My 3rd Presidential Motorcade Drive: Differences Between the VP & First Lady

Had the incredible opportunity and experience of driving with my wife Jen alongside other friends in a presidential motorcade for the Vice President today - politics aside, what a thrill!

It was interesting to compare this to my previous two drives for the First Lady. A VP motorcade has significantly more cars, but I actually found it easier to drive in thanks to the road closures. This drive was also more residential through Lansing, compared to the highway-heavy routes around Detroit. While staying calm and focused is key, it was fun to see the excitement on the streets - kids jumping, many people filming in awe, lots of supporters cheering, and a few protesting. It was such a memorable scene as we passed back and forth from Air Force Two at the airport to our destination!

Driving in a Presidential Motorcade: A Surreal and Memorable Experienc

If you would’ve told me a few days ago that I’d be driving the press van in a presidential motorcade for the First Lady, and that my wife and I would get to shake hands and take a photo with her…I might’ve thought you were kidding.



Driving in a motorcade is definitely an experience. You’ve got traffic parting like the Red Sea, police cars zipping around at high speeds, people staring, and you’re running stop signs and red lights, which is fun, but it also takes incredible focus. You must tailgate the car in front of you to keep everything moving smoothly and the motorcade tight.

Interestingly, all the mental training from my years of playing professional golf came in handy to keep calm and grounded in the middle of all the buzz and chaos.

Super cool!

Living in the Space of Innovation: A Special Guest at Black Tech Saturdays Golf Clinic

My wife, Jennifer Giroux of Giroux Impact, and I live in the space of innovation, quite literally. We intentionally chose our neighborhood of Hubbard Richard to be in the Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ) within walking distance of Michigan Central and New Lab, in part because innovation is at our cores.

As compassionate leaders of integrity and entrepreneurs who value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and with me having roots in tech dating back to the dot-com days, it was a no-brainer to say yes when Johnnie Turnage and Alexa Turnage invited me to be their special guest at the Black Tech Saturdays golf clinic at Belle Isle Golf, incidentally also one of my favorite places in Detroit. I had a fantastic time at the event, and we were blessed with near-perfect golf weather.

A heartfelt thank you to the participants, volunteers, Rocket Mortgage Classic, and everyone who made this event possible. I was grateful for the opportunity to lend my golf expertise and look forward to many more fun events together.

Enjoy some of the amazing photos captured by Tay Ford of Heart of the City Photography!

What Kind of Dog Am I? Discovering My Canine Counterpart with ChatGPT

Earlier I was out at dinner with my wife and two of our girlfriends at Ima Izakaya in Corktown and we were chatting about dogs, how sometimes people look like their dogs, and what type of dog we thought would be most similar to each of us.

So, I decided to feed ChatGPT the extensive introspective research I've done on myself that's based on many things like astrology, human design, etc, and then proceeded to ask it what kind of dog would I be?

Here's what it said:

Given your detailed and unique description, you'd be an **Alaskan Malamute**. Here's why:

1. **Size and Strength**: Alaskan Malamutes are large, strong, and athletic dogs. Your height and weight, coupled with your strength, mirror this breed's stature and capability.
2. **Old Wise Soul & Spiritualist**: Malamutes are an ancient breed that's been around for thousands of years, often seen as wise souls in the dog world.
3. **Calm & Intuitive**: While they are powerful, Malamutes are often calm, intuitive, and introspective.
4. **Grounded in Nature**: Malamutes are hardy and thrive in natural settings, especially colder climates reminiscent of Alaska.
5. **Leadership**: As sled dogs, they have often been in roles where leadership and teamwork are crucial.
6. **Loyalty and Honesty**: Malamutes are known to be extremely loyal to their families.
7. **Independent & Solitary**: While they are pack animals, they also have a streak of independence and can be reserved.
8. **Hard Worker & Disciplined**: These dogs are bred to work hard in challenging conditions, showcasing their discipline and resilience.
9. **Smart & Observant**: They are intelligent dogs, quick to learn, and very observant of their surroundings.
10. **Path Finder**: As sled dogs, they've historically been used to find paths in challenging terrains.
11. **Resilient & Patient**: Working in tough terrains and conditions has made this breed both resilient and patient.
12. **Communication**: Malamutes have a diverse range of vocalizations and are expressive communicators.
13. **Colors & Climate**: The colors of the Alaskan Malamute, often a blend of gray, sable, and white, could be associated with the "Dusty Soft Autumn" palette you mentioned. Moreover, they thrive in cooler climates, matching several of the states you mentioned as ideal.
14. **Diet**: Malamutes do best with a high-protein diet which can include fish, mirroring the Mediterranean-style diet you prefer.

The Alaskan Malamute's strength, independence, wisdom, loyalty, and adaptability to various climates and terrains seem to make it a fitting representation for your described characteristics.

Alaskan Malamute

How fun!

ChatGPT's Career Insights: An AI's Reflection on My Two-Decade Journey

I tend to reside in a pioneering space…and higher level vision and innovative pathways are often things I find myself submerged in. I was early in on YouTube. I've been ahead of the curve in golf club design and golf fitness.

Lately, I've been playing around with ChatGPT, almost on a daily basis. To test it out, I've tried to trick it, and it actually seems really good about providing solid answers despite the trickery. That being said, it is still in a place that requires discernment.

Recently for fun, I decided to see what job's it would recommend for me if I plugged in a description about myself.

It's the age old question, what would you do if you weren't do what you are currently doing?

So, I gave it the text at this link, which is a pretty exhaustive description about who I am.

Here's what it said:

Based on the comprehensive description you've provided about yourself, here are a few potential career paths you might consider, along with some reasoning:

1. **Consultant or Strategic Advisor**: Your ability to systematically organize, observe, investigate, and seek out knowledge combined with a high IQ and introspection makes you a prime candidate for strategic roles. Given your comfort with data and information, you can provide solutions based on research and intuition.

2. **Entrepreneur or Business Owner**: Your entrepreneurial spirit, combined with risk-taking, leadership, loyalty, and a hard-working nature, indicates that you could start and run a business. This would also cater to your need for independence and making decisions based on exhaustive research and intuition.

3. **Life Coach or Spiritual Guide**: Your deep introspection, high intuition, spiritual nature, and desire to teach from your experiences make you suitable for guiding others in their personal journeys.

4. **Outdoor Guide or Retreat Organizer**: Given your connection to nature, water, and high places, you might find fulfillment in leading outdoor excursions, organizing retreats, or participating in wilderness therapy. This would allow you to blend your love for nature with your leadership abilities.

5. **Author or Motivational Speaker**: Your gift in speaking and communication can be channeled into writing books or delivering speeches. Sharing your experiences, knowledge, and insights can inspire others.

6. **Researcher or Investigator**: Your qualities of being an investigator, knowledge seeker, and being comforted by data can be utilized in fields that require extensive research.

7. **Physical Therapist or Personal Trainer**: Given your athletic build and potential focus on alignment (especially considering your concern for back, heart, and circulation), you might enjoy helping others attain physical health and alignment.

However, as with any career suggestion, it's important to align it with your passions and desires. I'd recommend engaging in some introspective sessions, perhaps with a career counselor or coach, to explore these paths further and see which one feels the most right for you.

These are actually a pretty solid list of recommendations.

