The emotional golf-related news in recent weeks continues to remind us all there is so much more to golf than trying to hit a golf ball around a golf course in the least number of shots you can.

There’s been a few stories that have pulled hard at the heart strings.

Sad news of Tiger’s beloved mother, Kultida passing away over-showered everything in golf.  No, everything in sport!

Tiger Woods and his dear mother Kultida.  Image Cohen

Tiger was still very much in mourning when he unexpectedly attended the final day of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, joining the TV commentary team in speaking what his mother meant to him, even revealing the message from most mothers to the golf obsessed off-spring and that is if you don’t finish your homework, you’re not leaving the house to play golf.

It’s a childhood moment that many of us can recall.

There was an interview I watched earlier this week and if featured the parents of Grayson Murray, speaking for a first time in public on the passing of their double PGA Tour winning son who so tragically took his life last May.

They spoke openly and, of course, emotionally of Grayson and the troubles he shared with them and with his mother Terry revealing how she would sit on the family lounge trying to comfort her son who was crying his eyes outs hurting so much from a horror life ride he just journey he could just not turn around, no matter he was achieving success and fortune at the game he loved so much.

Eric and Terry Murray and their son Grayson

No parent wishes to outlive their children, so how trajic for Grayson’s parents.

As they spoke, there for all to see is a wonderful photograph of Grayson and his father Eric taken at last year’s Masters at Augusta National that both Eric and his wife Terry have in place in their loungeroom as a forever reminder of their son.

As well, it came as a terrible shock early last December learning friend and colleague Jeff ‘Babs’ Babineau left us at age just 62, and earlier this week with ‘Babs’ being honoured with an award ahead of the Cognizant Championship.

It was an award founded in memory of an equally dear colleague in Tim Rosaforte who passed away just three years ago. Tim was only a few years older than Jeff.

Jeff ‘Babs’ Babineau. Image GWAA

It was an award founded in memory of an equally dear colleague in Tim Rosaforte who passed away just three years ago. Tim was only a few years older than Jeff.

Jeff was Secretary at the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) while I was Secretary at the Association of Golf Writers (AGW).  I met and got to know Jeff before I joined the AGW committee though working each in a similar role enhanced our friendship.

In a world where we each have our journalist priorities, and sadly with many all too busy with the own precious undertakings they cannot even greet you in a media centre with a simple ‘Good Morning’, Jeff was different in the best manner possible.

I also have admit I had a tear or two in my eyes a day later watching Gary Woodland, and within the media centre at PGA National, speak to his PGA Tour ‘Courage’ award. I know Gary well enough to approach him more than just in the role of a journalist, so watching him trying to retain his composure was moving.

A very tearful Gary Woodland. Image PGA Tour.

As well, Gary being honoured rekindled memories of young golfer Aussie Jarrod Lyle being honoured posthumously with the same award.

It also was only in the past two weeks, I completed some long overdue research and wrote a long article on Bushfoot Golf Club as part of an Open Championship preview of the courses you could play either before, during or following July’s 153rd Open Championship at closeby Royal Portrush.

I went back into my 2017 photographs that l took in playing Bushfoot during the week of the 2017 Irish Open that was taking place just four miles away at Royal Portrush, and here among some two dozen photographs was a photo of a dear friend and his wife who I had forgotten I had played golf with that day over seven years ago.

There was the three of us Alistair, his wife Arlene and myself each proud  members at Crail in Scotland.

Alistair McMeekin and his wife, Arlene having a bit of fun on the tram tracks at Bushfoot GC

I admired the photograph but recalling sadly that the smiling Alistair is no longer with us, passing away in May, 2022.

Maybe it’s a reaction to getting a little older but reading and seeing these stories that take place outside the competition ropes just seems to make what goes on inside those roped off areas a little less important.

It has been said by others and myself often that working in the game of golf is akin to working within a family environment. Everyone just seems to get on well like one big happy family in dealing with your counsins, aunts, uncles and so on.

I guess it’s why stories such as above reminds us we have lost a member of our family.