TD CHOSEN TO CARRY COLUMBIA GOLF FOUNDATION’S TORCH—WELL, CAP—TO THE HOME OF GOLF

Much as the Olympic Torch is ferried around the world each quadrennium, friend Hardeep—recognizing that TD was once again taking his particular brand of duffing to the Mother Country—prevailed upon the Traveling Duffer to display a colorful, comfortable Columbia Golf Foundation (CGF) cap on his balding noggin throughout his 2026 excursion to the “home of golf.” CGF helps promote youth golf throughout Columbia, opening the game to young people who might otherwise never get the chance to tee it up, whiff proudly, recover gracefully, and fall in love with the sport.

The cap’s journey will begin in Ayrshire on Scotland’s west coast, move south to Birkdale, England, for The Open Championship, detour to Wales for a round at Royal St. David’s, return north to the Scottish Highlands near Tain and Dornoch, and finally wind its way through St. Andrews before heading back to the States. Along the way, TD will collect signatures from the world of golf—not likely from every big name, mind you, but certainly from fine, normal people, and perhaps, if the cap behaves itself at The Open, a professional or two.

TD was only recently made aware of CGF and its mission, as well as the many people across Columbia’s golfing community who have supported this worthy effort for decades. So hats off—better yet, caps on—to the volunteers and supporters who make CGF successful, and please consider supporting the foundation and its ongoing work to grow youth golf in Columbia. Follow TD’s blog, travelingduffer.com, to see the sights as witnessed by the cap, and visit ColumbiaGolfFoundation.org to learn more and donate; TD can confirm from experience that donating is easy, even for a man entrusted with international headwear.

Upon its return, the cap will most likely be displayed in the Columbia Golf Smithsonian for appropriate viewing, reverence, and perhaps light security. Thanks, Hardeep, for presenting this opportunity; it is now TD’s solemn challenge to make it home alive, with the cap on his head. TD chooses to accept this mission! This tape will self-destruct in five seconds—shhhpew, smoke, sizzle.