In honor of professional golf starting up again this week after the COVID-19 shutdown, I give you the Transfusion. It’s a simple libation best consumed at the end of a hot round of golf. And, is standard fare at most golf clubs. It’s very refreshing and fair warning, goes down quite easily. We had never made one at home and most of our discussion centered around not the ingredients, but what type of glass to use. We’re used to having it in a to-go plastic cup.
While neither Ed nor I golf anymore, we still have plenty of golf accessories. The ball in this picture has a very special story associated with it.
During the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, Ed and I were co-captains for the marshals for our golf club on the 5th hole. During the Saturday round, Tiger Woods’ caddie, Joe LaCava, approached our friend (and fellow marshal), Matt K (RIP dear friend) and Ed with a favor. Someone had just given him a bunch of Giants gear and he was already carrying too much weight to add to Tiger’s bag. He asked if they would be willing to store it and bring it over to him on the 18th green later in the day? While Matt and Ed are generally kind and obliging, this was a tough ask given that neither of them were Giants fans (that might be an understatement!). But for the game of golf they saw past that and agreed to do so. Joe gave them some Tiger gear and set off on the rest of the round. True to form, Ed met up with Joe at the end of the round and was thanked with this ball. Ed met up with me and some friends later that evening for dinner and immediately put his Tiger golf ball in the center of the table while Matt gave the other items to his four boys. A small brush with one of golf’s greatest. We were fortunate to be up close and personal with Tiger and many other amazing golfers the week we spent at Merion.
I hope you’ll consider celebrating the return of professional golf with a Transfusion. Even if it means you have to buy some grape (good old fashioned Welch’s) juice like I did. Grape juice in our house usually comes in the form of wine. And, I do recommend a high-quality ginger ale, such as one from Fever Tree or Q. To make this gluten-free/wheat-free, use a vodka such as Tito’s (corn-based) or Ciroc (grape-based).
| Transfusion | | Print |
- 1-1/2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces ginger ale
- 1 ounce grape juice
- Two lime wheels
- In a highball glass filled with ice, add vodka, ginger ale, grape juice and a squeeze of lime juice (from one lime wheel) and stir.
- Garnish with second lime wheel.
* I recommend using a high-quality ginger ale such as one from Fever Tree or Q.
Nicole, this looks great! Thank you for the timely recipe.
Kim – Thank you! I hope you are able to enjoy one while watching some golf.