For the past 20 years, I've been a pro golfer and owned my own business that's revolved around playing and teaching golf, fitness training, and providing consulting and strategic advice to business owners, boards of directors, and executives.. A lot of the products I've created and services I've provided have been based on having done a lot of research and investigation. Often times, I end up using what I learn to write insightful articles, speak, and guide others.

And prior to golf, after pharmacy school I had thought about a career as a massage therapist or maybe something revolving around landscaping.

Seems I'm doing pretty good with being in alignment with who I am…at least according to AI, haha!

Reviving Detroit's Legacy: The Journey to Reclaim the 'City of Trees' Nickname

Many people know Detroit as the "Motor City", but Detroit was also once referred to as the "City of Trees" because of the city's extensive boulevard system and the many trees that once lined its streets and parks.

This nickname and its reputation can be traced back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.

In the late 1800s, Detroit began a significant boulevard construction effort. Under the leadership of people like Mayor Hazen S. Pingree, the city undertook extensive efforts to beautify the streets and add green spaces. Pingree, who served as mayor from 1890 to 1897, was also known for his tree-planting initiatives. He believed that trees could enhance the city's beauty and improve public health. As a result, thousands of trees were planted throughout Detroit during his tenure.

In the early 1900s, the city's broad avenues and streets were lined with trees, and its numerous parks were lush with greenery, earning it the "City of Trees" nickname.

Contributing Factors of Detroit's Tree Loss

However, between 1950 and 1980, its estimated that around 500,000 trees were lost due to a variety of factors that included:

  • Dutch Elm Disease: In the mid-20th century, Dutch Elm Disease, a devastating tree disease, hit North America. This disease ravaged American elm trees, which were commonly used in urban landscapes across many U.S. cities, including Detroit. The disease led to the removal of thousands of trees in the city.

  • Urban Development: The expansion and development of the city also meant that many trees were removed to make way for roads (Ex. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956), buildings, and other infrastructure. This is a typical story for many cities undergoing rapid growth and industrialization.

  • Economic Decline and Population Loss: The latter half of the 20th century was marked by significant economic decline in Detroit, especially with the evolution of the auto industry. This shift led to population loss, abandoned properties, and reduced maintenance. Overgrown and dead trees were often not cared for, and some fell or were removed due to safety concerns.

  • Lack of Replanting Efforts: A combination of dwindling city finances and other pressing priorities meant that tree replanting was not always a focus for the city.

In the early 2000s to mid 2010s, even more trees were lost due to the Emerald Ash Borer.

Decade Population Notes
1701 Around 100 Detroit founded
1800 1,650
1810 2,211
1820 1,422
1830 2,222
1840 9,102
1850 21,019
1860 45,619
1870 79,577
1880 116,340
1890 205,877
1900 285,704 Ford Motor Company founded in 1903
1910 465,766
1920 993,678
1930 1,568,662
1940 1,623,452
1950 1,849,568 Dutch elm disease and, all in 1956, Ford moved Admin HQ to Dearborn, the last Detroit Streets Railway streetcar was shut down and many tracks were eventually paved over, and the Federal Aid High Act passed which lead to the federal interstate system beginning to be built through Detroit
1960 1,670,144 Dutch elm disease, federal interstate system built through Detroit
1970 1,514,063 Dutch elm disease, federal interstate system built through Detroit
1980 1,203,368 Greening of Detroit founded in 1989
1990 1,027,974
2000 951,270 Emerald Ash Borer disease detected in 2002
2010 713,777 Emerald Ash Borer disease
2020 639,115

Reforesting the City

In recent years, however, there have been concerted efforts to reforest and rejuvenate Detroit's urban canopy. Several organizations and community groups like Greening of Detroit (founded in 1989) have engaged in tree planting events, aiming to restore the value of trees in the city.

Benefits of Trees

Benefits of trees can include:

  • Improving air quality
  • Regulating temperature by providing shade
  • Reducing energy costs for buildings & homes
  • Absorbing CO2 from the air
  • Breaking rainfall to improve stormwater drainage
  • Making cities quieter
  • Providing habitat for wildlife
  • Improving mental health
  • Encouraging being outdoors
  • Promoting social interaction
  • Increasing safety
  • Boosting community morale
  • Increasing property values
  • Buffering wind

Getting Involved in Our Neighborhood

My wife and I decided to help.

About a year ago, we went for an evening walk and jotted down on a spreadsheet on one of our smart phones the precise location for every city berm (the grassy area between the road and sidewalk) spot where we thought a tree should go, which totaled about 200 trees in the immediate blocks surrounding our home. We attempted to submit our list to be included as part of the city's "10,000 Up!" tree planting program, but were unsuccessful in being added to their planting list.

But as luck would have it, we got invited by our friends Rich and Janessa to The Greening of Detroit's Sip and Taste on August 22nd, 2022 and found out that Greening was looking for spots to plant in Southwest Detroit, but didn't know where to plant…and serendipitously, we were able to provide them with what they needed, they subsequently put our neighborhood on the Spring 2023 planting list, and we managed to get 130 new trees planted along our streets on March 23rd and 25th thanks to the assistance of various Greening staff like Jenna Johnson and Christina Ridella along with many volunteers.

As the trees bloomed and the leaves came in during spring, our neighborhood felt transformed!

It was such a success that Greening invited us to speak on behalf of our community during their Greening Bus Tour on June 21st, 2023, which I was happy to do since Jen was out of town.
Jaacob Bowden and his wife Jennifer Giroux were champions in helping to organize the planting of 130 new trees in Hubbard Richard
Looking Ahead

We still have a number of spots to plant. We're planning on marking those spots later this summer with Greening and, hopefully, our neighborhood will then be added to their Spring 2024 planting schedule, at which point we would conceivably have 100% berm infill in Hubbard Richard.

Amazing!

This will be so great for our neighborhood and it's my hope that what we're doing can be replicated throughout the entire city in order that Detroit, once again, becomes "The City of Trees".

Dad's Visitation & Funeral Service

I’m not sure how to start a post like this…so, here goes.

The short story is that my Dad Joe passed away in his sleep last night.

As for the slightly longer version…

Many of you know that since 2006’ish he’s had 3 primary battles with multiple myeloma which, for those that don’t know, is a cancer of plasma cells. Fortunately, over time the health care revolving around myeloma has improved during those years and he’s managed to find his way back to a state of remission each time.

However, each round certainly took its toll on him.

During his healthy adult life, he was 6’4” and generally ranged around 200-210, less in summer and more in winter. Lately, he’d been down in the 150’s and I think even the high 140’s. As you can imagine, that’s skin and bones for someone of that height.

In mid-January, he was working in his shop, went to sit down on the shop stool, slightly missed the stool, didn’t have the muscle any longer to catch himself, fell, and broke his hip. The hip surgery went seemingly well until his blood pressure dropped in rehab. After a few weeks of ups and downs in intensive care trying to locate the source of the sepsis (when the body basically attacks itself trying to deal with an infection) and dealing with a laundry list of various problems/complications, he took a turn and the doctor’s recommended transitioning him to the comfort of hospice this past week, where he stayed for about 4 days until finally passing Sunday evening during his sleep at 9:38 pm.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic-related hospital protocols, in the past few weeks my brother Aaron and I were fortunately both able to get some quality phone/visit time with him, along with my mom, plus his two brothers and two sisters.

Today has been a rough day all-around for the family with sorting out logistics amidst low sleep and dealing with our own individual emotions, but my supportive wife Jen has kindly put together the included flyer with details about the visitation and funeral, for those that are interested in going or sending regards.

