What’s it like to play golf against Peyton Manning? Much like football

When great athletes in other sports take up golf, that competitive fire that helped them reach the top of their games in football, basketball, baseball, etc. usually carried.

According to him former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos teammate Brandon StokleyPeyton Manning is no exception.

In retirement, Manning has frequently participated in both celebrity tournaments such as the American Championship of the Century and made-for-TV games. like the second and third editions of “The Match”.

In those appearances, Manning, who carries a 5.5 Cherry Hills Country Club AND Castle Pines Golf Club in Coloradohas proven that he is quite the stick. If Stokely’s characterization of Manning’s game, which he gave to GOLF’s Subpar co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz on this week’s episode, is accurate, then he is almost exactly the player he was at quarterback of the Colts and Broncos.

“Every time we play, you can never count him out of the hole,” Stokley said of the two-time Super Bowl champion and 14-time Pro Bowler. “You know, he’s chipping off a bad lie, or he’s got a 40-footer for par. He always blows one of those kisses. He always chops it out of the woods or something when you think it’s over.”

Sounds a lot like the QB who led the Colts on five straight fourth-quarter comebacks in 2009 or the one who led an 18-point comeback against the Patriots in the 2006-07 AFC Championship game.

Stokely, who said Manning gives him about three or four shots when they play these days, said Manning plays with “heart” just like he did in net.

“Like that’s the mindset you have to have when you’re playing golf with Peyton,” he added.

For more from Stokley, including when he caddied for Manning, watch the full GOLF Subpar episode below.

Jack Hirsch

Editor of Golf.com

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A native of Pennsylvania, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also *tries* to remain competitive in the local amateurs. Prior to joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a television station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a multimedia journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.