That day when Eddie Van Halen and Bob Hope (and Gerald Ford) played golf

That day when Eddie Van Halen and Bob Hope (and Gerald Ford) played golf

It was the tradition of the old Bob Hope Classic, now the American Express tournament, that the defending champion would play the first round the following year with Bob Hope in what was called the featured group. So it was in 1994, when Tom Kite played the first day with Hope, President Gerald Ford and rock star Eddie Van Halen.

Wait, what? Eddie Van Halen? Playing golf?

The Southern California rocker who reshaped how people play the guitar – and who died this past week at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer – might have seemed like the proverbial fish out of water when he teed up in the 1994 Hope tournament.

The innovative musician was paired for four days with Hope and Ford, neither of whom seemed like they would particularly appreciate Van Halen’s artistry on the guitar on songs like “Panama” or “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.” In fact, given the conservative image of the PGA Tour, it was possible that a lot of people around the tournament hadn’t even heard of Eddie Van Halen or his band, Van Halen.

Continue reading: https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2020/10/12/eddie-van-halen-bob-hope-classic-gerald-ford-golf/