The photo in the flyer is from 2013. Dad was several months out recovering from his 2nd bout with myeloma. He managed to recover strongly enough to fly out to Bandon Dunes in Oregon and watch me compete in the Speedgolf World Championships. Of course, I wanted to play well for him and tried too hard during the 1st round, but then he helped me relax for the 2nd round and I subsequently managed to tie the championship record for golf score. He was always there for me like that with my sports.

If you’ve got any photos of my Dad that you’d like us to share during the services, please send them to me and I’ll try to make sure they get included.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and words. I always try to respond to everyone that reaches out to me, but if I’m slow or don’t get to it right away, hopefully you’ll understand.

Joe Bowden's Visitation & Funeral Service Information

Helicopter Tour of Detroit

My wife Jennifer Giroux's birthday is on August 30th and our wedding anniversary is on September 1st. So, to celebrate, we decided to do the 1 Hour Metro Detroit Tour using Max Flight Helicopter Services.


I had previously been on a couple helicopter rides before in St. Louis and Tennessee (if I recall correctly). However, this was Jen's first ride.

  • We took off from Gross Ile around 11:30am, rode up the Detroit River, saw the Ford Dearborn Truck Factory, Rouge Steel plant, and River Rouge industrial areas.
  • We circled around our neighborhood of Hubbard Richard next to the Ambassador Bridge (Bridge to Canada), Michigan Central Station, and St. Anne's Church.
  • We did a lap around Downtown Detroit seeing Ford Field, Comerica Park, Motor City Casino, Little Caesar's Arena, and the Renaissance Center.
  • We flew over Belle Isle State Park, headed out to Grosse Pointe and Lake St. Clair, and then came back down inland a bit through Mid-Town and saw things like the old Packard Plant, Henry Ford Hospital, Fisher and Chrysler Buildings, etc...before landing again back down in Gross Ile.

We ended up in the air about 56 minutes, which we could've extended to an hour with a few more minutes of flying at the end around Gross Ile. However, I was nursing a little hangover and we decided to cut our ride off a little bit early.

Our pilot was very cool, made us feel comfortable, and was very knowledgeable about the area.

In our particular helicopter, a Robinson R-44 helicopter that costs around $600,000 to buy, there was room for 3 passengers plus the pilot.

It's a fun thing to do if you are interested!

Highly recommended!

How I Got In To Golf

The First Swings with Dad

My dad first introduced me to golf around high school.

He started by taking my brother Aaron and I to a local 9-hole golf course in House Springs, Missouri, a course which no longer exists, and we would play a few times a year with Dad's old persimmon clubs he got when he was in college.

After I started to take a greater interest, he then got me a box set from Wal-Mart and I played my junior year on our high school team.

On a good day, I’d break 50 for 9 holes. I remember in one of my first junior tournaments, I shot 118…a very nervous 70 on the front nine followed by a much calmer 48 on the back nine.

Mike Austin and the Guinness Book of World Records

Once I had a sense of golf, one particular thing that stood out to me when I used to read the Guinness Book of World Records for fun as a teenager was Mike Austin's 515-yard drive, which I'll circle back to at the end of this post.

An older Mike Austin holds a fairway wood

But briefly, Mike Austin, is the guy who at 64 years old in 1974 hit a Guinness World Record 515-yard drive during the US National Senior Open in Las Vegas.

To give you some perspective, the average amateur golfer hits drives in the 214 yards/drive range.

It was difficult for me to fathom how anyone could hit a ball like that at any age, particularly with 1970's golf equipment technology - an old steel shafted persimmon wood driver and balata ball.

The Bucket List and the 2001 PGA Championship

After college, I started working as a computer engineer in 1998. By that time, I had become a 14-handicap golfer (basically, an average amateur golfer) and had broken 80 once on the Walker Golf Course at Clemson University.

The Walker Course at Clemson University

But I knew the corporate world wasn’t going to be for me for the long term, so, in my spare time I started checking off things on my bucket list.

One of those things was to go to every major sports event at least once – for example, one Super Bowl, one NBA Finals, the tennis Grand Slams (which I’ve now been lucky enough to do), etc. One week when I was 25, I happened to be working in Atlanta training technicians on our proprietary software and the last day of training for the week on Friday got cancelled. With the extra time I then had, I bought myself a ticket to the 2001 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, the one David Toms won with the hole-in-one on the Par 3 15th hole.

Jaacob Bowden at the 2001 PGA Championship

If you’ve ever been to a major tour event, you know that the holes are roped off. Once the players pass, the marshals open the ropes and let the crowds pass across the hole. As it worked out, I was the only person at one of these crossings. As I got to the middle of the fairway, I had the view of a player being inside the ropes looking out at the galleries. At that moment, I felt like the sky got brighter, a veil was lifted, I felt warmer, and I first got the inspiration to pursue a career as a professional golfer.

Meeting Dan Shauger and Mike Austin

It took me about a year after that to muster up the strength and courage to quit the stability of my computer engineering job, but I finally did.

Unfortunately, the culture at my computer engineering got pretty bad due to the company getting sold and restructured multiple times. That ended up being a positive, though, because it helped give me the courage to make the leap.

I also had gotten to a place mentally where I didn't want to turn 40 and wonder if I could've made it had I only tried. Plus, unlike many other sports where players start retiring around 30, I figured with golf I would have time to get good. In fact, if one is healthy and motivated, one can be a competitive tournament golfer almost to "normal" retirement age.

At 27, I sold everything I owned, packed up what remained into my car, drove out west from Kansas City to California feeling an aliveness like never before, lived in a sleeping bag in a dirty garage for a year, and got up about every day and, literally through a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, got myself good enough to turn pro and cash my first check 6 months later when I won the Pinnacle Distance Challenge with a televised 381-yard drive.

Jaacob Bowden wins the Pinnacle Distance Challenge with a televised 381-yard drive

This progress was in part due to a serendipitous meeting I had when I first moved to California. About a month after I had moved out to Los Angeles, I was on the driving range on a really windy day. There was one other guy behind me practicing as well. All of a sudden, a huge gust of Santa Ana wind came up and I stumbled back into the space where he was hitting. I would have crashed into him if it not for the wind blowing him backwards as well. It got us chatting and we remarked on our dedication to practicing in such adverse weather.

That guy, the late Dan Shauger, had just retired from building movie and TV sets in Hollywood, was teaching golf in his retirement and was there that day at the course contemplating getting a membership so he could take a crack at the Senior Tour. He ended up being inspired by what I was doing, bought himself a membership so we could practice together, and he also offered to start teaching me pro bono. As it turns out, he was also great friends with an old pro named…you guessed it, Mike Austin.

Here I was, just starting my golf career, and I was getting to meet the very same Mike Austin that stood out to me all those years ago as I kid when I would read the Guinness Book of World Records.

Sometimes I wonder if those moments I remember vividly as a kid were a foreshadowing of destiny to come. Maybe it was just chance. I’m not sure. But it still amazes me how those dots somehow connected in such a surreal way.

What I Love About Playing Golf

There are so many things I love about playing the game of golf.

I love the nature. I grew up outside of St. Louis in small town Barnhart, Missouri on 33 acres of mostly wooded land. My Dad was a high school math teacher and my Mom taught middle school math, science, and art. We had a bunch of farm animals and our closest neighbors were over a quarter mile away, so my brother and I spent a lot of time by ourselves in nature growing up. Playing golf and seeing all the various animals on the course brings me back to those childhood memories.


