Whiskey, Golf, And A Chance To Play A Round With Wyndham Clark

Forbes

18-04-2025

Blade and Bow Bourbon and Wyndham Clark have teamed up for a sweepstakes that will send one lucky winner to play a round of golf with Clark.
Ask any golfer about their post-round routine, and you're likely to hear mention of the '19th hole,' the tradition in which golfers enjoy a drink (whiskey-based or otherwise) at the clubhouse or nearby watering hole. After a great round, the 19th hole is a celebratory rite. After a challenging round, it serves a more conciliatory purpose. No matter the reason, golf and whiskey always seem to find each other.
Golf and whiskey (which includes 'whisky' without the 'e') have been culturally intertwined for as long as the sport has been around. Depending on your source, there are strong claims that support the idea that golf and whiskey were both invented in Scotland. Over time, the association grew stronger as both whiskey and golf spread across Europe. Eventually, European settlers brought their distilling know-how and the game of golf to North America, and both have flourished ever since.
In celebration of the heritage of these two historic pastimes, Blade and Bow Bourbon and PGA Tour golfer Wyndham Clark have teamed up for a sweepstakes that will send one lucky winner and up to three friends to a premier U.S. golf destination to play a round of 18 holes with Clark himself.
I recently spoke with Clark about his career, whiskey journey, and the details about the sweepstakes, which can be found below the interview.
Chris Perugini: Hi Wyndham, thank you so much for taking a few minutes to chat with me. I know this is a super busy time of year for you, so I really appreciate the time. I'd like to touch a little bit on your partnership with Blade and Bow, a little bit on your career, and just have some fun.
First and foremost, how did the return to action feel this past weekend? You looked like you were feeling pretty good out there.
Wyndham Clark: Yeah, the game was trending in the right direction. Coming off an injury, it was really nice to be able to swing freely. And as I kind of got into a groove, I started playing some good golf and turned it into a nice finish.
Wyndham Clark has been a long-time bourbon aficionado.
Perugini: Tell me a little bit about your whiskey journey. Was there a 'light bulb' whiskey moment or story that you can share?
Clark: It started on one of my first 'guys' fishing trips. It was at the end of college, and I went on a fishing trip with family and friends. We'd always have whiskey while we're fishing and then again later, sitting around a campfire.
And that's kind of where it started. So I pretty much had to like it if I wanted to be part of part of that crew. But I grew to really love bourbon specifically and became a little bit of a bourbon snob. [I] now have a pretty good collection.
Perugini: It's funny how those collections…they grow a lot faster than you think they will when you first start out.
Clark: (laughs) One hundred percent.
Perugini: You're partnering with Blade and Bow for a really amazing sweepstakes. One lucky winner is going to get the chance to play a round with you at a premier US golf destination. What drove you to work with Blade and Bow for this project?
Clark: Well, I think the connection between whiskey and golf has been around forever. I mean, as long as I can remember, that's kind of what people drink after the round at the 19th hole.
A lucky person and friends [will] get the opportunity to play with me, and then also get the opportunity to enjoy some great bourbon after the round and have a lot of fun.
Perugini: Oh, there's no doubt about that. Besides an incredible golf experience, what else can the winner expect from this prize?
Clark: Well, they get 18 holes with me. They get some great bourbon. But the cool thing is when you get a Tour Pro in a golf round away from the media and TV cameras, you get to see their real authentic self and you get some great stories. I'll also probably help them, give them some swing advice...hopefully show them some really good shots. So there's a lot of fun things in store.
Perugini: Are there any early golf lessons that have stuck with you throughout your career?
Clark: I've had a lot of golf lessons, but when I was about 13 years old, I was trying to hit a big draw and I was very inconsistent. The coach I was working with said, 'You need to hit a cut. The best players in the world hit a cut. A fade responds better than a draw.' And I argued with him.
