Shane Bacon’s off-air game sizzles

Shane Bacon (left), shown interviewing Justin Rose, has made a name for himself on the course this summer. Darren Carroll, USGA

Commentating on golf is a core requirement of Shane Bacon’s television/podcast profession, where he can opine on Scottie Scheffler, Lilia Vu or Valhalla Golf Club as easily as putting on a new glove.

This past summer, though, it was Bacon’s golf game that merits being talked about.

He qualified to play in his first U.S. Amateur, made his second hole-in-one and finished third in the Connecticut Mid-Amateur. These achievements were more notable because he’s a 39-year-old who plays, when home in Westport, Connecticut, probably one round every week yet maintains a +2.8 handicap.

Bacon’s U.S. Amateur breakthrough occurred at a sectional qualifier at Bonnie Briar Country Club in Larchmont, New York, on July 11.

“Thirty-six holes against a lot of college kids who hit the ball a mile,” he said.

Bacon’s play...