When people think about the PGA TOUR, they think of golf tournaments, but there is so much more than golf here at the TOUR Championship. Connections! They are thought to be made in school or maybe at your job but in truth here at East Lake connections are made by one simple conversation. Working as a media correspondent for the East Lake Foundation, today I’ve had quite a few of those conversations that have led to being a part of amazing things while also having the chance to meet even more amazing people.
I had the chance to meet and closely connect with the renowned Buck Lanford. I was warned that I would meet him by many. Oddly, they all had one thing in common when speaking about him: “Be ready—he will put you on the spot.” These words echoed in my ears after he invited me to be on live air with him. No pre-recorded script, no practice lines, just live instinct, a skill that was stressed to me by Buck within the few minutes of our meeting. He said that this was the key to being very successful in his job. After the first few words we exchanged on camera, it became automatic. It felt as if the camera became an object of irrelevance and that we were the only people there. Today, I was taught an unforgettable skill that I will take with me to every place I go. “Learning to go on the fly” is what Buck called it. After meeting with him for the first time the connections became contagious, growing as rapidly as my love for the job.
Later, an opportunity was presented to me to meet a person I’ve been looking forward to meeting for a long time, Ilham Askia, the President and CEO of the East Lake Foundation. She was wonderful and just as astonishing as I imagined, the face behind the foundation that has been with me every step of my high school career. She is the head of the foundation that has allowed me to be in attendance at the TOUR today, meet new people, and build strong connections. I had the opportunity to shadow her and see how she prepares for and handles interviews. It truly was a spectacle to behold. She was remarkable. She controlled the interview with such authority, giving so much information in such a short time frame while also making it fun and easy to understand for the viewers and interviewers. After shadowing her, I took away how important it is to have a voice and to use it to help others.
The East Lake Foundation’s media team was spectacular. They are constantly looking for the next scoop and big story. They search high and low to find the perfect story hidden behind a crowd of spectators and players, bringing the spotlight and recognition to their subject. They have taught me so much, almost too much to take with me at once. After shadowing them, the most impactful lesson that stuck and resonated with me is that determination, purpose, and connections are the backbone of the job as a media correspondent. I believe this job has expanded my knowledge of how things operate on the course and influenced my view on how far those important connections will take you beyond the PGA TOUR.
This special place that people believe to be just a golfing tournament is so much more. Today’s experiences have solidified all my beliefs. The PGA TOUR at East Lake is truly a beautiful event through and through. From Buck’s electric energy, IIham’s vibrant personality and the media team’s radiant kindness, it has reinforced my belief that the PGA TOUR at East Lake is more than just about a golf swing or tournament. It is a community, a place where everyone is welcome and everyone comes together to make this event special.
By Judah Allen, Drew Charter School Senior and Varsity Golfer
