Who golfs? Drum company salesman David Leena

photo David Leena

David Leena

Mount Juliet, Tenn.

Pearl Drums sales

David Leena's father turned out to be correct. The golf course is a great place to conduct business, he told his son a few decades ago.

Leena, a drums salesman, entertains executives from across the country and Japan when they come to town for corporate outings.

"It's very expensive to play golf in Japan, and we'll have meetings and turn them into corporate golf outings," said Leena, who killed some time Tuesday at a local golf shop. "Golf seems to bring people together and breaks the ice for conversations about anything including business."

Leena is a drummer, which led to his occupation in sales with the 60-year-old music company. But he's almost as comfortable with golf clubs in his hands as drumsticks. Leena began playing golf as a 9-year-old in Orlando, Fla., when he played almost every weekend with his father. He shoots around 80 most days.

He's practicing more now than ever before because his 13-year-old son, Andrew, has taken a liking to the game. They practice almost every evening in the summer. Andrew was in town for the TGA State Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Council Fire on Tuesday.

"The time together and the instant gratification I get when he hits a good shot is amazing," Leena said. "As corny as it may sound, it makes you feel good when he smiles."

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