John Steinbreder is an award-winning journalist and author of 13 books. A former reporter for Fortune magazine and one-time writer/reporter for Sports Illustrated, he currently works as a senior correspondent for the digital magazine Global Golf Post and serves each April as a columnist for Masters.com, the official website of the Masters Tournament. Steinbreder has written for The New York Times Magazine, Departures, Forbes Life, Time, Golf Digest and The Wall Street Journal, and reported on the game on five continents, receiving honors the Golf Writers Association of America and the International Network of Golf.
Cheapflights: How did your passion for golf and travel lead you to write?
John Steinbreder: The passion for travel came early to me in life, and so did the passion for writing. I knew by the time I entered high school that I wanted to do lots of both. And it wasn’t long before I discovered I could make them a part of my professional life. I learned that real and extensive travel was critical to my development as a writer, for it provided those life experiences that are so important to insightful reporting and storytelling.
As for golf, I was long interested in the sport but did not begin writing about it until much later in my career, say 15 years into what is now been a 30-plus-year run, when I started to take more and more assignments in that field.
CF: What was your first travel assignment as a golf writer?
JS: For my first golf assignment of note, I went to the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco to write about an annual tournament the King in that Arab land held each year. I spent 10 days in Morocco, and could not have had a more enjoyable and interesting time, shopping in souks, touring ancient Roman ruins and partying in palaces. In between rounds of golf, that is.
Fortunately, it was not my one and only trip to Morocco, and the royal family invited me back five other times. Golf in the Kingdom, as it were, and it was spectacular.
CF: The life of a golf writer sounds very glamorous. Do you have any not-so-glamorous tales to tell?
JS: To be sure, the life of a golf writer is often glamorous. But the actual travel is rigorous. I remember needing a full week to recover from two weeks in Australia a few years ago, not only to get back into a normal sleep cycle but also to regain my mental and physical strength. I was that fatigued. I would also argue that spending 16 hours straight on an airplane, even in Business Class, is no day at the beach, and a difficult way to make a living at times.
CF: Do you have a favorite golf destination?
JS: Ireland and Scotland are my two favorite golf destinations, as I adore golf played on seaside courses and love the traditions of the royal and ancient game in those destinations – and the people who populate them. Australia and New Zealand are close seconds, due to their extraordinary natural beauty and superb collection of golf courses.
CF: Where in the world would golfers be surprised to hear there is great golf?
JS: In terms of places that surprise, South Africa has some very good golf. And it is not unusual to see wild game on some of the tracks during your rounds.
CF: What is an absolute must on your packing list (besides clubs!)?
JS: As I play a lot in the British Isles, I am always sure to bring proper rain gear, including rain gloves. You never know when it is going to pour, and the quality of the gear these days is so good you can easily and comfortably play in all conditions if you prepare. A range finder is a must, too, as international courses are measured in meters or yards. Even when you figure that out (and figure out how to convert one to the other), it is not always clear whether those measurements are to the front of greens, or to the middle. A proper range finder eliminates any doubts when it comes to clubbing shots.
CF: What’s your routine before you fly?
JS: I am so over rushing when I travel, so I always try to arrive at the airport well in advance of my scheduled departure. I make sure my iPhone and laptop are properly charged. I make sure to buy gum and a handful of the day’s newspapers (The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Financial Times) to read on board. Then, I find a nice place to have a leisurely meal, because I can never be sure how good the food onboard will be. And the quality of restaurants at most airports these days is quite high. It’s a great way to relax, especially when I am about to embark on a long trip.
CF: Of the airports you’ve passed through – Stateside and abroad – which is the most convenient?
JS: The American terminal at JFK in New York is the place I most often fly in and out of, and it works brilliantly for me. Modern. Convenient. Efficient. I also fancy the smaller airports I pass through on occasion, such as El Paso or Savannah, because they are so calm and quiet.
CF: Is there a destination that without fail (barring floods and famine) you visit regularly?
JS: As I write mostly about golf, golf destinations are the places I am visiting most frequently; which means I am happily in Scotland and Ireland a couple times each year.
CF: Who’s the most memorable seatmate (or what’s the most memorable conversation) you’ve had on a plane?
JS: I once flew from Atlanta to New York with Warren Hayes, the lead guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band, among other notable musical groups. We had met before, as we have mutual friends. So we were not strangers. And we spent the entire trip talking about recording and touring and song writing. He’s a wonderful fellow, and the time went by way too quickly.
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(Image: JPDC)
