On Par With Parenthood

Credit: Golf Channel

The Golf Channel televised coverage of the PGA Works Championship from one of the world’s best and most difficult courses, Wisconsin’s Whistling Straights, along blustery Lake Michigan. 

One of the best shots of the celebrated tournament, created for minority players to highlight their skills, belonged to Atlanta area golfer Thomas Reid who attended Brookwood High School, and now Southern University.

Credit: Golf Channel

Reid is 19 years old and uses a cross handed grip, very rare among good players. As a right-handed player, he employs his right up high, and his left low.

Golf is always about comfort and this grip has yielded tremendous dividends. 

Thomas will play in the Georgia Amateur during the second week of June at the Atlanta Country Club in Marietta.

Credit: Reid Family Photo

Working as Reid’s caddy is Thomas’ younger brother Duncan, who also plays tournament golf on “The Steph Curry Underrated Tour.”

Credit: Reid Family Photo

This is not necessarily a story of two teens who will win the U.S. Open or The Masters. 

Maybe they will. 

But the Reids collectively display something more important: the power of sport and its unique pull on families, strengthening ties, and forging generational bonds.

“From the time my sons have been toddlers, we have always been creating time and room for my sons to play and learn golf,” said Thomas Reid Sr. “Every Friday they would play a round with their mother; they seldom missed.”

Mr. Reid has worked in golf club membership for years, currently serving as director at the highly respected Laurel Springs Golf Club in Forsyth County. 

As father worked, he always brought along his sons, Duncan and Thomas. As youngsters, they were quiet, courtly, and spent hours hitting, putting and chipping balls.

“The only issue to ever arise, when a couple of members called the club house claiming child abandonment,” laughed Mr. Reid. “I told them my sons aren’t abandoned, they are working on their game.”

The elder Reid grew up in Covington. His father, in construction, always took him along to work.

“He never treated me as a child, schooling me in detailed explanation of what was going on. I’ve done the same with my sons, golf has been their passion and our life, they understand the nuances.”

Mr. Reid believes his sons will always have a connection to the game because of family. “Thomas will one day make a living in the golf industry. There are great opportunities. Duncan would like to be a reporter, a writer of golf, maybe he runs for office too,” added their father.

As Father’s Day approaches, the incredible impact of spending time with children is reinforced by the Reid family.

Finding common interest and passion, coupled with time creates a powerful unbreakable bond and some very low scores in tournaments.

The Reids finding success and purpose through golf is not surprising.

Credit: Reid Family Photo

“Years ago, I had a few tickets to the Masters, and strapped Thomas to my chest in a Baby Bjorn. Jackie Burke Jr. (Masters 1956 Champion) came up to me and said I was doing the right thing, expose my son to golf and his life will always be on target,”

Look for the Reid family June 12 through June 15 for the 104th Georgia Amateur, at the Atlanta Country Club.