Rocco Mediate Made a Golfer Out of “Rush” Guitarist Alex Lifeson

Rocco Mediate is one of the nicest golfers on the PGA TOUR and is almost reminiscent of the stereotypical golfing dad. And like most dads Mediate has an affinity for classic rock, and his fandom led him to an important relationship with a member of one of his favorite bands.

During the 1992 PGA Championship that was played at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Mediate found out that the band Rush would be performing during the same week. After a few minutes of fangirling over his favorite band, Mediate decided to invite the band to join him for a round before the tournament. Only one member decided to take the plunge with Mediate, guitarist Alex Lifeson.

For Lifeson, this was a bold move because he had rarely played golf and was pretty bad with a club in his hands. After going out for the round, however, Lifeson became a fan of Mediate and golf, beginning a relationship that has lasted the ages. Lifeson, who is now inducted with the rest of his bandmates in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, has since played with Mediate and the two even appeared together on golf channel’s “Playing Lessons from the Pros.”

 
Thorugh Mediate’s tutelage, Lifeson has almost become as good at golf as he is with a guitar. On the multiple tours that Rush went on, Lifeson did his best to go out and play at least one round of golf in whatever area the band was performing. At one point, Lifeson even had a handicap that was in the single digits. Now, Lifeson is a part owner of the Coppinwood Golf Course in Toronto, a course that Mediate has sponsored on clothes in the past.

Despite the great strides that Lifeson has made in life and golf, he is still thankful for Rocco. “I remember how thoughtful and considerate Rocco was,” said Lifeson a few years ago. “He spent a great deal of time with me, a truly novice golfer, on the range hitting a million 7-irons. The thing is, he still spends time with me on the range, so either he’s a dear friend or I’m a pretty lousy golfer…or maybe both!”

While Lifeson is probably better suited with a guitar in his hands as opposed to a golf club, it is still a great story to look back on and a friendship that has lasted so many years and continues to this day.

Cover Image via YouTube