Golf coach to appear on TV show
Christina Apgar
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Campus
Miami University's new men's golf coach, Casey Lubahn, and his wife, Rachel, had the opportunity of a lifetime in the summer of 2008 when they were offered a spot on the Golf Channel's hit reality show "The Big Break X: Michigan."
This season, the show consists of eight co-ed teams that compete for spots on the PGA tour and LPGA tour.
After committing to the show, Casey's and Rachel's normal daily routines quickly disappeared as they were sucked into a whirlwind of events. They began by traveling to Michigan's Boyne Highland Resort for 15 days to be taped and interviewed by cameramen ad producers around the clock, according to Rachel.
"As soon as we pulled up, there were cameras in the parking lot taping us and it was so unnatural," Rachel said. "They took all of our electronic equipment and, from that point on, we had no sense of time or what day it was. Everything's on their schedule and you have no idea what you're going to do next."
Luckily, Casey and his wife had an advantage going into the show. Beside being the only married couple, they are both Michigan State University alumni and had experience playing on Michigan's golf courses.
"For one, you're from Michigan; you know the climate and the type of grass you're playing on and the golf course as well," Casey said. "And being husband and wife, we knew each other better than every other team because we knew each other's strengths and personalities."
Although the couple couldn't reveal the outcome of the show, they explained the ongoing pressures they endured while competing.
"(The competition) was much more intense," Casey said. "It's almost surreal at times since you're not really playing a round of golf. You have to be very open-minded and able to adjust ad adapt to the whole situation."
Rachel agreed.
"I definitely think that I felt more pressure playing and hitting shots on the 'Big Break' probably combined in all the competitions and events I've played in," Rachel said. "It was kind of like it all the sudden hit you. You're first nervous with cameras and mics and it's really strange but you get used to that. You realize that hundreds of thousands of people are going to watch this show and you are totally vulnerable to any mistakes or what you say."
This season, the show consists of eight co-ed teams that compete for spots on the PGA tour and LPGA tour.
After committing to the show, Casey's and Rachel's normal daily routines quickly disappeared as they were sucked into a whirlwind of events. They began by traveling to Michigan's Boyne Highland Resort for 15 days to be taped and interviewed by cameramen ad producers around the clock, according to Rachel.
"As soon as we pulled up, there were cameras in the parking lot taping us and it was so unnatural," Rachel said. "They took all of our electronic equipment and, from that point on, we had no sense of time or what day it was. Everything's on their schedule and you have no idea what you're going to do next."
Luckily, Casey and his wife had an advantage going into the show. Beside being the only married couple, they are both Michigan State University alumni and had experience playing on Michigan's golf courses.
"For one, you're from Michigan; you know the climate and the type of grass you're playing on and the golf course as well," Casey said. "And being husband and wife, we knew each other better than every other team because we knew each other's strengths and personalities."
Although the couple couldn't reveal the outcome of the show, they explained the ongoing pressures they endured while competing.
"(The competition) was much more intense," Casey said. "It's almost surreal at times since you're not really playing a round of golf. You have to be very open-minded and able to adjust ad adapt to the whole situation."
Rachel agreed.
"I definitely think that I felt more pressure playing and hitting shots on the 'Big Break' probably combined in all the competitions and events I've played in," Rachel said. "It was kind of like it all the sudden hit you. You're first nervous with cameras and mics and it's really strange but you get used to that. You realize that hundreds of thousands of people are going to watch this show and you are totally vulnerable to any mistakes or what you say."
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