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When Pirelli Tires asks you if you want to go golfing with their first sponsored golfer, Francesco Molanari, you say yes. You figure out that whole don't make a fool of yourself while trying to golf with a PGA pro thing later.
But golf is that gentlemen's sport. You're going to need it for a meeting, a casual round before that business investment for your new start up, or for the one time you're going to need to impress your girl's dad.
On a perfect day at Buffalo Tournament Club, I embarrassingly teed off with Molinari and in the kindest way, he schooled me. The pointers that follow are for the fellow rookies, on how to golf with a Pro and not completely suck while doing it.
Written by Sarah Kim
Make culturally relevant references that no one in the group may understand. Namely "Versace, Versace."
When asked if he's got any style tips, Molinari is going to tell you to dress as comfortably as you can, in a tee, polo or shorts. But you take notice of his bright colors. And ask casually, if being Italian, he likes Versace, then say Versace one more time. Which is when he will just say that he likes bright colors, yellow being his favorite and then will tell you that he wears it every Sunday. I guess Nike Golf and Pirelli have got him covered on all of his apparel and gear needs. Drake, not so much.
Ask somewhat informed golf questions after playing up the fact that you don't golf very much, to make them think that you may actually sort of know what you're talking about.
Start off by saying you've been to the range a couple of times before, that you always start with a driver because you want to feel really good about yourself. Let Molinari correct you and tell you that you should start with a 7 or 8 iron, off of the tee, every time. Then once you get consistent at that, start hitting off of the grass. He'll tell you to start with friends who are at the same skill level, so you don't get discouraged and if you haven't Happy Gilmored all of your clubs and are enjoying yourself, to take some lessons.
Ask the real important golf game questions a.k.a. the good luck charms.
Every pro has got some trick of the trade. I asked Molinari if he did anything crazy (a la Usher and separated M&Ms on his tour bus) for good luck. He said he always uses these four or five coins from different places around the world as his markers for when his ball is on the green. But when it comes down to it to be a good golfer isn't so much about luck as it's about, in his words, "Practice, surprise."
When Molinari pokes fun of your very crappy rented clubs, play into it.
When volunteered to be the first person to try and make a putt on the putting green, you rise to the challenge. When Molinari asks you if you bought your putter (clearly a rented, might as well have been straight from some putt putt spot) for this clinic, you say yes and ask why everyone else didn't do the same. Crowd interaction is important here. It's either going to be your putting skill or your jokes that are about to get the laughs. You'd prefer it to be the latter.
Take advantage of what you've got going for you.
Listen, I was the only under 30, female, AZN, amongst Molinari and Presidents and CEOs of huge tire companies. You'd better believe I played into my Michelle Wie advantage. My advice here is to talk about being Korean, (or whatever your race, you've got a minority card you can surely play somehow) and your parents being very avid golfers. After that, go ahead and take the shot with Molinari and make dad jealous/proud.