I love the practice. When I was growing up, one of my favorite things to do was practice sports. I would come home from school and one of the first things I’d do would be to go shoot free throws on the court my Dad built us. Or in the summer, I’d pitch buckets of baseballs from a homemade mound over a wooden home plate into a tarp draped over a chicken wire backstop with cedar posts. Today I still get that same type of satisfaction hitting tennis balls against a ball machine or in golf with hitting driving range balls or working on my short game. There’s something about practice that really grabs me and makes me lose track of time.


I love the solitude. I’m an introvert by nature and I recharge when I’m by myself. This serves me well in golf and also feeds into my love of practice because in order to be really good, you have to spend time alone just working on your game. So, when I practice alone, not only am I recharging my batteries, I’m also building skills as a player.

That being said, I do still like being around people. In fact, one of the other things I love about professional sports is the vibe of the crowd. I was fortunate enough to be in left field when Mark McGuire hit his then record 70th home run. Every single pitch, the entire stadium would light up with camera flashes and there was this anticipation in the air that exploded when that ball cleared the fence. I love the electricity of that atmosphere and respond to it when I’m in it as a player. Some of my best moments in sports and golf have come when the cameras are on and crowds are there watching. Golf gives me a chance to be around people and in that atmosphere, yet still be thriving by myself and doing my own thing.

Jaacob Bowden hits his tee shot on a Par 3 during British Open qualifying in England

I love the inner reflection. For me, golf is a very spiritual journey. I’ve worked with a mental coach for many years and I really enjoy shining the light inward and pulling apart the fears that come up in varying degrees for all of us as humans, whether that be a fear of success, a fear of failure, wanting to be liked or loved, being vulnerable in front of others, and more.

Jaacob Bowden watches the sunset in Jacksonville, Florida

I love the travel. Who knows where my life would have been had I not answered that call at the PGA Championship to leave my corporate job and pursue a golf career. But because I took that leap of faith, golf has since taken me around the world, from North America, to Europe, to Africa, to the Middle East, to Asia, and to Australia.

Jaacob Bowden plays the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai

I love the sunsets. I’ll play at any time of day, but my favorite time to play is late in the day and at dusk followed by taking in the sunset. I remember when I was in Alaska for a US Open Qualifier one May, dusk lasted what seemed like forever and you can play until after midnight if you want.


What do you love about playing the game?

My Best Sports

As a continuation of improving my life balance, I thought I'd write a post about my best sports.

Last year I thought about joining some type of recreational sports league again for the first time in probably 15 years. Playing sports and games pretty well were always something I enjoyed.

In fact, I would say playing sports are my greatest passion…but only certain types of sports, as you'll soon read.

In my 20s, I would work my computer engineering job during the day and then play a different sport almost every night of the week. I'd have a baseball league one night, play tennis another time, do a basketball league the next evening, etc. It was a lot of fun and I had kind of robbed myself of those days since starting my golf career at 27.

I started to think about bringing rec sports back in to my life again…and I also contemplated what my body was best suited for.

I'm 6'2" and typically weigh 205-230. I have 8-inch long hands and 12.5 EEE feet, and, proportionate to my body height I have a normal wingspan, a long torso, and shorter legs. I have and build strength easily (which makes sense because based on DNA testing I know I have genetic muscle composition commonly found in elite power athletes) and I prefer more shorter explosive types of things cardiovascularly (think sprints vs middle or distance running).


I also have quick hands and good hand eye coordination…and as part of my athleticism, I have really good spatial aptitude. Some day, I will design a hedge maze.


After extensive analysis, I found my avatar profile is basically the typical MLB baseball player. In fact, baseball was my first love and, even though I was cut from my baseball team as a sophomore in high school, I was lucky enough to go on and have a tryout with the Minnesota Twins at the old Metronome in Minneapolis. I'm probably past the days of having baseball be a career, although it could be fun to pick it up again as a hobby.


My body profile is also very close to an NHL defenseman. Hockey was never my thing, though. Although interestingly, my brother is perfectly suited for it, and I'm not surprised he played for Washington University. We are similarly built but he has longer arms than I do, which make him perfect for poking pucks out from the smaller forwards.

I'm also built like an NFL kicker. I think I could've been great at it but my parents thought football was too dangerous and I wasn't allowed to play in high school. I don't have any regrets about that though because I now realize I'm not one for contact sports. Even though the kicker might be the safest position on the field, getting tackled by someone that outweighs me by 100 pounds would've happened at some point and I'm sure I wouldn't like it.

Basketball was probably my 2nd love after baseball as a teenager and in my 20s. I had dreams of playing in the NBA and I was lucky enough to play a bit of NAIA Division II in college. I had a nice vertical leap that was above average for an NBA player, but I wasn't tall enough to do anything other than play point guard in the NBA, which wasn't really my bag. Basketball is also pretty dangerous. I partially tore my ACL in one knee from incidental contact when I was 17, I twisted and probably sprained an ankle from landing on someone's foot, I had tons of jammed fingers, and when I was 29 I got a concussion from someone intentionally elbowing me in the back of the head during a league game. Plus, as I realized in last summer's recreational league, basketball is just too rough for my liking. Playing in that league last summer actually gave me permission to let go of basketball as a passion/hobby/interest.

Powerlifting could make a lot of sense for me going forward. I've never really trained for it, but because of my body type and how quickly I build strength, I'm sure I could do well at it on a world level if I trained consistently for a couple years.

Table tennis could be a fun hobby with my hand quickness and hand-eye coordination. I even took a lesson with a ranked table tennis player last May.

My wife and I bought some very basic tennis racquets from Dick's Sporting Goods last year, which was really fun for me to pick up again. I went on to play in a singles league and got 2nd in my league (I believe out of 20 players). From an avatar standpoint, it would help if I had a wider swing span like my brother, but 6'2" is still long enough.

Unfortunately, while practicing for my league last summer, I got a little bit of tennis elbow from hitting too many serves one day and not stopping when I should've. That simple mistake took me 8 months to recover from and many acupuncture sessions. I've since also learned that my basic racquet had characteristics that contributed to the tennis elbow. So, once I learned that, I got a new custom built one that's geared towards elbow/arm safety and control…and it arrived today! It's a Prince Phantom 93P, 18x20, 4 5/8 grip, and 55 string tension. I'm looking forward to the courts reopening around DC and the spring league starting up again.

Regular golf makes a lot of sense too, particularly since I love nature/outdoors, the spirituality, the practice, the solitude, the sound of the galleries, and the part-time travel so much. Realizing this actually made me appreciate golf much more again. For a long time, I think I was putting too much pressure on myself to perform and make money at it, and it was taking some of the fun out of it…as well as hurting my performance. Going forward, I just need to relax a bit and remember to have fun and that I actually do really like playing, regardless of outcomes.

I haven't tried the World Long Drive Championships since 2007. I had left the sport because it seemed so much about ego. Regular golf suited my personality better in that sense. However, my body is built well for it, so perhaps I could take up training again and maybe bring something different to the sport.

Although I finished 5th at the Speedgolf World Championships and shot the championship record for golf score, I'm not sure I'll ever do speedgolf again. The golf part was fun and doing a casual 3-mile/5K, in which I can still have a conversation while I jog, is fine, but I don't like race-level mid or long distance running. It's torture, haha!

