5.23.11
tim rosaforte
one of golf’s own goes to war
saturday at colonial cc,
spectators and players celebrated armed forces day
by wearing yellow ribbons.
on the driving range at sea
island gc in georgia, todd
anderson celebrated his
son’s second day in afghanistan by saying a prayer and
going to work.
in January, anderson was
honored as the pga of
america’s teacher of the
year. four weeks ago his
player, brandt snedeker,
won the heritage. on that
day private first class tay-
lor anderson finished his
training at camp lejeune,
home of the u.s. marine ex-
peditionary forces in readi-
ness. he is a member of the
1st battalion, ninth marines,
an infantry battalion formed
during world war i and
made famous during the
Vietnam war for its hero-
ism and high casualty rate,
earning the nickname, “the
walking dead.”
of golf but never took to
the sport that has been
his father’s life, from the
golf team at alabama to
head pro jobs in the north
carolina mountains and
palm beach gardens, fla.,
to director of instruction
positions at the breakers
and now sea island. for
taylor playing the sport
was frustrating, and his
father’s skill in teaching it
never took hold.
that somebody from the
golf community has a son
voluntarily go off to war.
“he was never into the golf
scene. if anything, he went
the other way,” todd ander-
son said. “he realized that
wasn’t what motivated him.
he said, ‘i want to make a
difference,’ so he went away
from what he was brought
up in.”
snedeker is part of taylor’s
support group. before his
deployment taylor asked
brandt to dedicate his next
victory to him, adding, “i
like majors.” snedeker is
trying to mix taylor’s humor
with his infectious positive
energy. he realizes the war
in afghanistan is taylor’s
major. he was the type of
kid who signed up for the
infantry, not a desk job.
lejeune last thursday, what
each day is like for them,
understanding the sacrifices they made as parents.
todd knew something had
taken hold when on one of
taylor’s last nights on sea
island he put on a weighted
flak jacket and went out for
a four-mile run. his son was
a marine. still, as a father,
he had to hold back the
tears.
“i’m proud of him for mak-
ing the decision to serve his
country,” anderson said.
“at the same time, as a fa-
ther you worry about what
may happen. the unknown
is the difficult part.”
taylor grew up in the world
the military has become
a focal point of charitable
giving in american golf. at
the players there was a mili-
tary appreciation day. six
medal of honor recipients
were honored at colonial
on saturday. but rare is it
“i’ve got a great deal of re-
spect for anybody who puts
their life on the line for the
country, especially some-
body who’s going to be in
the middle of it like taylor,”
snedeker said. “when you
have loved ones in harm’s
way, you realize what the
sacrifice is, and it makes you
appreciate it even more.”
imagine how todd and
stacey anderson felt in
the parking lot at camp
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