MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Professional Golfers Association golfer Bobby Lopez treated Iwakuni golfers to golf clinics, a tournament, a trick shot comedy show and many smiles as part of a United Service Organizations tour here May 9-10.
“I’m just here to let you all know that there are a lot of people back home that support you and I’m one of them,” said Lopez
Lopez, who played on the PGA European Tour, has been teaching golf for over 33 years and currently hosts the ESPN radio show, “The Cahoon Plantation Golf Hour with Scottie and the Man,” he was nominated for Golf Magazine’s list of Top 100 Golf Instructors.
But it was his charm and smile that won over Iwakuni golfers. Lopez, who is a big fan of Marines as evident by his drill instructor driver cover, could be seen joking around with fellow golfers and thanking everyone he met.
“I thought he was a really great guy,” said Louis C. Del Prete, golf newcomer. Del Prete won a Torii Pines drawing and was one of four service members to golf nine holes with Lopez. “He was a lot of fun and he had this really awesome personality that made him really easy to talk to. I didn’t feel intimidated by him at all and he took a lot of time out to show me how to improve my golf game.”
Lopez spent a lot of one on one time with golfers helping them improve their swing and also videotaped them so he could perform slow-motion video analysis with the new V1 software he brought along with him. According to Lopez, the video analysis has been the favorite on the tour so far, because it allows the golfer to see what he is doing wrong rather than just be told what he is doing wrong.
“Golfing with him was really great because I was just expecting to come out here and play 9 holes and get blown out by a pro,” said Del Prete. “But, he took the time to coach us and even videotaped my swing. Getting to see my own swing while he pointed out what I was doing wrong really helped.”
As much as the golfers appreciated the help from Lopez, he refused to accept any thanks. Saying only, “Don’t thank me. I’m here to thank you guys for what you do by showing you what I know. As far as I’m concerned everything we do back home should be for our military. We’re an all volunteer military and it’s the greatest military in the world.”