Speaking of running, there's track and field. I did long jump and triple jump junior year in high school. Now that I'm over 40, I'm eligible for the Master's Division in USATF events. Although I'm built for javelin, I'm not sure how easy it would be to find a place to learn and train for that…and I don't know if long jump and triple jump interest me again. But doing the 100m intrigues me. It requires strength and explosiveness and it's over before you know it. Plus, I think doing a weekly sprint could have good health benefits.

So, using some of this stay-at-home order and making some time for all this contemplation has been a definite positive. Coming out of COVID-19, I think I'm going to focus more energy in these areas, whether they be for career, fun, hobbies, recreation, etc.

  • Golf - The vision here is to play tournaments full time on the PGA TOUR. I think a load of 16 tournaments will suite me well. Want to to along for the ride with me? Learn about becoming a financial partner here.
  • Long Drive - I think I might give long drive a go again…but even if I decide not to compete, the extra speed, power, and distance will only help my golf game.
  • Track - 100m - I'm curious to know how well I could do at the USATF Championships in my age group. I've already joined a track club here in DC to start sprinting once a week when the tracks are open again.
  • Powerlifting - Powerlifting training doesn't take much time, I like lifting weighs, and it's only 3 lifts. The squat and deadlift will help with my golf and long drive…and also with coming out of the blocks in track. I'm built great for it, strength is a gift, and participating is a way for me to use and share that gift. So, why not train for a couple years and see where it takes me?
  • Tennis - Tennis is a lot of fun for me. I think playing/practicing once a week would be cool and I bet I could get pretty good. Regardless, simply the fun is enough reason to do it.

Eventually, I may join a baseball or table tennis league too…but for now the above 5 sports will keep me plenty busy!

And since this is about life balance too, I want to leave room for other things in my life as well!

Wheel of Life and Life Balance

One of the things I've been working on during the stay-at-home orders for the local DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area is taking some time to think about how my life can be more balanced.

It's previously come up through life coaching sessions and chatting with friends…and I instinctively knew my life was a little out of balance. For years I've focused on my career and professional life and I've long yearned for a break or sabbatical of some sorts. But really, I think I was just burning too much of the candle in the career category at the expense of other things in life.


So, in drawing out this wheel of life (Thanks, Laisa!) and looking over things, one tweak my wife Jen and I have decided to make is get rid of digital news and subscribe to our local Sunday paper. For us, living in Washington, that means the Washington Post. It's been about 3 weeks now and:

  • It's nice to have greater variety and headlines that have less click bait.
  • What we read is what everyone is reading and what we see isn't curated based on what we've clicked online.
  • The stories have had more time for fact-checking.
  • I've taken up doing the sudoku puzzles and it's been fun to check out the Comics section, something I haven't done since high school.
  • We feel less drained and overall it's been great.

Jen also repotted some plants and we got some Sonos speakers, both to improve our home environment.

Another thing we decided to do, in the contribution area of the wheel, was to pick six reputable charities (for example, those that put >75% of their money back in to the actual programs, like these) that we would feel great about supporting on a monthly auto-pay basis.

Personally, I'm not one to volunteer my time. It's just not me. That being said, I do like the idea of funneling money…and giving back and helping out in that way.

I ended up picking the following charities, in no particular order.

First of all, I wanted to go for a few medical related ones. I've had close family and people I know be personally affected by ALS, breast cancer, and myeloma. Thus, I started with the ALS Association, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

Next, nature and our environment is something that is really important to me…and I really love parks. This lead me to the National Parks Foundation and The Conservation Fund.

Last, for my 6th one I decided to not opt for an actual charity, but rather make a difference in my community by contributing to and joining a political party, the Green Party.

Historically, I've always been an independent because both Republican and Democratic politicians as a collective haven't really served the American people as well as they could. And it isn't helpful that it's only those two parties that have all the power. I think we'd do much better with, say, five equally powerful parties that better covers the spectrum of society. Having only two in primary control, like we do now, makes things too oppositional, something which the 24-hour "news" cycle feeds on to manufacture and exacerbate controversy for their profit.

People typically think of the Green Party as being about the environment which, of course, it is. Addressing climate change, getting off fossil fuels, switching to renewable energy, and otherwise taking care of our planet are all important in my mind.

But as I looked in to them, their Four Pillars, and Ten Key Values, I realized they stood for much more than the environment and they really go for a lot of things that I think need to happen.

Stuff I believe, like:

  • Aside from being a peace advocate, I think we spend WAY too much on military and endless wars. In fact, it might be our downfall. There's been studies in to the rise and fall of previous empires that show that overextending on military spending is one cause for such downfalls.
  • Elections need to be publicly financed.
  • Gerrymandering needs to be eliminated.
  • Lobbying needs to be classified as bribery and made illegal.
  • We've gotten so far away from the days of the 1960s in which one income could provide for a family of four. Establishing a living wage based on your region (Example: your county) and tying that annually to inflation seems to make sense.
  • The middle class has dwindled in recent decades and a disproportionate amount of wealth has flowed from the lower and middle class to the extremely wealthy. An extreme wealth tax seems like a great idea…as does going back more in the direction of higher taxes on the mega wealthy.
  • Similarly, there is no reason anyone in the US should be bankrupted for medical reasons, something that almost happened to me when I was 29. Last I looked, the US ranked 37th in health care systems in the world. We need to adopt health care systems similar to that of other first world nations.
  • Our infrastructure (roads, bridges, airports, etc) needs to be repaired, updated, and modernized.
  • For-profit prisons have got to go.
  • Marijuana needs to be legalized.
  • And much more…

In any case, it's been nice to put a make some tweaks to our lives to better bring about life balance.

The Only Prescription You Need Is More Cowbell

2020 Census

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Par For 18 Holes At GolfClub Breitenloo

Slept about 45 minutes on the plane and went from baggage claim straight to the first tee but managed to still shoot par at Golfclub Breitenloo!

Jaacob Bowden watches his tee shot at GolfClub Breitenloo in Zurich, Switzerland

Two Sterling Irons golf bags over look a hole at Golf Club Breitenloo in Zurich, Switzerland

18 Hole at Prince's Golf Club

A few highlights of the fun round with Steve Thom at Prince's Golf Club…shorter swings keeping the ball under the wind, great bunker shots, etc.

Mine that was plugged in the wall of the bunker face we didn’t even think would come out, much less clear the lip and get close!

18 Holes at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Great weather on the course today with Steve Thom and nearly my 4th career hole-in-one.

Steve Thom tries to decide how he's going to play out of a bunker at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Almost a hole in one at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club!

Never been to a golf club where knee high socks were required with shorts!

Jaacob Bowden pushes two Sterling Irons bags towards his ball in the rough at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

18 Holes at Kingshill Golf Club

Already played 18 holes today at the British Open qualifier…but 18 more? Sure, why not!

18 Holes at Schloss Langenstein - Der Country Club

143 mph ride on the German autobahn, 18 holes with friends in good weather, topped off with schnitzel! A fine day!

The clubhouse at Schloss Langenstein Der Country Club in Germany

18 Holes at Golfclub Interlaken-Unterseen

Navigation legitimately taking us in circles, a fun golf outing of around 20 people, 3 bags of my Sterling Irons single length irons being played, shots being taken when birdies made, & a quick photo break on the Brienzersee at Hotel Chalet du Lac before heading back to base camp!

