For more than three decades, Bob Lobel regaled Boston sports fans with knowledge, humor and a raised eye brow look at sports.As WBZ-TV’s lead sports anchor, he won numerous Sportscaster of the Year Awards and became the best and most accomplished sports media personality in Boston history.
Through all of his work, golf has played a key role in Lobel’s life. His love of the game started slowly, but eventually blossomed. “I started playing in high school in Ohio,” says the 67 year-old Lobel. “There were a couple of good courses, but I was not very good. Ireally didn’t know the game and didn’t play at all in college. When I moved to Boston, I began playing a lot. My handicap slowly fell from 18 to 14 to 12 and 10. The lowest it ever got was 7.”
Lobel became a fixture on New England courses, as adept with the club as he was with the microphone. These days, his approach to the game, and to life, has changed. He relates, “I had back surgery three years ago and I haven’t been able to walk without crutches since then. I use a SoloRider golf cart that helps me continue playing. The people at Granite Links have been great to me. I keep my cart and trailer there.”
SoloRider.com has been Lobel’s golf savior. It drives onto greens and tees, takes on rough terrain and allows users easy entranceand exit with the swivel seat. The seat also elevates when needed. Moreover, it has kept Lobel close to the game, and the people, he loves.
“It’s all about the friends I play with,” says Lobel, whose historic run at WBZ ended in 2008. “I approach the game differently now. I still want to play well, but it’s more of a social situation. People are so understanding, and great shots have a different meaning now.”
Lobel’s rise to the apex of Boston sports was, in no small part, thanks to his links aptitude. He explains, “From Derek Sanderson to Bobby Orr, so many great athletes play the game. Golf is the universal language and the great equalizer. It helped me establish relationships with guys like Jim Rice and Roger Clemens. Looking back, it was a big part of working in the Boston sports arena.”
While his love for the game is obvious, Lobel has some tongue-in-cheek advice for golf neophytes. “Do yourself a favor, forget it! It’sa drug, really. There were plenty of days when I left the course replaying shots in my head. It gets a grip on you. I am not as hard on myself since the surgery, but I still get pissed off.”
A member at the International, Lobel counts Salem CC, Myopia Hunt Club, Oyster Harbors, Granite Links and Pinehills among his favorite New England courses. He states, “I love them all so much that I really don’t know a good course from a bad one. I’ve played St. Andrews and Carnoustie. That was the hardest course I ever played.”
As for Lobel’s greatest golf moment, it warms the heart of any weekend duffer. “I got a hole in one on the 17th hole at Nashawtuc. I hit a 7 iron. The ball skipped off the water, bounced onto the green and into the hole. Can you believe that?!”
These days, Lobel does a radio show with longtime partner and friend Upton Bell, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. on Rush Radio 1200 in Boston. He also does a daily 1:00 p.m. show at WTPL 107.7 The Pulse in New Hampshire. Clearly, his injuries have not slowed his desire to be heard or his love and zest for the golfing life.
Says Lobel, “I know that I probably will never walk again without at least a cane. It’s not a pain thing, it’s a strength thing. I can still hit it 180 or 200 yards, so am doing fine. I just love the game. You are an independent contractor in golf. You play yourself, the course, and no one else.”
Syndicated columnist John Molori writes for numerous publications and appears regularly on AM 1110 WCCM. Email John at MoloriMedia@aol.com.
About John Molori
Columnist John Molori writes for numerous publications and appears regularly on several radio stations.
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