Photo By Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas | U.S. Marine Corps Capt. David Cook, reserve logistics officer, practices his putting...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, California – “I love golf because you’re really competing against yourself,” said Capt. David Cook, reserve logistics officer and veteran member of the All-Marine Corps golf team. “You can’t perfect it. There’s always something to improve upon.”
Cook, a Columbus, Ohio-native, grew to love golf when he started playing with his father as a freshman in high school. Whenever he wanted to spend time with his father, the way to bond was through 18 holes of golf.
“My dad taught me the fundamentals of the game,” said Cook. “He taught me everything when I started.”
Cook, now 31, plays regularly in tournaments across the nation to include the North Carolina Mid-Amateur and Ohio Mid-Amateur, with the highlight of his year being the Annual Armed Forces Golf Championship.
Cook will be joining fellow golfers from all service branches at the Marine Memorial Golf Course for this year’s armed forces golf qualifier and championship held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 22-25. The tournament rotates across Department of Defense bases in the United States, and is back at MCB Camp Pendleton again for the first time since 2009.
“The all-forces team is something I’ve fallen short of in previous years, but it’s my goal,” said Cook. “I’ve prepared as well as I can for this tournament, but you never know with golf. I’ll give it my best effort.”
On the all-forces team, Cook hopes to represent not only the Marine Corps, but the United States. If he makes the team, Cook and other members will have the opportunity to face off against golfers from countries around the world.
“It always feels great to wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and represent something bigger than yourself,” said Cook.
Andy Hinson, the coach, All-Marine Corps golf team, has been mentoring Cook for 10 years, developing him as a professional golfer.
“Cook’s work ethic is unbelievable,” said Hinson. “The man will stay on the range for hours and hit hundreds of balls in preparation for any tournament.”
In 2017, Cook did not play golf for the Marine Corps because he was taking care of his new-born son. This year, he’s back and swinging for the gold.
“We have 19 people competing for six spots, and if I had to bet, I’d bet heavily on Cook,” said Hinson, who’s been a golf professional since 1988.
As the qualifier ends and the tournament begins, service members will compete head to head for a spot on the all-forces team. The best of the branches will see who the best in the Department of Defense is during the tournament.
“I play in tournaments throughout the year to prepare for this,” said Cook. “If I committed to a tournament and prepared for it properly, I’ll be ready to go.”
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| Date Taken: | 07.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2018 18:56 |
| Story ID: | 284991 |
| Location: | CA, US |
| Web Views: | 391 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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