The recent AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was a homecoming for Ron Rivera, head coach of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
The 61-year-old Rivera, born at the former Fort Ord U.S. Army base just minutes outside of Pebble Beach and now the home of Cal-State Monterey Bay, was a three-sport (basketball, baseball and football) standout at Seaside High School before becoming a star linebacker at Cal-Berkeley.
A 12-handicap index, Rivera, who went on to win a Super Bowl ring with the 1985 Chicago Bears and later coached Carolina in Super Bowl 50, is today a member at Monterey Peninsula CC despite spending most of his time back east.
Known as ‘Riverboat Ron’ in Carolina due to his aggressive decision-making, Rivera was making his first AT&T Pro-Am appearance since 1993.
Cheering him along was his wife, Stephanie, who carries an impressive 6-handicap. On his bag as caddie was Lyn Christopulos, his old roommate at Cal-Berkeley. The two have known each other for over 40 years.
Q: What do you enjoy about golf?
RR: I really just love getting outside and being out and about.
Q: Where did you play growing up?
RR: I didn’t play these courses (Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill) in the forest. I was a Fort Ord kid. When I was around 14-15 years, I started going out every now and then. I’d play at Bayonet/Black Horse (which was owned by the U.S. Army until 1997). It was around seven bucks in those days (laughs).
Q: How did you get into playing golf?
RR: I didn’t really start playing frequently until after college. Then later, when I became a coach I started getting certain times of the year where I got some extra time. There are so many celebrity and Pro-Am events all over. I figured that I better get my game together so I could play in them.
Q: Does anything from football translate over to golf?
RR: No (laughs). I’ve coached and played in Super Bowls. Golf is really hard.
Q: What is your dream foursome?
RR: Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. I would just love to see them play.