Unforgettable Moments from SB Nation’s Playing Through Debut Season in 2023

The Playing Through crew had some unique opportunities to meet a wide range of people in 2023, its inaugural year.

Golf is an amazing sport because it extends far beyond the professional level. It affects millions around the globe, while also doing plenty of good for the less fortunate. But many people who play the sport know how to have fun, too, which is another reason why golf is the best.

As such, here are our team’s favorite stories from this past season:

5. Joel Dahmen unveils new drink, taking after Arnold Palmer and John Daly

Bushmills Whiskey

In July, Playing Through had the opportunity to meet Joel Dahmen in Arizona, where he and Bushmills Whiskey unveiled his new cocktail, aptly named ‘Joel’s Juicy Lie.’

The drink sounds delicious. It is served with Bushmills 10-year-old single malt whiskey, grapefruit soda, and a pineapple twist. To garnish it off, there is a mini bucket hat, an iconic staple of Dahmen’s wardrobe.

Dahmen, of course, has seen his popularity skyrocket over the past couple of years thanks to his appearances on Netflix’s Full Swing. His fun demeanor is infectious.

“I think it’s a balance,” Dahmen said about having fun on and off the golf course.

“Everyone has to have [fun] no matter what you’re doing. My balance can lean too heavy one way at times… It’s always something that I’m trying to figure out. My wife’s a great help. Geno [my caddy is] a great help… It’s something that’s a constant battle, but it’s a fun battle to play.”

Dahmen also held the 36-hole co-lead with Collin Morikawa at the 2022 U.S. Open. His bucket hat was a popular topic of discussion that week at Brookline.

The word cancer sits on the front brim of his signature hat, with a red line striking through it. Dahmen was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2011. He uses his platform to spread awareness about the horrible disease that impacts us all.

4. Bridgestone, PGA Tour partner to empower HBCU athletes

PGA Tour

In November, the PGA Tour staged its inaugural HBCU Bridgestone Invitational at TPC Sugarloaf outside of Atlanta. The tournament featured 15 teams from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs): 10 men’s teams and five women’s teams.

Arkansas Pine-Bluff emerged victorious on the men’s side, while Alabama State took home the trophy on the women’s side.

Though wins are meaningful, this tournament was much more about golf, as Florida A&M Coach Mike Rice alluded to in an interview with Playing Through.

“The golf course was in great shape, the competition was good, but I think the best part was having [business] leaders share their story of how they have gotten to where they are in their careers, and sharing that with the student-athletes was huge,” Rice said.

As part of the tournament,

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