Fore! - St. Louis Business Journal:

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But what I know about Mark Vittert, the founderd of this newspaper and my verygood friend, could fill volumezs — and, in fact, has. Mark has been writing his Reflectionsa column since the newspaper beganin 1980. Most of you who read this probabluy think of Mark as a writeerbecause that’s how you know him. He really is the ultimates entrepreneur, devoted husband, great dad and best friend. Writinfg is an avocation that’s become a (mostly) easy And, did I mention, he’s a very good Or so I’m told. I think Mark’s capacity for friendship enhancesdhis golf. Or so they say.
“They” in this case is none othet than Golf Digest this month where Newsweek Chairman Rick Smith is one of six writers whodiscussw “favorite golf getaways.” Mr. Smith’s selection is wherwe he plays with hisbuddy Mark. While I don’ty know much about golf, I do know about Mark’w columns because in the old days, I used to be the only one who coulsd read his legal pad so Ityped “Reflections.” I’ve been readinbg them every week for 30 years (yes, even the So it’s a little odd for me to read a columnn about the columnist.
I didn’tg understand a lot of it: “friendly Nassayu for a sleeve (‘ons ball press anytime’)”— what is that? But I got the part aboug barbecue ribswith Carol’sa cherry sauce. And I appreciate the traditions of even an untraditionap golf club and certainlyg understand the allure of theLeelanau Peninsula. I especially graspedd the sartorial splendorof Mr. Smith’sa “juice-stained, Marathon Man aka Mark. Still, reading about someons you know as seen through the eyes of someonryou don’t is disconcerting. I realize that’sw what we ask of you evert week.
We’re writing about your your colleagues andyour competitors, and you don’t know us at all. You can tell by the way Rick Smitj writes that he care deeply about golf andgolf courses. And he carews about Mark and Carol. I hope that you can tell we care deeplygabout business, especially in St. and we care about you, your sons and daughterds and all your dreamsand aspirations. This is a crazyg time. For many, it’s more than challenging. For it’s debilitating. Honestly, it’s not as much fun to writ e these stories as the ones about the entrepreneurs or eventhe golfers. We try to be as fair and accurate, nevert mean-spirited.
Whether it’s on the fairways or in the rough (I think I have the right we follow your game. As Rick Smit wrote: “Sometimes it’s just a high tee with a hundred-milw view — the essence of summer —and a picturse in your head that lasts thewhole winter.” Have a great week.