D.A. Davidson is a proud partner of professional golfer Scott “Gootch” Gutschewski. A native Nebraskan, Gootch has been active on the tour circuit and completed five full-time seasons on the PGA Tour. We caught up with him to chat about his golf experiences and perspective.
Arnold Palmer once said that success in golf depends more on strength of character and mind than strength of body. Your emotional reaction during your interview in Ohio when you won your PGA Tour card last year seems like it might have been a reminder of this quote. How have you kept going through the tough times?
It’s hard to say how I’ve kept going through the years other than the support of my family and friends. They have been there for me through everything and given me every opportunity to pursue my dreams of professional golf and playing on the PGA Tour. There have been several times where the thought of hanging up the clubs has crossed my mind, but in the end, it comes back to the feeling that I can still do things and compete, and I really love being out there competing.
There is definitely more to playing golf professionally than just being able to hit the ball and make some putts. We can get pulled in a lot of different directions — it is easy to throw a little pity party if things aren’t going your way or it’s cold and rainy. There has always been something in me that wants to endure and persevere. I enjoy the challenges of the game and the journey or process of seeing how far I can take my abilities. I give it my best effort and let the cards fall where they may. I suppose that would be a credit to the way my parents raised my sisters and me.
What has been your favorite course to play and why?
My favorite place to play is anywhere with my kids. It has been a lot of fun helping them learn the game and see their love for the game develop.
Just from the historical perspective, it would be difficult to beat Pebble Beach or St. Andrews. I have been fortunate to play at Pebble Beach quite a lot and each time is a special experience in a beautiful location. If I could only play one course for the rest of my life, I would choose Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kansas. It is a wonderful golf course with such memorable holes and features. It is very demanding, but fair. I have had the pleasure of playing Prairie Dunes several times and look forward to every opportunity I get to play there!
If you could play in a foursome with any of the legendary players, who would you choose and why?
I would love to play with Jack Nicklaus — the record that he compiled through the years was simply amazing. I have always been a big fan of Lee Trevino. I have always enjoyed his banter and have no doubt that any round with him would be a tremendous amount of fun. Arnold Palmer was such a gentleman and played with great enthusiasm. Rounding out my foursome would be Seve Ballesteros. He played with such creativity and excitement.
These four are clearly some of the greats of the game and played in ways that very few over the years have. All of them shared a great passion for golf and were exceptional competitors. There is no doubt in my mind that a round of golf with these gentlemen would be priceless!
Just as it is important to stay focused and perseverant while golfing, it is also important to stay patient and persistent while investing, especially amidst volatility. A D.A. Davidson financial professional can give you advice, create or review your financial plan, and help you keep your goals on track.
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