We went out to the 18th hole at the course I grew up on, where there's water left, and he says, 'Try to hit eight tee balls in a row in the fairway while drawing it.' I proceeded to hit two or three in the water, two or three right, and only two in the fairway. Then he goes, 'Okay, now let's hit a cut.' And I want you to start it on the edge of the water and cut it back in the fairway. I hit six or seven out of eight. He proved his point, and I said, 'All right, let's hit a cut.' And since then, I've pretty much hit a cut my whole life.
Perugini: That's really cool. And it's funny. I thought I knew everything at 13 as well, but it turns out there are more lessons to be learned after that. (both laugh)
As you mentioned, there's a parallel between both golf and bourbon. They both reward patience and precision. Do you find that this parallel is meaningful in your own life?
Blade and Bow
Clark: Yeah, I put so much time and dedication into my craft, so when I want to drink something off the golf course, I want the same effort put into it. When I drink Blade and Bow specifically, I feel like it's an elevated bourbon. I really love their Kentucky Caddie [cocktail]. It's my favorite drink while on the course—lemonade, peach, mint. And bourbon on the rocks post-round.
Perugini: And the cool thing about Blade and Bow is that there's a lot of history built into the location that they're housed in. It's a great brand for a golf partnership, I think, because of that legacy.
Clark: Oh, for sure. I'm with you on that. And it's cool, too, to collect keys. As a golfer, you can collect golf balls, flags and hats wherever you go. And [with] Blade and Bow, you can collect their keys. You collect your keepsakes.
Perugini: What are some things that you're looking forward to most in the next year, both on and off the course?
Clark: On the course, I love every year that I've had on the PGA Tour. It's such a fun job. Specifically, the Majors are coming up this year. Then, hopefully, I can make the team for the Ryder Cup in New York in September. That's a huge goal, and it would be amazing to play in front of a home crowd. I've played on one Ryder Cup team, but it was away. So it would be nice to be at home.
And then off the course, I have not fished as much as I have in the past. I've gotten really busy and am playing so much golf. I'm really hoping that I get in more fishing.
Perugini: That's definitely a worthwhile downtime goal.
Whiskey has a way of bringing people together. We've all experienced it. Beyond this partnership, have you found that whiskey has helped you connect with others—either other players, sponsors or fans—in a more personal way?
Clark: For sure. I think there's just something about sitting down and pouring a drink with somebody. Great conversations come from that, and you get to know someone more intimately and personally. It happens all the time, and one of the great places [where] I've done that is at Pebble Beach. It's one of the iconic places where post-round, you go to the tap room or sit around a fire and you're always drinking bourbon. People open up and tell their story. I really enjoy that, especially when I'm away from golf and I get to let loose, have fun and get to know people better.
You have a great platform and you want to use it for a greater good, to influence and inspire other people.
Perugini: Whiskey definitely has a way of doing that.
When young golfers look at your journey, what is the one lesson or mindset that you hope they will take away from your career?
Clark: I'd like to do two. I grew up in Colorado, and just because you didn't grow up in a state that has really warm weather like Florida, you can live in a place that only has six months of golf a year and still make it on the PGA Tour.
And the other thing is to do something greater than just being a great golfer. You try to leave a legacy. You have a great platform and you want to use it for a greater good, to influence and inspire other people.
Perugini: Absolutely. I really look forward to watching you play and watching your career progress.
Is there anything that we didn't cover that you want to add to the discussion before we wrap up?
Clark: For my partners in Blade and Bow, the sweepstakes ends in June. I'm hoping that there are a bunch of people that want to play with me, and I'm looking forward to it because it's going to be a lot of fun.
Perugini: Wyndham, thank you again for your time. I really appreciate it. Best of luck heading into Majors season.
Clark: Thanks, Chris.
The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Blade and Bow is the key ingredient in the "Kentucky Caddie" cocktail.
The sweepstakes runs now through June 15th, 2025, and fulfillment of the trip will take place later in Summer 2025. Entrants must be 25 years or older. To enter or to learn more including official rules, visit bladeandbowwhiskey.com/sweepstakes.
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