My Full-Circle Return to Lookaway Golf Club

Reflecting on covering the CB East Liberty Tournament felt like coming full circle. When I walked onto Lookaway Golf Club that day, I was not just a photographer or media representative. I was a former player returning to a place that shaped me. I played three varsity seasons for Central Bucks High School East and was a member of the graduating class of 2020. In recent years I have helped with their tryouts. On September 29th, 2025, it was the first time I saw the sport from behind the lens, instead of in front of it.

Returning to a familiar environment changes your perspective. The quiet nature of a golf tournament, the way players take their time reading greens, and the respect shared between schools like Council Rock North, Abington, Central Bucks West (the across town rival), and Methaction all felt the same. What changed was my role. I was not thinking about yardages or feeling nerves on the tee box. I was focused on capturing the feel of the day, the split second emotions after each shot. The calm confidence of competitors, the camaraderie between teammates, and the natural beauty of Lookaway all stood out in a different way.

I did not have stats or scores to rely on, but I did not need them. This story was about reconnecting with my past and watching the next generation of CB East golfers create their own moments. It made me realize how different the game looks when you are no longer the one playing. In some ways, it felt even more meaningful. Covering this tournament reminded me why I love the sport and why I enjoy telling stories through a camera.

In a previous Sideline Stories post, I talked about how one photo from my time on the CB East golf team played a role in getting me into sports photography. The photo was of myself and my dad, as we both walked together after my final match as a CB East Varsity Golfer, signifying my transition from the one in front of the camera on the course, to the one behind the lens. There was something about that moment. The storyline, the emotion, and the setting that all came together in a way that stuck with me. It was one of the first times I realized how powerful a single image could be.

Covering the Liberty Tournament brought me back to that moment. It was not just another game to shoot. It reminded me why I picked up a camera in the first place. Standing on the same greens where I once competed, I could see parts of my own experience in the players out there. That connection made every photo feel more intentional.

This tournament also felt like a way to give back to the sport that gave so much to me. Helping at tryouts allowed me to stay involved, but covering the match gave me a different way to contribute. It was a chance to represent CB East golf and document its next chapter. Even without stats, the story was there in the environment. Growth, tradition, and the next generation of athletes finding their own path.

Golf is the sport that has taught me the most. It taught me integrity, resilience, patience, focus, and respect. Every round required you to hold yourself accountable and respect the game and the people around you. Those lessons have carried over into how I approach photography. Every moment deserves that same level of attention and respect.

Even now, the connection is still there in the small details. I still use the golf bag that was given to me by the CB East team when I graduated. It is something I carry with pride. The CB East and Lookaway logos on it represent where everything started. They are reminders of the experiences that shaped me.

Standing on those fairways again made one thing clear. My role has changed, but my connection to the sport has not.

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Sideline Stories.

Telling Stories Beyond the Scoreboard.