Jaacob Bowden at Golf Club Interlaken Unterseen in Interlaken, Switzerland

24 Holes At Golf & Country Club Zurich

24 holes at Golf & Country Club Zurich & a made eagle putt by Steve Thom is a nice way to wrap up this whirlwind golf trip.

Thanks André Bossert, the course reno is looking great! Good luck at the Swiss Seniors Open!

Warm-Up Round

Played a warm-up round today. Will be in San Francisco on Saturday and Sunday visiting family. On Monday, will continue easing in to training to begin on Jan 1st.

Runner-Up at Lost Canyons

Took Runner-Up in the Lost Canyons 2-Man Scramble (either gross or net - I forget).

One Month Training in the Bag

One month of golf training is in the bag!

New Personal Best 74

Shot a 74 beating my previous best 18 hole score of 78!

New Personal Best 73

Shot a 73 beating my previous best 18 hole score of 74! Shot par(36) for the first time ever on 9 holes!

Documentary Filming Starts Today

The Hollywood production company begins filming the golf documentary today!

New Record - 377 Yard Drive

Broke old record for longest drive in the fairway of 358 yards with a new one of 377 yards!

Looks like the new driver is doing the trick!

69 - First Time Under Par

Shot one under par for a 69 (35-34) beating my previous best of 73! First time under par on 9 and 18 holes! Also had a personal best 5 birdies!!!

New Record - 393 Yard Drive

Once again set a new personal record for longest drive in the fairway.

This one went 393 yards!!!

Rest Days

After working to some extent every day for the last 3 months, I took off April 2nd to 6th to rejuvenate.

I'm Mr. FItness

Pick up a copy of the "Exercise For Men Only - Fit For Life" magazine in newstands across America and see the man they call Mr. Fitness May 2003!!!

Eagle at The Cascades

Eagled the 293-yard par 4 3rd hole at The Cascades by hitting a 3W off the tee to 5ft and making the putt!!!

Up to 144 mph

Had 45" driver swing speed measured at 144mph! In April I topped at 127mph and in January topped at about 120mph. 150mph is world class in the long drive arena...going to shoot for 160!

Internet Down

Bear with me until October 15th. I've been on the road and my internet connection at home has been down for around a month. :-( So I've been unable to upload any new files to the web server.

7 Birdies & -4 at Peter Hay Golf Course

New personal records today at Peter Hay Golf Course...-4 for 18 holes, -4 for 9 holes, 4 birdies in a row (the last 4 holes), and 7 birdies total!

Now, to do that in a tournament! :-)

-1 at Peter Hay Golf Course

Shot -1 on 9 holes at Peter Hay Golf Course in Pebble Beach.

Moved to Carmel, California

Moved from Simi Valley, California to Carmel, California. My home courses are now the courses on the Monterey Peninsula, one of which is Pebble Beach!!!

1st Hole-In-One at Peter Hay Golf Course

Recorded first hole-in-one at the 9th hole of Peter Hay Golf Course, a 9-iron from about 74 yards!!!

Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational

At the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational in Pebble Beach, California from November 16th to 21st. Got to walk with Charles Howell III during a practice round and hit balls with Rocco Mediate.

7 Birdies for 18 Holes at Peter Hay Golf Course

Tied my most birdies in a round with 7 to shoot -4 for 9 holes and -4 for 18 holes (also tied bests) at Peter Hay Golf Course.

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

At the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, California from February 7th to 13th.

Turned in Application For The Big Break

Turned in my application for The Big Break.

Moving to Phoenix, Arizona

Moving from Carmel, California to Phoenix, Arisona via Los Angeles and Las Vegas from February 17th to 20th.

In ER with Concussion From Basketball

Spent 5 hours in the ER due to a concussion and head and neck contusion from a basketball game.

Began Teaching at Adobe Dam Family Golf Center

Began teaching golf part-time at Adobe Dam Family Golf Center.

4 Birdies On 9 at Adobe Dam Golf Course

Had 4 birdies on 9 holes at Adobe Dam Golf Course.

33-38=71 at Falcon Dunes

Shot 33-38=71 the first time around at Falcon Dunes.

I'm Engaged

I'm engaged!!! Sweet!!

2nd Hole-In-One at Peter Hay Golf Course

Had 2nd hole-in-one ever on #8 at Peter Hay Golf Course!

-5 for 18 at Peter Hay Golf Course

Shot -5 for 18 holes at Peter Hay Golf Course!

Playing Pebble Beach

Was lucky to get on and play Pebble Beach Golf Course today!

Shot 68 at Rancho Canada Golf Course

Birdied the last hole and shot 34-34 for a 68 (-3) at Rancho Canada Golf Course (West) beating previous best of 69 (-1)!

Drove 359-Yard Green & Made Eagle

Drove the 359-yard par-4 8th hole at Rancho Canada West Golf Course and made putt for an eagle!

Course Record at Peter Hay Golf Course

Tied the course record of -5 at Peter Hay Golf Course!

3rd Hole-In-One at Peter Hay Golf Course

Got 3rd ever hole-in-one...on the 3rd hole at Peter Hay Golf Course in Pebble Beach, CA!!!

Moving to Marina Del Rey, California

Moving from Carmel, CA to Venice, CA.

Course Record at Peter Hay Golf Course

Tied the course record of -6 under par at Peter Hay Golf Course in Pebble Beach, CA.

We've Moved to Zurich, Switzerland

My wife and I have moved to Zurich, Switzerland.

Swiss-American Golf Championships

Jaacob Bowden hits tee shots for charity at the 2009 Swiss American Golf Championships

Hit tee shots for charity at the Swiss-American Golf Championships.

Charity Run in Greifenseelauf Half Marathon

Jaacob Bowden & Jennifer Giroux ran for

Ran with “Run for Good” (sponsored by Adidas) for charity in the Greifenseelauf half marathon.

Universal Golf Magazine Featured Videos

Be sure to check out my two featured videos in this month's issue of Universal Golf Magazine.

Universal Golf Magazine & Christoph Gunther

Take a look at my featured video and interview with Professional Golfer Christoph Gunter in the current issue of Universal Golf Magazine.

US Airways Magazine

Be sure to check out my article in this month’s issue of US Airways Magazine!!!

Swiss-American Golf Championships

Hit tee shots for charity and was "The Pro" at the Swiss-American Golf Championships.

Quit My Job

Quit my UNIX Operations Engineering job of nearly 4.5 years in Lenexa, Kansas at SchlumbergerSema to begin the Golf Venture!

Shaved Head For Dad's Cancer

Jaacob Bowden shaved his head in support of his Dad's successful cancer treatement and recovery

Shaved my head in support of my Dad’s successful cancer treatment and recovery.

Zurich Open at Breitenloo

Hanging out with some friends at the Zurich Open at Breitenloo Golfclub.

In Romania

Jaacob Bowden & Jennifer Giroux in Romania in 2013

In Italy and Romania with my wife from August 30th to September 2nd.

Golf Mountain in Abelboden, Switzerland

Jaacob Bowden plays Golf Mountain in Abelboden, Switzerland

Played golf today at GolfMountain in Abelboden, Switzerland. The course is only open about 6 weeks each year and is accessible only by gondola or helicopter.

Here are some more pictures on my Facebook page.

List of Golf Courses I've Played

***LAST UPDATED: 10 September 2024***

Over Christmas, my Dad and I got to wondering what golf courses we've played.

I'm probably forgetting some, but here are the ones I can think of that I've played.

