Steve Boyle On The Green With CC Sabathia For Golf Digest

Steve Boyle, a sports photographer based in Philadelphia, has an eye for capturing the physicality, intensity, and competitive nature of athletes. Steve was contacted by visuals editor at Golf Digest, Ben Walton, to photograph former New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia enjoying a round of golf for the February 2022 issue.

Six years of sobriety and regularly spending time on the green has played an integral role in restoring CC’s vitality, giving him a new lease on life. Steve followed CC on the course, highlighting his renewed health and happiness, as he showed off his golf stroke.

Ben and Steve have a long history, having gone to The University of Missouri together, they maintained their connection and stayed in touch during Ben’s time with Sports Illustrated and the NY Knicks.

Ben has been familiar with my work for the better part of 10+ years.  I’d like to think he trusts me to handle any assignment and my experience working with professional athletes.

The shoot took place at Alpine Country Club in Demarest, NJ – a championship 18-hole A.W. Tillinghast golf course designed to challenge both the beginner and professional golfer.

After eliminating alcohol from his life six years ago, CC was confronted with the challenge of finding new ways to productively fill his time. As a professional athlete it made sense for him to channel his athleticism and competitive nature by taking up another sport. CC went all in on golf and weightlifting. Now in the best shape of his life after dropping 40lbs, he shares the impact spending time on the green has had on his mental health and well-being. 

For sure, golf has helped me, Sabathia says of his alcohol addiction. Being able to detach from my phone, hang out with some buddies and enjoy being where my feet are. That’s one thing I always try to tell myself. Just be where your feet are.

-Golf Digest

With full creative freedom, Steve and his assistant Nathan Novak were able to capture CC in a number of portrait looks, as well as some action shots on the course.  

We stopped at a tee box for some images of him hitting his driver, then grabbed some fairway images before wrapping up the shoot with him putting and posing with a flag from that hole.

Steve also rode with CC in the golf cart and photographed him up close and personal while driving – capturing his love for the sport as he smiled ear to ear.

My favorite image from the shoot is him in the golf cart.  That concept was not even on my radar until the only open seat in a cart was with CC.  Thankful I brought my 14mm with me on the cart.

The image on the back of the camera is the frame I texted to the photo editor following the shoot letting him know that everything went well and he’d have the images that evening.

The image that ran in the magazine was retouched by Brad D’Amico and mostly required removal of leaves on the ground and smoothing out of clothing wrinkles for a more polished photo. Sunny skies and a bright smile reflect CC’s positive outlook on life after overcoming a dark chapter.

Golf has become a healthy outlet for CC, enabling him to productively channel his time, energy, and love for sports in an environment that keeps him looking and feeling his best. Steve’s images shed light on CC’s ability to turn a loss into a triumphant win, giving him a second chance at life.

Whether it’s alcohol dependency or anxiety or depression, we’re always taught to be tough and to not show our emotions and deal with these things internally. Those things can break you. They almost broke me in 2015.

-CC Golf Digest

See more of Steve’s work on his Instagram.

Credits
Photo Editor: Ben Walton
Assistant: Nathan Novak

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