By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
John Cook has been a success in every area of golf. As a player, an instructor and a TV commentator. But one of his true loves is working with kids.
“This is a game you can enjoy for a long time,” Cook emphasized as he conducted a ‘Kids Klinic’ Tuesday afternoon at the First Tee of Sharon facility at Buhl Farm Golf Course and Driving Range. “It’s a game you can have fun with your whole life.”
Cook’s family has been involved with the national First Tee program for many years, with dad Jim, who visited also Tuesday; his mom, Lyda, who’s twin sister Carole Barker is director of the local First Tee; and sister Cathy, who with her husband runs First Tee programs outside of Philadelphia.
“This First Tee (of Sharon) program doesn’t get the recognition it should,” said Cook family patriarch Jim, who with the whole family helped dedicate the local First Tee a decade ago. “It does so much to help kids, but it has to take a backseat to some of the bigger city programs.”
The Cook family runs a First Tee program as well at the Cook’s Creek Golf Club, outside of Columbus.
The national program, which is sponsored by all the major tours, has brought a lot of boys and girls into the game. Even in inter-city areas. But the one unfortunate area, said John Cook, is that Tiger Woods is still the only African-American on tour.
“It’s unfortunate that more minorities haven’t come through to make it to the PGA,” said Cook. “Some have been successful in spots, but I wish more would stick with it. There are a lot of good athletes, but many go other directions.
“Golf is the most democratic of games. Everyone has a chance.”
Cook has made the most of his chances for sure. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour and for just over two years has competed on the Champions Tour. He has won twice on the “senior circuit” and is currently 14th on the money list this year.
“Unfortunately I’ll have to miss the next tournament,” said Cook. “Mark O’Meara is getting married. I told him he could have at least picked the following weekend when we don’t have a tournament.”
While the Champions Tour seems more laid back to the average follower, Cook said it is until the tournament gets rolling. “It’s still very competitive, especially on Sundays. We all still like to compete.”
He said one of the great things about the Champions Tour is that they visit different towns than they did on the PGA Tour and meet different people. “What we appreciate is the community involvement,” he said.
While many of the young players on today’s PGA Tour are great players, they don’t have the personality of many of those who have moved on to the Champions Tour. But as Cook pointed out, it’s a different world.
“The young people don’t have the association with the older players,” said Cook, who became close friends with the great Byron Nelson, and had guidance from the likes of Ken Venturi and others. “That’s unfortunate. We were very lucky to have the associations we had.”
Cook also made a name for himself as a TV commentator, starting in 2003 with USA Network on a Sunday golf show.
“I might do it again someday,” said Cook, who had to give it up when he joined the Champions Tour. “There is always life after golf.”
Cook’s easy-going style was very popular with golf fans. “I wanted to make it sound like I didn’t forget what it was like to play the game,” he said. “I didn’t want to talk down to people. I wanted to be just like we are sitting here talking.”
As great as Cook is in the world of golf, he also had another claim to fame. He once did a photo shoot with a young girl named Mary Collins. Oh, yeah. You may know her better as Bo Derek!
“I was 12 and she was 11, I think,” said Cook. “I was racing motorcycles for Kawasaki and they came out with this new small motorcycle. She was a young model and they put the two of us together for the promotion.
“I saw her years later In South Africa when I was there to play in the Million Dollar event. She was there for the Miss World pageant. We were at a party and my wife went right up to talk to her and ask her if she remembered that.”
Cook has some other experiences when he was young, including playing at the Buhl Farm Golf Course which was then known as “Dum Dum.” “I played it when I was real little and we were here visiting,” said Cook, whose mom is originally from Sharpsville. “I played it again a couple of years ago. It was fun.”
And fun in golf is what Cook exudes as he teaches youngsters through the First Tee program.
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