Australia
 
1. Canberra International Golf Centre – Pitch & Putt 
2. Capital Public Golf Course 
3. Federal Golf Club 
 
Bulgaria
 
4. BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas 
5. Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort 
6. Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort 
 
Czech Republic
 
7. Nova Amerika Golf & Country Club 
 
Dubai
 
8. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club 
9. Emirates Golf Club – Faldo 
10. Emirates Golf Club – Majilis 
11. Jumeirah Golf Estates – Earth Course 
 
England
 
12. Kingshill Golf Club 
13. Pleasington Golf Club 
14. Prince’s Golf Club 
15. Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club 
16. Sandy Lodge Golf Club 
17. Wildernesse Golf Club 
18. Woburn Golf Club – one of the three courses 
 
France
 
19. Golf Maison Blanche 
 
Germany
 
20. GC Hofgut Scheibenhardt 
21. Schloss Langenstein – Der Country Club 
 
Italy
 
22. Golf Brianza Country Club 
23. Golf Club Le Rovedine 
24. Golf Club Villa D’este 
25. Le Robinie Golf & Resort 
 
Kenya
 
26. Karen Country Club 
 
Mexico
 
27. Pacifico Course at the Four Seasons Golf Punta Mita 
 
Morocco
 
28. Amelkis 
29. Palm Golf Club Marrakech 
30. Palmeraie Resorts 
31. Ryads Al Maaden Medina & Golf Resort 
32. Samanah Golf Club 
 
Portugal
 
33. Lisbon Sports Club 
34. Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort 
35. Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort 
36. West Cliffs Golf Course 
 
Poland
 
37. Rosa Private Golf Club 
 
Scotland
 
38. Cluny Activities – 9-hole golf 
39. Dundonald Links 
40. Kinghorn Golf Club 
41. Old Course at St. Andrews 
 
Spain
 
42. Aguilon Golf 
43. El Valle Golf 
44. Las Colinas Golf & Country Club 
45. Roda Golf 
46. Saurines De La Torre Golf 
 
Switzerland
 
47. Dolder Golf Club Zurich 
48. Golf & Country Club Bonmont 
49. Golf & Country Club Hittnau-Zurich 
50. Golf & Country Club Zurich 
51. Golf Club Alveneu Bad 
52. Golf Club Bad Ragaz 
53. Golf Club Cran-Sur-Sierre – The Jack Nicklaus Course 
54. Golf Club Cran-Sur-Sierre – The Severiano Ballesteros Course 
55. Golf Club Kussnacht Am Rigi 
56. Golf Club Lugano 
57. Golfclub Breitenloo 
58. Golfclub Interlaken - Unterseen 
59. Golf De Bonmont 
60. GolfMountain Engstligenalp Abelboden 
61. Golf Fricktal 
62. Golf Kyburg 
63. Golf Park Otelfingen – 18 hole 
64. Golf Park Otelfingen – 6 hole 
65. Golf Park Otelfingen – Par 3 
66. Golfplatz Rheinfelden 
67. Golf Sempachersee – Woodside 
68. Golfpark Thalwil – Par 3 
69. Golfclub Breitenloo 
70. Golfclubs Gams-Werdenberg 
71. Golfclub Unterengstringen 
72. Winterberg Golf Club 
 
Turkey
 
73. Lykia Links 
74. The Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Club 
75. Sueno Golf Club – Dunes 
76. Sueno Golf Club - Pines 
 
United States
 
77. Alabama – RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National – Lake Course 
78. Alabama – RTJ Golf Trail at Ross Bridge 
79. Alaska – Settlers Bay Golf Course 
80. Arizona – Adobe Dam Family Golf Center 
81. Arizona – Anthem Golf & Country Club 
82. Arizona - Cave Creek Golf Course 
83. Arizona – San Pedro Golf Course 
84. Arizona – Southern Ridge Golf Course 
85. Arizona – TPC Scottsdale – Champions Course 
86. Arkansas – Thunder Bayou Golf Links (Hooters Tour) 
87. California – Bayonet 
88. California – Brookside Golf Club – CW Koiner Course 
89. California – Cascades Golf Club (closed) 
90. California – Coyote Creek Golf Club 
91. California – Del Monte Golf Course 
92. California – El Dorado Park Golf Course 
93. California – Empire Ranch Golf Club 
94. California – Goose Creek Golf Club 
95. California – Laguna Seca Golf Ranch 
96. California – Lakes at El Segundo 
97. California – Landmark Golf Club – South Course 
98. California – Landmark Golf Club – North Course 
99. California – Los Robles Greens 
100. California – Los Serranos Country Club (Chino Hills Golf Course) 
101. California – Los Verdes Golf Course 
102. California – Lost Canyons – Sky Course 
103. California – Lost Canyons – Shadow Course 
104. California – McCormick Ranch Golf Club 
105. California – Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park 
106. California – Pacific Grove Golf Links 
107. California – Pebble Beach Golf Links 
108. California – Peter Hay Golf Course 
109. California – PGA of Southern California at Oak Valley – The Champions 
110. California – PGA of Southern California at Oak Valley – The Legends 
111. California – Poppy Hills Golf Course 
112. California – Preserve Golf Club 
113. California – Rancho Canada Golf Club – East 
114. California – Rancho Canada Golf Club – West 
115. California – Rancho Park Golf Course 
116. California – Rancho Solano Golf Course 
117. California – Recreation Park 9 Golf Course 
118. California – Recreation Park 18 Golf Course 
119. California – Roddy Ranch Golf Club (closed) 
120. California – Rustic Canyon Golf Course 
121. California – Shadow Lakes Golf Club 
122. California – Simi Hills Golf Course 
123. California – Sinaloa Golf Course 
124. California – Skylinks at Long Beach Golf Course 
125. California – Spyglass Hills Golf Course 
126. California – Sterling Hills Golf Club 
127. California – Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course 
128. California – Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course 
129. California – The Links at Spanish Bay 
130. California – The Links at Victoria Golf Course 
131. California – The Palms Golf Club 
132. California – The Reserve at Spanos Park 
133. California – Tierra Rejada Golf Club 
134. California – Torrey Pines Golf Course – North Course 
135. California – Turkey Creek Golf Club 
136. California – Wood Ranch Golf Course 
137. Colorado – Copper Creek Golf Course 
138. Colorado – Dalton Ranch Golf Club 
139. Colorado – Hillcrest Golf Club 
140. Connecticut – Fairview Country Club 
141. Connecticut – The Course at Yale 
142. District of Columbia – Langston Golf Course & Driving Range 
143. Florida – Black Bear Golf Club 
144. Florida – Blue Monster Golf Course 
145. Florida – Breakers West County Club Golf – Rees Jones Course 
146. Florida – Miami Lakes Golf Club 
147. Florida – Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course 
148. Florida – PGA National Resort – The Champion 
149. Florida – PGA National Resort – The Palmer 
150. Illinois – Annbriar Golf Course 
151. Illinois – The Glen Club 
152. Indiana – Morningstar Golf Club 
153. Indiana – Salt Creek Golf Retreat & Overlook Conference Center 
154. Indiana – The Fort Golf Course 
155. Indiana – Turkey Run Golf Courses 
156. Iowa – Westwood Golf Club 
157. Kansas – Alvamar Country Club (now The Jayhawk Club) 
158. Kansas – Falcon Ridge Golf Club 
159. Kansas – Falcon Valley Golf Course 
160. Kansas – Ironhorse Golf Club 
161. Kansas – Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate 
162. Kansas – Overland Park Golf Course – Sykes/Lady 
163. Kansas – Smiley’s Golf Course 
164. Kansas – Tomahawk Hills Golf Course 
165. Maryland – Blue Mash Golf Club 
166. Maryland – Baltimore Country Club 
167. Maryland – Golf Club at South River 
168. Maryland – Norbeck Country Club 
169. Maryland – Northwest Golf Course 
170. Maryland – The GC at South River 
171. Maryland – The Links at Perry Cabin 
172. Maryland – University of Maryland Golf Course 
173. Michigan – Arcadia Bluffs – The Bluffs Course 
174. Michigan – Barton Hills Country Club 
175. Michigan – Belle Isle Golf (Par 3 Course) 
176. Michigan – Boyne Golf – The Highlands – Arthur Hills 
177. Michigan – Boyne Golf – The Highlands – The Heather 
178. Michigan – Cherry Creek Golf Course 
179. Michigan – Dearborn Country Club 
180. Michigan – Detroit Golf Club – North Course 
181. Michigan – Detroit Golf Club – South Course 
182. Michigan – Devil’s Ridge Golf Club 
183. Michigan – Forest Lake Country Club 
184. Michigan – Golden Hawk Golf Course & Banquets 
185. Michigan – Greystone Golf Club & Banquet Center 
186. Michigan – Heather Hills Golf Club 
187. Michigan – Indianwood Golf & Country Club – Old Course 
188. Michigan – Indianwood Golf & Country Club – New Course 
189. Michigan – Lyon Oaks Golf Course 
190. Michigan – Mulberry Hills Golf Club 
191. Michigan – Oxford Hills 
192. Michigan – Plum Hollow Country Club 
193. Michigan – Prestwick Village Golf Club 
194. Michigan – Rammler Golf Club 
195. Michigan – Rattle Run Golf Course 
196. Michigan – Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club 
197. Michigan – Sycamore Hills Golf Club 
198. Michigan – The Orchards Golf Club 
199. Michigan – TPC Michigan 
200. Michigan – Travis Pointe Country Club 
 
