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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGlenn Lyon feels as comfortable on the golf course as in the boardroom. The veteran retail executive swung his first club as a teenager in Brooklyn, New York, taking the city bus to a public course with a few friends. His love for the game, and his leadership position with sports apparel retailer The Finish Line Inc., has enabled him to play with several big-name athletes, and even a former president.
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IBJ: How has golf helped your career?
LYON: It hasn’t helped my career; it has helped me as a person to find a lot out about myself and my competitiveness; it’s the health and wellness part of it, the embodiment of sportsmanship.
IBJ: Why do you enjoy golf?
LYON: Again, it’s about getting out into a place where I’m calm and happy, where at the same time I can hone my skills and feel the success, even if it’s only fleeting.
IBJ: What’s your handicap?
LYON: Seven
IBJ: How often do you play?
LYON: In a course of a year … I play 75 rounds. I play 40 to 50 rounds here and then I have a home in Florida, so in the winter I play some, too.
IBJ: Who’s the most famous or interesting person you’ve played with?
LYON: Bill Clinton. I guess you almost have to give Michael [Jordan] some credit or I’ll be in trouble. I’ve played with Michael now seven or eight times. It’s because of Michael that I met Clinton.
IBJ: Who’s the best golfer you’ve played with?
LYON: Gary Player. You want to talk about a great day. Kevin Plank (founder and CEO of Under Armour) called me one morning, on a Friday, and said, “I need you to come to Baltimore on Monday and spend the day with me.” I said, “Kevin, I work for a living.” So he said, “I’m not going to tell you what it’s about. I’m just going to tell you that I really want you to come on Monday and it will be worth your while.” So I show up Sunday night and Monday morning I get a call in my room, saying, “Hello, Glenn, this is Gary (in a South African accent). I’m waiting in the car for you. I need you to come down.”
IBJ: Who’s the worst?
LYON: Probably my father. My father started late in life and only did it because I was interested and never really got to any proficiency.
IBJ: What’s your favorite course and why?
LYON: My favorite, for its beauty, is a place called Pelican Hills south of Los Angeles. And the other one is Augusta, for the historical part of it, and Saint Andrews in Scotland.
IBJ: Have you ever sunk a hole-in-one?
LYON: I’ve had four. I always shock people with that.
IBJ: Who are some of the other athletes you’ve played with?
LYON: Dean Smith, Mario Lemieux, Emmitt Smith, Ken Griffey Jr., Peyton Manning. I’ve played with all these great people and I’ve never played with my wife [Jane], so I’m hoping that sometime in the future I’ll get to do that.
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