Interview With Brian Laur Head Golf Professional Rend Lake Golf Resort

Below is an interview with Brian Laur, the Head Golf Professional at Rend Lake Golf Resort. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
I played a few rounds in high school with buddies at a course that no longer exists. It was called Homestead. You could ride nine holes for $4! We just messed around and I honestly have no idea of any scores I shot. When I got out of college I was an assistant men's basketball coach, women's volleyball coach and fitness center instructor at Rend Lake Jr. College. In the summer I had a lot of down time and started hitting balls and putting at Rend Lake Golf Course. I couldn't afford to play much ( or even buy range balls) and to make a long story short, I ended up in the golf business and after seven years at Crab Orchard Golf Club in Carterville, IL I eventually came back to Rend Lake and have the opportunity to be the Head Golf Professional.

What is your current home course?
Rend Lake of course

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
My proudest moments on the course include winning the Gateway PGA Pro/Assistant with my boss at Crab Orchard, Steve Heckel. Steve is a great player and I made 5 birdies that day to win over 47 other teams. I am also proud to say I shot 65 at Crab Orchard with Alice Cooper in my group. He is obviously a huge golf fanatic and plays Callaway. I was on assistant staff with Callaway and it worked out for him to come to our course when he was playing a concert in the area. Alice shot an 81(pretty good golf).. Industry-wise I am most proud to say that I am a Class "A" member of the PGA. As a person who did not grow up playing golf I am proud of getting through all 3 stages of schooling that most people have no idea even exists. Much less the playing ability test that can be very intimidating for someone who is not experienced in a tournament setting.

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

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
My new Callaway Big Bertha Driver - never hit the driver this straight!


What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
I want to go to St. Andrews before I die - even though Alice Cooper said Hawaii is much better!

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Rend Lake - will always be my favorite, 1-18 for me

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
You get to deduct strokes if you play under a certain time limit (and have to add for over a certain time.)

Dream foursome (living)?
Myself with Delaney, Patrice and Banx. These are my two daughters and son - they are just starting to play.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long drive - not as good as my putter

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of life - I've made 4 hole in one's

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power fade - always true, I draw too many shots crooked

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Halfway house

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bushes - I'm from southern Illinois

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Wrap

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand doesn't scare me

9) Walking OR riding?
Riding - its quicker, I'll work out later

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Hybrid - I'm not that good

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

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts - I've got good legs

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Nicklaus - he won more

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Neither

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
I don't play for fun - you should but I don't

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

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Lay up - in basketball or golf

18) 18 holes OR 36?
36 - hardly ever happens but I hope to when I retire, or get a real job