United States
 
201. Mississippi – Dancing Rabbit Golf Club 
202. Missouri – Bent Creek Golf Course 
203. Missouri – Cajun Golf Course (closed) 
204. Missouri – Cottonwood 
205. Missouri – Crystal Highlands Golf Course 
206. Missouri – Forest Park Golf Course 
207. Missouri – Joachim Golf Club 
208. Missouri – House Springs – 9-hole (closed) – My first golf course! 
209. Missouri – Midway Golf Complex 
210. Missouri – Missouri Bluffs Golf Club 
211. Missouri – Pevely Farms Golf Club 
212. Missouri – Pomme Creek Golf Course & Range 
213. Missouri – Raintree Country Club 
214. Missouri – Riverside Golf Club 
215. Missouri – Ste Genevieve Golf Club 
216. Missouri – The Highlands Golf & Tennis 
217. Missouri – Tower Tee Golf 
218. Missouri – Union Hills Golf Course 
219. Nevada – Boulder Creek Golf Course 
220. Nevada – Boulder City Golf Course 
221. Nevada – D’Andrea Golf Club (closed) 
222. Nevada – Desert Rose (Now Club at Sunrise) 
223. Nevada – Eagle Valley Golf Course 
224. Nevada – Falcon Ridge Golf Course 
225. Nevada – Lakeridge Golf Course 
226. New Jersey – Atlantic City Country Club 
227. New Jersey – Ballyowen Golf Club 
228. New Mexico – Black Mesa Golf Club 
229. New Mexico – Cochiti Golf Club 
230. New Mexico – Tawa Golf Club 
231. New Mexico – The Club at Las Campanas – Sunrise Course 
232. New York – Bethpage State Park Golf Course – Black 
233. New York – Bethpage State Park Golf Course – Blue 
234. New York – Bethpage State Park Golf Course – Red 
235. New York – Country Club of Purchase 
236. New York – Eisenhower Park Red Course 
237. New York – Elmwood Country Club 
238. New York – Forest Park Golf Course 
239. New York – Harbor Links Golf Course 
240. New York – Marine Park Golf Course 
241. New York – Mosholu Golf Course 
242. New York – North Hills Country Club 
243. New York – Sands Point Golf Club 
244. New York – Trump Golf Links Ferry Point 
245. North Carolina – Currituck Golf Club 
246. Ohio – Beechwood Golf Course – Woodland Course 
247. Ohio – River Bend Golf Club (closed) 
248. Ohio – Zoar Golf Club 
249. Oregon – Bandon Dunes 
250. Oregon – Old Macdonald 
251. Texas – Golf Club of Houston 
252. Texas – TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas 
253. Virginia – Augustine Golf Club 
254. Virginia – Ballyhack Golf Club 
255. Virginia – Belle Haven Country Club 
256. Virginia – The Cannon Club 
257. Virginia – Dominion Valley Country Club 
258. Virginia – Golden Eagle Golf Club 
259. Virginia – Golden Horseshoe Golf Club – Gold Course 
260. Virginia – Farmington Country Club 
261. Virginia – Foundry Golf Club 
262. Virginia – The Federal Club 
263. Virginia – Independence Golf Club 
264. Virginia – Kanawha 
265. Virginia – Spring Creek Golf Club 
266. Virginia – Trump National Golf Club 
267. Virginia – Westfields Golf Club 
268. West Virginia – Locust Hill Golf Club 
 
Other Possible Courses / Can’t Verify or Uncertain of Names
 
269. Arrowhead 
270. Camelback GC 
271. Colorado – Highest Elevation Course 
272. Germany – Bad Bellingen 
273. Hawaii – Course Played on Honeymoon 
274. Italy – Golf Rydercup with Markus Rath 
275. Las Colinas 
276. Michigan – Wedding Course 
277. South Carolina – Myrtle Beach #1 
278. South Carolina – Myrtle Beach #2 
279. South Carolina – Myrtle Beach #3 
280. South Carolina – Myrtle Beach #4 
281. Orange Tree AZ 


Which ones have you played?

BlackSeaRama Pro-Am in Bulgaria

Jaacob Bowden tees off during the BlackSeaRama ProAm at Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria in 2014

Played in the BlackSeaRama ProAm in Bulgaria on the Black Sea from July 15th-19th.

I over cut my drive here on this intimidating looking tee shot, but fortunately I was safe in the right bunker.

Thracian Cliffs is an amazing and very challenging golf course right on the Black Sea.

100 Quick Golf Tips for Beginners: E-Book on Amazon.com

100 Golf Lesson's That I Learned in My Journey from 14 Handicapper to Professional Golfer by Jaacob Bowden - Top 15 Amazon.com!


Gary McCord, Tom Watson, Jim McLean...I'm in some pretty good company here. Be sure to check out my new e-book...it’s Top 15 on Amazon.com golf e-books!

UPDATE: My “100 Golf Lessons” e-book has since reached #1 on the Best Seller List!

Michael Lowe Golf Interview for Universal Golf Magazine

Take a look at Jaacob's featured video and interview with Professional Golfer Michael Lowe in this issue of Universal Golf Magazine.

Golf Today Magazine

Be sure to check out my article in this month's issue of Golf Today magazine.

Lost Canyons - My New Home Course

Found the course I’m calling home for 2003 - Lost Canyons.