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Michael Jordan, Certified Golf Nut #0023

Our Most Famous Certified Golf Nut

As we approach the end of 2021 and prepare to name our Golf Nut of the Year, I thought I would share with you how Michael Jordan, #23 for the Chicago Bulls, became a member of the Golf Nut Society and Certified Golf Nut #0023.

In short, it was a huge stroke of good fortune. A dear friend, Peter Moore (#0002), and I played golf every weekend in our regular foursome. At the time, Peter was the Worldwide Creative Director for Nike. It was his job to create an image – a marketable brand – for the athletes who signed with Nike.

When Michael signed with Nike, Peter and his team met with Michael whenever he came to town for brand and shoe design discussions. They did have one minor problem with Michael. He told Peter he was only good until Noon each day, after which he was going to play golf the rest of the day.

Peter called me one day and asked if I would like to join Michael and him for a round of golf. It was the easiest decision I’ve ever made. We had a great time, and at the end of the round, as we stood on the 18th tee, Peter said to Michael, “Ron has a club you might be interested in.” Michael replied, “What kind of club?” He thought Peter meant a golf club you swing, not a golf club you join, so I chimed in and said, “The Golf Nut Society of America.”

“What kind of club is that??” he asked. So, I explained it to him, and he said, “You don’t understand, you have to pay me to join your club.” And I replied, “You don’t understand, I can’t afford you.” He laughed and said, “Give me the information and I’ll check it out.”

This was the summer of 1986, and I had just founded the group a month earlier. Fortunately, I still had Nut #0023 available, which was yet another stroke of good fortune. One thing led to another. Michael liked the Golf Nut Society and the idea of being a Registered Golf Nut (Now Certified Golf Nut), and joined, becoming Nut #0023″.

Over the next three years, whenever Michael visited Nike, Peter would ask me to pick him up at the office and take him to our club to play golf. We would play until dark unless he was in town for a game. On those days, we would limit the fun to only eighteen holes. Each time we played, I would ask, “What have you done to earn Nut Points since we last played?” His obsession for the game was truly amazing. He racked up a ton of Nut Points.

In the summer of ’89, as we were playing, I said, “You know, Michael, you are now in 3rd place for Golf Nut of the Year. If you will finally take the Entrance Exam, you could win the title this year.” That’s all he had to hear. “Give me the exam and I’ll mail it back to you. I’m gonna win it,” he replied.

And he did win it. Michael took the exam on his return flight, put it in the mail, and sent it to GNS headquarters. His Entrance Exam score, added to his massive Bonus Points, put him at the top of the rankings for the year. At the end of the year, he was named 1989 Golf Nut of the Year, and received worldwide publicity for the win. Needless to say, it put the Golf Nut Society on the map and gave us a lot of credibility.

Meeting Michael Jordan, when he was at the peak of his fame was an incredible journey. I get into more detail about our relationship in my book Golf Nuts – You’ve Got To Be Committed, but as I look back, there were many great moments.

Perhaps the most memorable for me occurred after I had moved to the Phoenix area. Prior to the Bulls’ game six win in the NBA Finals to clinch the title, I called MJ’s office and told his assistant that I now lived in the Phoenix area, and that if he would like to tee it up, I was a member of a private club where he would be allowed to play golf in complete privacy. Michael called me the day before the game and said, “Let’s do it!”

We played 36 holes that day, 18 holes before his practice session, and 18 holes afterward. In the afternoon, two Golf Nuts – Ken Kellaney (#2020) and Duke DeBernardi (#0889) – joined us, and MJ won all the money, a foreboding of things to come on the basketball court for the Phoenix Suns.

The next day, Michael Jordan (#0023) won the NBA title.

Great memories.

Thank you, Peter Moore.

The Head Nut

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P.S. Michael has his own dedicated page on our website. You can find it here.

One of My Favorite Nuts

If you can gain access to this…

You are one very special Golf Nut because you know this guy…

Yes, The King himself.

That’s Dr. Michael Cohen, and he is standing in the warehouse where Arnold Palmer stored every golf club he ever owned.

It simply doesn’t get any more special than that, and it earned “Doc” (Nut #2780) 5,000 Nut Points.

Well done, #2780!!

The Head Nut

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World’s 1st “Almost Hole-In-One”

“I know quite a few folks who have a HOLE-IN-ONE commemorative plaque, but to the best of my knowledge, I’m the only one with an ALMOST HOLE-IN-ONE commemorative plaque.

Thanks to my dear friend, Joe Vieira, who has his hole-in-one…as does Rob, who took the photo.”

– Bob Scavetta (#1696)

Hey, #1696, what are friends for if not to remind us of our golf “almosts”?

The Head Nut

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A Rare Double

This great photo of golf balls autographed by Michael Jordan and Arnold Palmer was sent to us by Ken Kellaney (#2020). We call him The Legend around here as he is a 10-time Arizona Golf Association “Player of the Year”, has won a record 5 Arizona Amateur titles, and was inducted into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in 2009.

He is also certifiably nuts when it comes to his golf swing. A few weeks after shooting 62 (at age 63) he decided to change his swing. Go figure…

The Head Nut

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Golf Nut of the Year Roll-up

As we approach year-end, I’ll be sharing stories about our fellow Certified Golf Nuts in advance of naming or 2021 Golf Nut of the Year in early January.

To get things kicked off, here’s a sampling from Charles Madge (#4025) our wild and crazy reigning Golf Nut of the Year…

Here’s Charlie’s three-volume golf autobiography. It weighs 20 pounds. Ruling: 700 Points

And, who has both Arnold Palmer’s and Sam Snead’s autograph?? Well Golf Nut of the Year Charlie Madge does. Ruling: 2,000 Points

And, who but our wild & crazy Golf Nut of the Year would have played 545 different golf courses around the world; 27 outside the U.S.? YIKES, imagine the cost! Ruling: 545 Points

And, speaking frankly, only the mind of Charlie Madge could come up with this putter. Ruling: 118 Points

And, who but our reigning Golf Nut of the Year would have this amazing putter that was designed by NASA for putting on the moon? Ruling: 1,000 Points

And, how many 90-year-olds can shoot 89 in a state tournament?? Ruling: 589 Points

And, who but our Charlie would design and build “The World’s Largest Sand Wedge”? Ruling: 100 Points

Well, there you have it. A thumbnail of the inimitable and endlessly energetic Charlie Madge (#4025).

For the whole story of the amazing Charlie Madge, our reigning Golf Nut of the Year, click HERE.

I will be posting additional stories about our fellow Certified Golf Nuts in the coming days as we approach the naming of our new Golf Nut of the Year.

In the meantime, keep searching for The Secret and report your findings.

Go Nuts!

The Head Nut

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