Rice Memories: Brad Lardon
7/2/2020 2:00:00 PM | Men's Golf, Blog
I began my Rice career as a naïve freshman student-athlete in 1983. Like most freshmen, I thought I knew a great deal about life and who I was. And, like most freshman, I quickly found out that I knew very little and who I thought I was and what I was supposed to be would be turned upside down. The Rice experience would shape and mold me from an undisciplined, cocky kid who was a decent high school student and good local golfer to eventually becoming the first and only Rice Graduate to ever play on the PGA Tour.
Dr. Jim Castaneda and I would start this golf journey together. Coach Castaneda's first year as the Golf Coach was my first year as well. Coach or Coachie as we would fondly call Jim, had a background as an assistant baseball coach and Spanish professor who was incredibly passionate about both the Los Angeles Dodgers, Don Quixote, his family and his dogs. I learned much from Jim about life while playing golf for Coach as a proud Owl.
I will never forget our first day together going to our first practice. I met Coach at the team van in the stadium parking lot. I introduced myself to Coach and off we went on the beginning of our journey together. During the 45-minute drive to Pecan Grove Country Club, we were able to exchange a bit of each of our backgrounds together. I instantly came to be aware that Coach was one of the most thoughtful and compassionate people I would ever meet in my life. Coach also had a gift of never forgetting the name of anyone he ever met. A powerful skill indeed.
Upon arriving at the course, we quickly noticed that none of my teammate's vehicles were in the parking lot. Coach could not understand why all 10 of the other team members were late to our first practice. We walked to the driving range where I began warming up for my first round as a Rice Golf Team Member. After 30 minutes of practicing, no one had shown up. Coach was visibly upset at this time but maintained his composure, as he would always do. As I continued to practice, Coach left and went in the clubhouse to speak with the local golf professional. When Jim returned, we would discover that we had gone to the wrong country club. We would eventually find our way to the correct club some 20 minutes away where the rest of the team waited for us and had a great laugh about our beginning. This was not the last time Coach and I would lose our way. But we always found our way back when it was all said and done, thank goodness.
Coach passed away one Sunday morning several years later while working out in the Rice gymnasium. Very few people have impacted my life so profoundly as Jim Castaneda. Jim had more faith in me than I had in myself and would eventually be my first sponsor as I began my golf career. Two years after graduating I qualified for the PGA Tour. My rookie year was in 1991. I would go on to play six years on the PGA Tour and most recently qualified for my 12th major golf championship (2019 Senior U.S. Open) last year, 30 years after meeting Jim. Jim profoundly impacted my life as he did so many other students at Rice University.
Thank you Coachie!
Dr. Jim Castaneda and I would start this golf journey together. Coach Castaneda's first year as the Golf Coach was my first year as well. Coach or Coachie as we would fondly call Jim, had a background as an assistant baseball coach and Spanish professor who was incredibly passionate about both the Los Angeles Dodgers, Don Quixote, his family and his dogs. I learned much from Jim about life while playing golf for Coach as a proud Owl.
I will never forget our first day together going to our first practice. I met Coach at the team van in the stadium parking lot. I introduced myself to Coach and off we went on the beginning of our journey together. During the 45-minute drive to Pecan Grove Country Club, we were able to exchange a bit of each of our backgrounds together. I instantly came to be aware that Coach was one of the most thoughtful and compassionate people I would ever meet in my life. Coach also had a gift of never forgetting the name of anyone he ever met. A powerful skill indeed.
Upon arriving at the course, we quickly noticed that none of my teammate's vehicles were in the parking lot. Coach could not understand why all 10 of the other team members were late to our first practice. We walked to the driving range where I began warming up for my first round as a Rice Golf Team Member. After 30 minutes of practicing, no one had shown up. Coach was visibly upset at this time but maintained his composure, as he would always do. As I continued to practice, Coach left and went in the clubhouse to speak with the local golf professional. When Jim returned, we would discover that we had gone to the wrong country club. We would eventually find our way to the correct club some 20 minutes away where the rest of the team waited for us and had a great laugh about our beginning. This was not the last time Coach and I would lose our way. But we always found our way back when it was all said and done, thank goodness.
Coach passed away one Sunday morning several years later while working out in the Rice gymnasium. Very few people have impacted my life so profoundly as Jim Castaneda. Jim had more faith in me than I had in myself and would eventually be my first sponsor as I began my golf career. Two years after graduating I qualified for the PGA Tour. My rookie year was in 1991. I would go on to play six years on the PGA Tour and most recently qualified for my 12th major golf championship (2019 Senior U.S. Open) last year, 30 years after meeting Jim. Jim profoundly impacted my life as he did so many other students at Rice University.
Thank you Coachie!
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