaf is hardly a Dead Ringer for (Davis) Love but as a enthusiastic regular in the PGA's pro-am events, he can often be seen teeing it up and brandishing a murderous swing not unlike that of a lumberjack chopping wood for the winter.
IGGY POP
Handicap: has been as low as seven
As one of the rock fraternity's more notorious members, Iggy has been known to take to the stage still wearing his golf spikes, topped off with an aluminium Afro wig and maternity smock. Hardly surprising, then, that his presence hasn't always been welcome at the country clubs. In 1970, the recovering drug addict was chased off the Doral Golf Resort in Miami for calling security and demanding they bring his valium out midway through his round.
LARS ULRICH (drummer from Metallica)
Handicap: 18
Unfortunately, Lars wields his Pings with significantly less rhythm than he does his drum sticks. Recently, the diminutive Danish drummer and his band-mates clashed with metal rivals Megadeth in a kind of hard rock Ryder Cup, losing 2-1.
EDDIE VAN HALEN
Handicap: 16
Sacrificing his trademark spandex pants for a polo shirt and some sensible slacks, Eddie Van Halen now plays more pro-am golf events than he does guitar solos and can list Mark O'Meara, Tiger Woods and John Daly among his best buddies. Recently, he has even given Daly guitar lessons in return for some much-needed advice on his swing.
A J McLEAN (from the Backstreet Boys)
Handicap: 16
Tired and emotional from a life on the road, McLean has sought solace in golf to help escape the constant shrill emanating from the thousands of prepubescent girls who follow his every move.
MIKE MILLS (bassist from REM)
Handicap: 16
Over the years, Mills has surreptitiously shoehorned a clutch of golf references into REM's set list. There's 'Drive', 'Underneath the Bunker' and 'Green', not to mention the lost recording of 'Get in the hole you little *!$*'. A golf obsessive from 14.
LLOYD COLE
Handicap: 10 (has been as low as six)
A self-confessed golf addict (he admits to getting, 'more hysterically excited about it with every day'), the former Commotions frontman is a proud member of the Connemara Golf Club in County Galway. The only problem is that he resides on the other side of the Atlantic.
BOB DYLAN
Handicap:17
Dylan may be a legend in popular music, but in the world of golf he ranks somewhere between Ronnie Corbett and Kenny Lynch. Despite boasting a respectable handicap of 17, the gravel-voiced balladeer is nevertheless unimpressed by his technique off the tee. 'I hit it as if it were a baseball bat,' he admits.
... and the wild man of golf who rather be a rocker
Amid the hermetically-sealed world of the PGA Tour, there is one golfer who has more in common with the rock world than he does professional golf. Since turning pro in 1987, John Daly has not only won two majors, but has had three stints in rehab, been through four marriages, trashed hotel rooms with all the vigour of Keith Moon, destroyed his house and contemplated suicide.
Fittingly, Daly plays a bit of guitar and sings, and is about to bring out a CD called 'My Life'. The highlight is a track called 'All My Exes Wear Rolexes', dedicated to his ex-wives. Recently, he has been promoting the album with a series of live shows, though they come with this assessment of himself. His guitar playing, he maintains, is 'way over an 18 handicap', while his singing sounds 'like shit'.
'Boys Keep Swinging...'
Golf references in rock music
THE LYRICS
'Tracy Jacks...a golfing fanatic, but his putt is erratic'
Tracy Jacks by Blur 'Pity poor Payne Stewart in his death bubble, what a swing and so much bottle'
The Convalescent by Manic Street Preachers
THE SONGS
Boys Keep Swinging by David Bowie
Flag Day by The Housemartins
Any Way You Slice It by Kiss
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