Interview With Robbie Gould, Place Kicker, Chicago Bears

Below is an interview with Robbie Gould, the Place Kicker at Chicago Bears. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

Can you provide our readers a brief biography?
One of the most accurate kickers in NFL history and one of the most sought out athletes in Chicago, Robbie Gould has quickly made a name and home for himself in the Windy City.

A graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Business Management, Robbie Gould knows and understands the meaning of hard work. A walk-on to the football team his freshman year, Robbie worked diligently to earn a scholarship that began his sophomore year.

Robbie completed his collegiate career ranked 5th on Penn State's all-time scoring list and was also named one of two recipients of the Frank Patrick Memorial Total Commitment Award. This achievement, annually presented to junior class members, is given to those who dutifully complete responsibilities in all facets of the football program and do so in an exemplary manner.

After graduation, Robbie entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent by New England, but after a short time, he was waived. Following, the Baltimore Ravens had asked Robbie to join their team, but he was again released.

Disappointed yet still determined, Robbie returned to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and began working a 9-5 job at a local construction company. It was in the fall of 2005 when Robbie received a call from the Chicago Bears (having hung up on them twice because he thought it was a prank) inviting him to hop on a plane to Chicago to tryout for their team.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
I played golf when I was a kid. My parents joined a local country club. We'd get dropped off at 8, and we'd leave at 8 at night, so, it was more hit and giggle and have fun, beat your brother and just enjoy the game of golf. When I got to Chicago, I was probably a 15 handicap. I met Patrick Mannelly and Brad Maynard (Chicago Bears team mates) who were pretty good golfers, and I got tired of losing, and realistically I am probably one of the biggest competitors your going to met, and I just got tired of losing, so I was like I'm going to take this game up pretty serious and didn't I would ever get to the point where its obsession.

What is your current home course?
My current home course is Rich Harvest Farms.

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
I think the biggest accomplishment is just being able to be a part of the game of golf on a lot of different levels, from a Charity perspective, from a Pro prospective where you get a chance to play in the Encompass Championship or play in an LPGA tournament or play in Pro-Am or in the PGA, to the Lake Tahoe event where it is one of the biggest celebrity events there are so, just being able to be involved in the golf community, and being apart of you know a Ryder Cup, and playing in that Pro-Am, I mean there's just a lot golf memories because it's such a hobby for me that I can't pinpoint one.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Slow play.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
Seven Iron, and I think a lot of that has to do with I use it a lot when I warm up, so I hit it the most out of any other clubs in my bag.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Hawaii, I think it has a lot of great courses. You know Mark Rolfing is a close friend of mine, and I've had the privilege to go over there and play a lot of those courses and you know you can play any type of course you want over there.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Well, yeah there is, there is a bunch. I have a goal of playing all the top 100 golf courses in the US. Um, public or private. And there's a lot of great ones around here, even into Wisconsin and Indiana so, is there one that I want to play? All the top 100.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Riviera, oh I take that back, Augusta National.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Oh that's tough. I think most of the rules are pretty good. I think the biggest rule that I would change is I think you should be able to get a free drop out of the middle of the fairway if your in a divot.

Dream foursome (living)?
Dream foursome that is living. Fred Couples, Michael Jordan and Bill Clinton.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
I think I would keep it the same. I really would. I think you know there's a lot. I'd probably put together 10 foursomes if I could, but I think those are the guys that would be most intriguing to play.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long putt cause I don't make many putts.

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Hole in one cause I don't have one.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
All day long.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power fade, cause I don't have a draw in my bag.

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage cart. Comes around more often.

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bushes.

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Wrap.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Around the green.

9) Walking OR riding?
Walking

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
3 Iron

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Short par 5

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Doesn't matter.

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Both

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Elvis

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Fun

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
54