Ditka’s archival golf lessons return in PGA TOUR tribute

The PGA TOUR remembered Mike Ditka on Friday by returning to a setting far from an NFL sideline: the golf course. Its tribute shared an archival compilation in which the former Bears coach demonstrates course etiquette, with the familiar mustache and direct-to-camera delivery intact.

Ditka died Friday, October 9, at 86, the Pro Football Hall of Fame confirmed. The Hall recalled the toughness he brought to playing tight end and coaching Chicago. The TOUR's golf footage shows another part of his public life, preserved in short instructional scenes.

The compilation runs just over two minutes. It moves from approach shots and putting greens to Ditka standing beside a golf bag, holding a club while addressing the camera. NBC identification appears in the footage. The original filming date is not established by the TOUR's post; the Friday date identifies the memorial publication.

Golf also supplied the setting for a much earlier firsthand portrait. In a remembrance published Friday, longtime Raleigh News & Observer reporter Chip Alexander recalled interviewing Ditka at the Duke Children's Classic at Croasdaile Country Club in Durham in May 1987. Ditka was practicing putts before the outing and initially looked unapproachable. Alexander wrote that he smiled and spoke calmly when asked for a few minutes, then stopped to sign autographs on his way to the first tee.

That memory gives the tribute some history beyond a resurfaced clip. Ditka's golf appearances placed him among fellow players and spectators, with a putting green serving as the backdrop for questions about the Bears and his work as their coach.

For golfers revisiting the video, the modern practical reference is the USGA's own guidance. Its pace-of-play FAQ recommends making a stroke within 40 seconds, while allowing committees to establish their own policies. Its course-care guidance asks players to repair ball marks and other damage, follow cart instructions and care for the playing surface. Those are everyday responsibilities that remain useful to carry into the next round.

Sources

Pro Football Hall of Fame: Mike Ditka dies at86 · A1987 golf-course interview with Ditka · USGA: recommended time to make a stroke · USGA: caring for the course