the money helped finance his time at Hampden-Sydney , Stubbe said he learned valuable life lessons simply by going through the application process .
“ Just getting a letter of recommendation , sitting down and thinking about what I wanted to say , about why I was deserving of it and how it would help me , the process for me at that age was sort of outside of my comfort zone , but in the best possible way ,” Stubbe said . “ You need to be able to go to an elder and ask for a recommendation . And you need to carry yourself in a way that allows for someone to speak well of you . … Even if I had not received it , it was a positive experience to go through the process .”
Professional golf was not in Stubbe ’ s future after school , so he settled into the work force . After his trip to Pinehurst and his subsequent meetings with Berger , he realized a unique opportunity was afoot . Convincing Anne Cole to take the plunge with him was the next step .
“ My wife gave me basically , ‘ this is what has to be the ( financial ) reality for me to feel comfortable with you doing it ,’” Stubbe said . “ And that benchmark got obliterated very quickly . … And part of me was thinking , ‘ If you don ’ t do this , you ’ re going to be thinking about it forever .’”
Once Stubbe joined Berger ’ s troupe full time ( he left his job in July 2022 ), it was clear that Fat Perez was an instant hit , and he quickly became an indispensable part of the crew . A perfect snapshot : Perez , Fairways and Coldcuts participated in a 3-vs . -1 scramble match against multi-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa in Scottsdale last November . On the third hole , Perez rolls in a long eagle putt , jokingly stares down Homa afterwards , then performs his signature Euro Step on his way to the hole to retrieve the ball .
Golf is no longer just a weekend activity for Stubbe , who ran with a unique opportunity .
EURO STEP :
Defined as a basketball move in which an offensive player picks up their dribble , takes a step in one direction , and then quickly takes a second step in another direction .
PAUL PIERCE JR .
I ’ ve always been a goals guy , seeing things in black and white . But it ’ s hard to see where we ’ ll be in six months . We can just hope to … entrench ourselves in the world of golf and show a side of the game that isn ’ t always serious .”
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