From dominating hitters on the mound to navigating fairways and greens, CC Sabathia’s post-baseball life now includes a deepening relationship with golf. In an interview that blends honesty, humor, and perspective, the former Yankees ace opened up about how golf challenges him, the players he follows, and how the sport has become a new way to reconnect with family. Sabathia may be new to the game, but he’s all in.
Baseball vs. Golf Mechanics
For many athletes transitioning from one sport to another, certain skills carry over. But according to Hall of Famer Sabathia, baseball might actually hurt more than help when it comes to swinging a golf club.
“I think it’s a disadvantage, because you have to learn the mechanics,” Sabathia said. “You know in baseball, the ball is in the air, so you’re swinging at the top. In golf, the ball is on the ground, so you’ve gotta shallow something out.”
While the physical swing has been a tough adjustment, Sabathia does believe his pitching background gives him a mental edge. “A lot of failure–in baseball and golf. Especially with pitching. You know, it’s one pitch at a time. It’s always off to the next, always looking forward. Same thing with golf; you can’t think about the last shot. Always in the moment.”
He puts it simply: “Pitching helps the mentality, but swinging a bat hurts your physical golf game.”
Watching the Game Like a Pro
Sabathia has become a dedicated fan of the sport. He keeps up with the PGA Tour and has his favorites when it comes to who’s worth watching.
“I watch Xander Schauffele, I’ll watch Scottie, obviously–everybody watches [him] all the time. I watch Rory,” he said, listing some of golf’s biggest names.
As for upcoming events, Sabathia has a clear rooting interest: “[Akshay] Bhatia. He’s awesome. He’s lefty, so it’s fun to watch him.” Both Sabathia and Bhatia are involved with Mastercard, adding a personal connection to his support. “So yeah, that’s who I’m rooting for,” he said with a smile.
A Father-Son Fairway Bond
While golf may have arrived late in Sabathia’s life, it’s now central to how he spends quality time with his son. For a man who once crisscrossed the country playing in stadiums, the golf course has become a new kind of haven.
“My oldest son [Carsten], we play together all the time,” he shared. “So, we have a good time, and for me, I get four hours with him, get out, hang out.”
With his son off at college and chasing his own baseball career, those hours on the course have become a cherished way to reconnect. “Before when I retired, I’d take him to games, drive with him, and get a couple hours. Then he goes off to college and you miss that time. So now, it’s making up that time on the golf course or on a golf trip.”
Regret, Reflection, and Augusta National
Sabathia’s love for golf is genuine, but it’s also tinged with a bit of regret. He didn’t pick up the game until COVID-19 lockdowns gave him the chance to slow down, and he wishes he’d started much earlier.
“I just started playing during Covid. I should have been playing during my playing days. I feel like I wasted so much time,” he said. “Everybody that’s good and is my age have told me they started playing in college. So, that would have been me trying to play in the Minor Leagues, which I wasted so many years.”
Still, he finds redemption in watching his son develop at just the right age. “I’m happy my son is playing at his college age, so he’ll be able to–hopefully in 20 years from now–be a really good golfer.”
As for bucket-list courses, Sabathia has lofty goals. “I definitely want to do an Ireland-Scotland trip,” he said. “I played Pine Valley my first year into golf, and it wasn’t very fun. So I kind of want to go back now that I’m more of a golfer. Obviously, though, my favorite course I ever played was Augusta.”
Despite his natural athleticism and competitive mindset, Sabathia is humble about his golf journey.
“It’s slow [progression], it’s slow for sure,” he said with a laugh.
Maybe so. But whether it’s catching up with his son, cheering for fellow lefties, or grinding out swing mechanics, Sabathia approaches golf like he approached baseball–one shot at a time, always moving forward.
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