Interview With John Platt Director of golf instruction Mistwood Golf Club

Below is an interview with John Platt, the Director of golf instruction at Mistwood Golf Club. 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?
PGA Member In golf business since 1986 College Coach 1991-2000 High School coach 2003-present
1999 NCAA National coach of the year D II/III
2011 Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year
2012 Illinois chapter PGA junior golf leader had over 200 students qualify for the IHSA state finals had over 70 students play college golf

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
Freshman year in high school. The golf coach at my high school (Joliet East) was Don Nichols who was a good family friend. My biggest memory in my early years as a freshman had the chance to play Butler National because I worked the Western open and shot 139!! Have not played it since!!

What is your current home course?
Mistwood Golf Course in Romeoville, IL

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
On the course qualifying for the National Club Championship and in the industry I had one of my female players this year qualify for the US open and I got the chance to caddie for her! That was pretty cool!

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course? People who talk to your ball when your playing with them. I know it has nothing to do with the outcome, but whenever someone say's nice putt or that's in-IT ALWAYS LIPS OUT!!!

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
Driver! I hit about 10-12 fairways each time I play-ON average

What is your favorite golf destination?
Sea Island Georgia

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Augusta

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Fredirika Golf Club on Sea Island

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
I know this would be hard to police, but why should the group ahead of me hit the ball in the center of the fairway, they hit it, take a huge divot and does not replace it. I proceed to hit the same drive right into the deep divot. Now I have to play from a unfair advantage because the guy in front of me has no etiquette!!

Dream foursome (living)?
Tiger, Suzann Pettersen, shakira, me

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, me

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Sinking Long putts! That's how you collect at the end of the day

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of Life! That takes skill, hole in ones are one lucky shot out of many!

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight. Not a morning person, but bugs are bad at both!!

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power fade is much more controllable

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage Cart usually has better talent then halfway house!

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bushes, there's more bushes then bathrooms at most courses!

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Wrap! Hot dogs are unpredictable at most places!

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Good players will choose sand, trunk slammers will choose thick rough

9) Walking OR riding?
Won't lie here---riding!

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Hybrid, because it's easier to hit with my re-route action

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Par 5's ALWAYS

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts--My students wear shorts to lessons, so I wear shorts giving lessons!

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Arnold to have a drink with, Jack to play with if I needed a partner

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Not even close "E"

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
No such thing as playing for fun!!!

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Flop, that's why I like Phil!!!

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble, that's why I like Phil

18) 18 holes OR 36?
18, to old and fat now!!!!!