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Eric Dodd

Eric Dodd: A Country Singer In A Country Club

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Happy Gilmore, Caddie Shack, Tin Cup…… the list goes on and on of famous golf movies. For Eric Dodd, growing up as the Director of Golf’s son on Lake Oconee, Georgia, offered up a real life The Legend of Bagger Vance, and taught him the importance of discipline at an early age. “Golf taught me patience and persistence. During the summers, my mom would drop me off at the course, and I would play from sun up til sun down. If the course wasn’t too busy, Dad would have his assistant golf pros take me out to play. I learned a lot during those rounds; probably a little more than Mom would have liked. Late nights with friends after days filled with golf started early. It was all a part of the lake life and was a great way to grow up,” says the singer/songwriter.

Dodd recently released a new EP titled FUN / FIRE / RAIN. Here’s our Q&A with the singer below!

1. How old were you when you first started playing golf?

I was probably six years old. I remember my first driver. Dad cut down an old Titleist for me. I worked really hard to get that ball air born.

2. Best memory of playing golf with your dad?

My best memory of playing golf with my Dad was beating him for the first time when I was thirteen years old. He isn’t going to like reading this. haha. We were playing at the National course at Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Georgia. I had to birdie the 18th hole to beat him, and I did it. I made a fifteen foot putt on him. Sometimes you gotta teach your Pops a lesson. These days he’s playing a lot more than me, and he gives me a run for my money.

3. What’s your Dad’s favorite bands?

My Dad is a passionate southern rock guy. His favorites include Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Bad Company and Drive-By Truckers. His claim to fame (besides nearly beating Jack Nicklaus once) is being born in the same hospital as Robert Zimmerman a.k.a. Bob Dylan. He says Dylan will always be his all-time favorite.

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4. Any hole-in-ones for you?

The short answer is a very unfortunate no. So, I was fourteen years old and playing in a junior golf tournament. I was even par through thirteen holes and hit a “almost perfect” nine iron on the short par 3 fourteenth. It was so close to going in, you couldn’t place it any closer. The ball was hanging on the side of the hole and if the wind was blowing, it would have pushed it in. Long story short, I tapped it in and was just a birdie. I ended up losing the tournament by one stroke. I will never forget that day.

5. What musician would you like to play against in a round of golf?

I hear Darius Rucker is a pretty good player, and he is a South Carolina Gamecocks fan. It would be fun to talk a little trash about my Dawgs to him. I hear Darius is one of the best dudes in the country music business.

6. How was playing with Jake Owen?

I had a blast playing golf and opening up for Jake up in Quad Cities, Iowa. He is a great player and an even better guy. We played in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am and were actually on the same team, so it was a lot of fun rooting each other on. I hope we can do it again next year.

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7. Have you played with Colt Ford yet?

Growing up at Lake Oconee in Georgia, I always knew Colt as a professional golfer and an exceptional player. I am still waiting for my first match with him, and know that day is coming soon. No doubt I will be the underdog, but I would give him my best shot and go down swinging. Puns intended.

8. What song off the new EP would be good to jam to at the driving range?

That’s an awesome question. I love listening to music when I’m practicing or playing. I usually have Amos Lee or Allman Brothers Band rocking. If you were listening to my EP, FUN / FIRE / RAIN, I would say Rain Rain would get you grooving pretty good. It has the same tempo as my golf swing: smooth and sexy. haha.

9. Favorite place to shop for golf apparel?

I love Vineyard Vines in Green Hills (Nashville), and you can’t beat Reynolds, Lake Oconee, Georgia golf shops.

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Annette Gibbons
Hi, I’m Annette, I have been a huge country music fan since the early 90s those were the days we were lucky enough to have CMT in the UK. I enjoy nothing more than listening to country music whilst having a cold beer (or a moonshine) with friends. I try to as many gigs as I can here in the UK and in the USA; I think of Nashville as my second home and I am lucky to have made some amazing friends in Tennessee. Think Country is something I am very proud of, I just want to share my love and passion of all things country music related with you all.
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