Name: Charlie Rymer
Position: Golf Channel "Morning Drive" analyst
Where I’m from: Fort Mill, SC
Where I call home: Orlando
Focusing on right now: Along with my duties of co-hosting "Morning Drive" five days a week, I’m also trying to get ready to play some golf on the PGA Tour Champions in '18. Getting ready to go out and compete again has helped my TV work because it’s reconnected me with playing the game, which is something I haven’t done a whole lot of over the last several years. Considering that the vast majority of our viewers are actually golfers that play the game, I think it’s let me connect with our audience more effectively. I also serve as VP of the North Florida Section of the PGA of America.
Best advice: The simple golf etiquette concept of "repair your ball mark and one other" is a wonderful way to look at how you should live your life. In golf, we want the greens to be just as good for the people playing in the group behind us as they are for our group. If we practice that concept in other areas of our lives, look at how much better society would be.
Must have for a new hire: I want someone, number one, that I can trust, that’s dependable and that’s on time. If I could only get one of those three, it would be someone that’s on time.
Exec I admire: Golf Channel President MIKE MCCARLEY. The thing I admire most is his ability to look at the big picture. I work two hours a day of live TV and my focus has to be on how I’m going to get through this show that’s in front of me today. Whenever I’m around Mike, I just get the strong sense that he’s thinking about two, five, 10 years out and just the demeanor of calmness that he has. Execs at big companies often underestimate how much their presence is appreciated and valued. It’s really meaningful for us to know that he cares enough to sometimes get up that early in the morning to watch us do a show.
Book shelf: I’m currently reading the "SPIN" series by ROBERT CHARLES WILSON. I’ve always enjoyed science fiction because it takes me so far out from what I do on a day-to-day basis. It’s a great escape and I think you learn a lot about where we’re going as a society in terms of culture and technology and arts. It probably makes me think a little bit differently than maybe I would otherwise.
Talking tech: There is so much going on now with technology that’s helping not only Tour professionals, but average golfers. Some things that I’m currently spending time with are a Doppler radar launch monitor and personal swing modeling technology. I’m able to get any information I need about how the golf ball is flying, and I’m also able to look, in detailed view, at exactly what’s going on with my body. The really great thing about it is all these technologies are becoming more and more affordable every day.
Must-have music: From the day BLAKE SHELTON’s "Texoma Shore" album was released, I’ve listened to it every day. The song I just can’t get out of my brain is "I’ll Name the Dogs." It’s easily the best country song of the year. If there’s any other kind of music that exists other than country, I’m not aware of it.
Food for thought: I like going to Austin for Tex-Mex. I love to barbeque on my Big Green Egg. I’m very humble and I don’t brag, but I’m a barbeque genius. In fact I might be the ALBERT EINSTEIN of barbeque. And I’m an equal opportunity guy -- brisket or pork -- either one is fine with me.
First thing in the morning: I take my two golden retrievers (Buzz and Gunner) outside to do what they do. They’re the best dogs in the history of the planet. I’ll never have another breed of dog other than golden retriever.
How I unwind: Put me in a stream fly-fishing with a chance of catching a brown or rainbow trout -- and it doesn’t even matter what size -- that’s about as happy as I could possibly be.
Day in the life: 3:25am alarm. 4:30am production meeting at Golf Channel studios. On-air at 7:00am. Post-show meeting at 9:15am. 10:00am, I generally I head out to either play or practice. Dinner at 5:00pm. Ten toes up at 8:30pm.
