The Back Nine: Gamecock Senior Alan King

Feb. 27, 2014

Throughout the spring, Gamecocksonline.com will catch up with a member of the men’s golf team for a feature called The Back Nine, focusing on nine golf-related questions. This week we are featuring senior Alan King.

When did you first start playing golf and what drew you to the game?
I first started playing golf at the age of 4 however not competitively until age 13. I began to develop a passion for the game by going to the golf course with my dad as a kid.

Who is your favorite professional golfer?
Dustin Johnson. His aggressive and carefree style of play is fun to watch.

What is your favorite golf course that you’ve played?
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. I played one of my first rounds of golf there, and it has been my favorite course ever since. I also enjoy the history and level of difficulty that it offers.

What is your favorite golf memory and why?
Sitting in the gallery with my dad on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club watching Arnold Palmer finish his last competitive round ever at The Masters Tournament was a pretty neat experience.

What is the most memorable competition moment of your career?
Making a double eagle on a par 5 in competition as a 16 year old is my most memorable moment mainly because the shot is so rare in the game of golf.

Who has influenced you most in your golf career?
My Dad. I can’t thank him enough for everything that he has done for me. He has supported me through everything and is one of the main reasons that I have made it this far in my career.

What are you most known for in golf/your strong suit?
I consider putting to be the strongest part of my game. My dad taught me the game from the green back to the tee, so when I first started playing all of my practice was spent on the putting green. I thoroughly enjoy practicing putting.

What is your dream foursome and what golf course would you play?
My dream foursome would include Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Will Ferrell. I think I could learn a lot from both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, and with Will Ferrell in the group there would never be a dull moment. We would play at Augusta National.

What’s in your golf bag?
Taylormade R11s 9 degree Driver
Taylormade Rocketballz 13 degree 3 wood
PING Rapture DI 2 iron
PING s56 Wedge-3iron
PING Gorge 52 degree gap wedge
PING Gorge 58 degree lob wedge
Titleist Scotty Cameron Select Newport Black Putter
Titleist ProV1X ball