Cougar Legend Jim McMahon Says BYU Roommate Taught Him How To Play Golf
Jun 20, 2020, 10:08 PM
(Photo by Mark Philbrick/ Brigham Young / Collegiate Images via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Legendary BYU quarterback Jim McMahon said that during his time playing Cougar football, he learned how to play golf from his roommate.
The former BYU and NFL QB discussed his golfing roots during a recent episode of Golf.com’s Subpar with Colt & Drew.
“My roommate was working at a golf course. He grew up playing golf and he loves the game. So I would say, ‘Hey, I’ll come see you at the golf course’ and I would just play. It was a little nine-hole track,” McMahon said.
The one thing Kevin has taught me. I taught him everything else he knows 😂. Didn’t take him to the Masters I took him to play Augusta! https://t.co/agDbU8EzBP
— Jim McMahon (@JimMcMahon) June 21, 2020
The course McMahon referred to was most likely Cascade Golf Center in Orem, a course that used to exist near the mouth of Provo Canyon. After 45 years of operation, the Cascade closed following the 2013 season.
“It was right across the street from the Osmond Studios in Provo, Utah and I would just play all day long,” McMahon continued. “Just up and down this golf course. That’s how I got started on it. Just kept going and I just love the game.”
Years later, McMahon still loves the game and still gets to hit the links with his old roommate.
“I actually took that guy to Augusta one year — the guy that taught me to play,” the BYU great said. “We went over to Ireland and Scotland together too. Yeah, he still comes around. He’s still out quite a bit. We get to play. So it’s been fun.”
Below is the entirety of McMahon’s interview with Golf.com.
Jim McMahon & BYU
After playing at BYU, McMahon was selected by the Bears with the fifth overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. During his time with Chicago, the QB won a Super Bowl ring. He played for the Bears until 1988.
In 2014, McMahon was inducted into the BYU Athletics Hall of Fame after completing his communications degree.
On October 3, 2014, the university honored the legendary quarterback by retiring his No. 9 jersey during halftime of the BYU’s game against Utah State.