Popular musicians have long had an affinity with golf. From Bing Crosby singing “Straight down the Middle” and hosting his annual “Clambake” pro-am at Pebble Beach, to self-confessed golf addict and hard rocker Alice Cooper, musicians from multiple genres have turned to golf for relaxation and distraction.
In an industry known for its non-stop, whirlwind nature, golf can provide a much-needed tonic – a few hours peace and quiet, a chance to re-set and refresh. We spoke to Canadian singer/songwriter Matthew V about his reignited passion for golf, what the sport means to him and why it’s so important as a balance in his life.
From an early age, Vancouver-based Matthew V was always going to be a singer. He started when he was just three years old and, from the age of seven, was being trained in opera, classical, jazz and musical theatre. In his late teens he travelled to London to study at music school before returning to Canada where he embarked on a pop career inspired by the music he encountered in the UK. He enjoyed significant success with his early releases. His songs have spent protracted periods in the Canadian charts and he earned a nomination for a Juno award for Adult Contemporary Album of The Year 2022 – The Junos are Canada’s equivalent of the Grammys.
A New Direction
Matthew V practising at the driving range
(Image credit: Matthew V)
More recently, he’s taken the bold step of a change in musical direction and has gone back to his roots in jazz, compiling an album of jazz standard songs, songs from the great American songbook, like “Hey Big Spender,” “The Man I Love,” and “My Boy,” sung in a smooth and swinging fashion – Quite appropriate for a keen golfer.
It’s been a hectic couple of years for Matthew and it’s a key reason why the escapism of golf is so important for the young crooner.
“It has been such a wonderful escape from how busy everyday life is. It’s the one time I get to be outside doing one thing only and it’s the thing right there in front of me and I’m in full control of it,” he says. “It’s been brilliant and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the game again, more so than in my entire life.”
A Golfing family
Matthew was an early starter
(Image credit: Matthew V)
Matthew has returned to golf after a hiatus, but he comes from a golfing family with good golfing pedigree.
“I got into the game in my childhood years because my dad, before he had kids, was an avid member of multiple golf…
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