Interview With Mike Helfrich, Hot Stix Golf

Below is an interview with Mike Helfrich, General Manager of Hot Stix Golf, the industry leader in custom club fitting. He's seen almost every type of golf swing you can imagine in leading the operations for the 10-year old company. Hot Stix currently operates in seven states nationwide.

The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask individuals in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game?
I was first allowed to play when I was six, but my dad had been taking me to walk along with him and his friends from the time I was four. I loved the game from the start.

What is your current home course?
My current home course is Pebble Beach - My seven year old son and I play it at least three times a week. (on the Wii)

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
No question...twice in the last 10 years we have been able to put together packages of several hundred clubs and send them to our U.S. men and women serving in Iraq. In both occasions, they sent us a thank you letter, a certificate signed by the base commander and an American Flag that flew over the base. You can't imagine the pride our employees felt when we received that package.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Slow play. We aren't playing to make a living, so be ready to hit when it is your turn.

What is your favorite golf destination?
I haven't been to very many of the worlds great golf destinations but for me it is a tie...Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes. Pebble is great for so many obvious reasons, but I was really amazed by Bandon. It feels like it has been there for 100 years but we just found it. The golf courses are such a natural fit to the land and the surroundings. Every golfer really needs to visit both places in their lifetime.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
I only get to pick one? I guess I would have to go with St. Andrews Old Course...it is where it all began. Here is my top 10.

1. St. Andrews
2. Pine Valley
3. Cypress Point
4. Augusta National
5. Shinnecock Hills
6. Royal County Down
7. Merion
8. Crystal Downs
9. Royal Portrush
10. Chicago

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
It is going to be 113 degrees in Scottsdale today so I'm going somewhere cool for sure...I'm going to go with Pebble Beach.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why? The time it takes to play. I think we could attract and retain more players if it didn't take so long to play.

Dream foursome (living)?
Darren Clarke, Tiger Woods, Fred Couples

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Jack Nicklaus & Arnold Palmer vs. Bobby Jones & Walter Hagen (I'll just walk along as their forecaddie)

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long Putt, it is a much sharper dagger!

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of my life, a great round means you held it together all day, a hole-in-one is fun, but it is only one shot.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight, I love the long afternoon shadows.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power fade, The draw gets me in trouble.

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Halfway house, It is like a sanctuary during the round.

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Whatever is closer!

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Hot Dog...please.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Rough, it takes greater imagination.

9) Walking OR riding?
I prefer to walk, but I have a spinal cord injury so it is getting harder and harder for me to do so. I usually ride now.

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Switched to a hybrid about two years ago...should have done it three years earlier!

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Par five, it requires more shots.

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts...I live in Arizona!

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
For me Palmer, I love his charisma and the way he treated his army.

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Elvis...Plus he makes for a great Halloween costume.

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Money, I want something more than pride on the line.

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Both, the conditions dictate the preferred shot. (I'm better at bump and run).

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble, I love trying hit the memorable shot.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
18 is plenty for me.