Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine

Attitude is everything for t.J. summers of commonwealth national Gc

BY TONY REGINA

is name may sound Hollywood, but T.J. Summers is anything but a pompous celebrity.

He is a mild-mannered and courteous individual, humbled by the game of golf and its principles. He doesn’t take it too seriously. A handshake isn’t his way of acknowledging a fan; it’s a gesture of goodwill and respect.

Summers’ fair yet fun-loving personality allowed the Commonwealth GC member to earn the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 2011 Junior Sportsman of the Year distinction.

“It’s a huge honor,” Summers, 17, of Doylestown,
Pa., said. “It feels really good to be recognized for all
of the hard work. This was kind of a breakout year
for me. I was all-around competitive.”
“Having grown up in the Commonwealth Na-
tional Golf Club junior program, I knew well in ad-
vance that T.J. would be taught the proper way to
act both on and off the golf course,” Chris Roselle,
the Association’s Tournament Director, said. “But he
exceeded my lofty expectations.”
Perhaps Summers even exceeded his own ex-
pectations. He finished second in the Junior Player of
the Year standings. He reached the semifinals in the
97th Junior Boys’ Championship at Running Deer
GC, placed third in the Christman Cup at Bidermann
GC and finished second in the Harry Hammond

Award Standings. Summers also represented GAP in the Williamson Cup and captured Commonwealth’s Junior Club Championship, a two-day stroke play event.

Summers’ ability to compete is crafted by his conduct on the golf course. His relaxed attitude makes others feel like they’re sipping soda pool-side rather than stressing on the trading room floor.

“After a round, whether you win or lose, you
should be able to talk [to your playing partner or
opponent] and have a fun conversation,” he said. “It
shouldn’t be hostile. It should be fun. Anybody can
play in a tournament. We’re not playing for money.
We’re playing for fun.”
An emblem on Summers’ golf bag at the Christ-
man Cup spotlights his sportsmanship. He scribed
“ TJSummers.com” on an old Wilson bag that he and
caddy Parker Moncada purchased at a flea market a
day earlier. The symbol, in a sense, united the Christ-
man field, reminding competitors that golf should be
enjoyed, not embellished.

“It was kind of spur of the moment,” Summers said. “[Moncada] thought it would be funny to write

that because some of the tour players have their
name and Web site on their bags. I don’t have my
own Web site.”
Summers cites his father Tim as a sportsmanship
influence — “100 percent.”
“I grew up playing golf with him,” Summers said.
“He taught me everything I know about the game.
He taught me how to conduct myself and how not to
conduct myself on the course.”
A senior at Central Bucks West High School,
Summers is immersed in the college search. He’s
narrowed it down to six schools, though his areas of
focus remain in flux. Summers is considering pro-
fessional golf management or business. Playing golf
at the collegiate level is also a possibility.