Michael Jordan’s love of sports was not limited to basketball; he enjoyed a wide variety of competitions. After showing interest in baseball and then basketball, he ultimately settled on golf as his favorite sport. After discovering golf later in life, Jordan immediately felt at home with the sport.
He spent numerous hours on the golf course, a world very different from basketball, in between sessions and games. He has a dedicated invite only golf club where he is often seen playing with famous people. Jordan’s athletic attempts, from his early beginnings in baseball to his passionate journey into golf, reflected his unrelenting pursuit of perfection throughout a wide range of fields.
Inside Michael Jordan’s invite-only golf club
NBA legend Michael Jordan wanted a place where he and his famous pals could go to play golf away from the public eye, so they opened a private golf club called GROVE XXIII. The Hobe Sound, Florida club opened in 2019, and it features an 18-hole course created by legendary architect Bobby Weed on the site of a former orange farm. Jordan’s preferred playing style informed the design of the layout.
The clubhouse, designed by Nichols Architects and Dailey Janssen, is the focal point at 15,000 square feet. This high-end facility has a bar, a lounge, and both men’s and women’s locker rooms. Caitlin Kah, the clubhouse’s interior designer, employed neutral colors, dark wood, Gregories Pineo cork wallpaper, and other creative details to create a cozy ambiance that reflects Jordan’s tastes.
Here’s video Caroline Wozniacki posted yesterday of the food and drink delivery by drone out at Michael Jordan’s newish golf course, Grove XXIII. (Also the scooters in the background) pic.twitter.com/QEAyUCI0yO
— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) December 7, 2020
The clubhouse is serene and refined, with views of the beautiful greens. Michael Jordan is so serious about protecting the serenity of his golfing haven that entry is strictly by invitation only.
MJ’s longstanding passion for golf
Michael Jordan, when still an active NBA player, discussed his love for and the appeal of the sport in an earlier interview. He acknowledged the difficulty of drawing parallels between golf and basketball, and he emphasized the cerebral component of golf. MJ was captivated by the sport because of the mental discipline and strategic planning it required. His interest in the game, which is played by just a select few, developed as he constantly trained.
“I try to play or hit balls every day in the summertime. If it’s raining, then I make up for it the next day, but I’m so hooked to the game. I’m so mad at myself that I didn’t play at a young age. I wish I could have.”
Even in golf, Jordan never stopped striving for perfection. His desire to push himself after leaving the NBA inspired his ambition to succeed in the sport. He follows golf competitions closely and hopes to give the PGA Tour a go someday.
“I want to see how good I can get at this game… I think I can get good enough to at least try for the Tour. That is the challenge I see ahead of myself.”
Following his retirement from basketball, Michael Jordan turned his lifelong interest into a career by competing in tournaments and opening his own private golf course in Florida, GROVE XXIII. His commitment is reflected in the elite membership of the club. Jordan’s success in golf is a reflection of his commitment to the game beyond the realm of basketball.
