Surfing and golf may seem like a strange marriage, but surfing and golf, for a lot of surfers, go hand-in-hand. Kelly Slater may be surfing’s most famous golfer, so of course he was included in the The WSL x TravisMathew Life on Tour Challenge.
“Golf and surf are so complimentary because they’re so different, in a way,” Slater said. “They’re almost like opposite playing fields. One is always non-stop moving, and the other’s just sitting there for you. But biomechanics cross through all sports.”
A while back, Slater talked with Graham Bensinger about his love of golf. “I like the challenge. It’s such a simple thing,” he said. “Hit this ball over there. But all these things have to align. You have to get your mind clear and calm and your technique has to be right. It’s kind of problem solving, you know? Golf’s really problem solving.”
The WSL x TravisMathew Life on Tour Challenge is a celebrity surf and golf pro-am event. Six teams of four partnered up to compete both in the water and on the course, with the winners’ proceeds going to charity. Two surfers were paired with two celebrities — although in Slater’s case, he was a bit of both — and the winning team was awarded $20,000 to donate to a charity of their choice. On top of the 20 gees, a $100,000 donation was made to The Surfrider Foundation. We ask you: is there a better way to raise money for charity than by surfing and playing a round of golf? You can watch the recap above, courtesy of the World Surf League.
