Champions Tour Profile: Donnie Hammond
http://www.golftribune.com/articles/14/1/Champions-Tour-Profile-Donnie-Hammond/Page1.html
James Raia
By James Raia
Published on 09/19/2007
Donnie Hammond has been a professional golfer for nearly 30 years. But during the 2006 Thanksgiving holiday, Hammond opened a new component of his golfing career.
With fellow PGA TOUR and Champions TOUR players Frank Lickliter II, Corey Pavin, Howard Twitty and Jerry Kelly, Hammond traveled as a goodwill ambassador to Iraq to visit with soldiers.
For eight days, the group visited nearly a dozen bases, including one day, Kelly's 40th birthday, when the players were treated to three different birthday cakes.
With fellow PGA TOUR and Champions TOUR players Frank Lickliter II, Corey Pavin, Howard Twitty and Jerry Kelly, Hammond traveled as a goodwill ambassador to Iraq to visit with soldiers.
For eight days, the group visited nearly a dozen bases, including one day, Kelly's 40th birthday, when the players were treated to three different birthday cakes.
(I interviewed Donnie Hammond during the Wal-Mart First Tee Open in early September at Pebble Beach Golf Links.)
Donnie Hammond has been a professional golfer for nearly 30 years. But during the 2006 Thanksgiving holiday, Hammond opened a new component of his golfing career.
With fellow PGA TOUR and Champions TOUR players Frank Lickliter II, Corey Pavin, Howard Twitty and Jerry Kelly, Hammond traveled for eight days as a goodwill ambassador to Iraq to visit with soldiers.
The group visited nearly a dozen bases, including one day, Kelly's 40th birthday, when the players were treated to three different birthday cakes.
"We saw thousands of soldiers over there and talked to a bunch of them," recalled Hammond, who joined the Champions TOUR in April, 2007 after a long, two-win career on the PGA TOUR. "We visited one of Saddam Hussein's old palaces that the military had taken over and spent the first night in one of his former guest houses."
As a private pilot, Hammond was enthralled by the skills of helicopter pilots who flew and landed near the golfers' accommodations.
"One night a couple of Canucks landed about 300 yards from the trailer where we were sleeping," Hammond recalled. "The building was starting to shake. We all walked about 100 yards away and the stars were as bright as I've every seen them. It was in the middle of the night, somewhere in the middle if Iraq. We all then came back and talked about it for an hour at 3 in the morning."
Although eager for the experience, Hammond was uncertain if the soldiers could relate. In each base the players visited, they hit golf balls, talked with the soldiers and made friends.
"I was kind of worried that maybe a lot of these guys might not play golf, but maybe their dad might play golf. So I was concerned about what kind of turnout we might get," he said. "But guys came out in droves, you know, just to have some entertainment. It was great for us. It was fun to be able to talk with them and tell 'em that a bunch of people are supporting them back in the states."
Donnie Hammond's Equipment
DRIVER — TaylorMade r7 (9.5 degrees) with Fujikura Rombax shafts
FAIRWAY WOODS — TaylorMade 3-wood (15 degrees) with Fujikura Rombax shafts
HYBRID — TaylorMade (19 degrees) with Fujikura Graphite shaft
IRONS — TaylorMade r7 (3-PW) with True Temper Tour Concept x-100 shafts
WEDGES — TaylorMade (Rac) (52, 56, 60 degrees ) with True Temper S400 shafts
PUTTER — Guerin Rife Barbados
BALL — Titleist Pro V
Donnie Hammond has been a professional golfer for nearly 30 years. But during the 2006 Thanksgiving holiday, Hammond opened a new component of his golfing career.
With fellow PGA TOUR and Champions TOUR players Frank Lickliter II, Corey Pavin, Howard Twitty and Jerry Kelly, Hammond traveled for eight days as a goodwill ambassador to Iraq to visit with soldiers.
The group visited nearly a dozen bases, including one day, Kelly's 40th birthday, when the players were treated to three different birthday cakes.
"We saw thousands of soldiers over there and talked to a bunch of them," recalled Hammond, who joined the Champions TOUR in April, 2007 after a long, two-win career on the PGA TOUR. "We visited one of Saddam Hussein's old palaces that the military had taken over and spent the first night in one of his former guest houses."
As a private pilot, Hammond was enthralled by the skills of helicopter pilots who flew and landed near the golfers' accommodations.
"One night a couple of Canucks landed about 300 yards from the trailer where we were sleeping," Hammond recalled. "The building was starting to shake. We all walked about 100 yards away and the stars were as bright as I've every seen them. It was in the middle of the night, somewhere in the middle if Iraq. We all then came back and talked about it for an hour at 3 in the morning."
Although eager for the experience, Hammond was uncertain if the soldiers could relate. In each base the players visited, they hit golf balls, talked with the soldiers and made friends.
"I was kind of worried that maybe a lot of these guys might not play golf, but maybe their dad might play golf. So I was concerned about what kind of turnout we might get," he said. "But guys came out in droves, you know, just to have some entertainment. It was great for us. It was fun to be able to talk with them and tell 'em that a bunch of people are supporting them back in the states."
Donnie Hammond's Equipment
DRIVER — TaylorMade r7 (9.5 degrees) with Fujikura Rombax shafts
FAIRWAY WOODS — TaylorMade 3-wood (15 degrees) with Fujikura Rombax shafts
HYBRID — TaylorMade (19 degrees) with Fujikura Graphite shaft
IRONS — TaylorMade r7 (3-PW) with True Temper Tour Concept x-100 shafts
WEDGES — TaylorMade (Rac) (52, 56, 60 degrees ) with True Temper S400 shafts
PUTTER — Guerin Rife Barbados
BALL — Titleist Pro V