Actor Chris O'Donnell: Father, Actor & Lifelong Golfer

Chris O'Donnell is one of the stars of the television show Gery's Anatomy, and many years after later he's still often recognized as Robin from the movie Batman.

But O'Donnell is also a husband, father, devoted family man, and he has a nearly lifelong passion for golf. In many respects, the sport has had a resounding influence on his life.

O'Donnell was born in the suburbs of Chicago, but he spent his summer months with six older siblings and his parents in Douglas, Michigan. His family's home was located in the 15th hole of the West Shore Golf Club, a public course,

It's been 25 years, but O'Donnell recalls his dual-state upbringing vividly.

"I have played for as long as I can remember," he says. "We lived on number 15 at West Shore and I would play 15 and 14 over and over again. It's about a par 66 and that's where I learned to play.

"But I also played junior golf at Exmoor Country Club (Highland Park) as a kid. I loved it and I would play everyday."

But the time he was in high school, O'Donnell had begun his acting career and he'd exchanged golf clubs for another sport -- rowing.

Still, it didn't take long for O'Donnell's golfing fondness to return. With some of his friends at Boston College on the golf team, O'Donnell began to play more. Since then, his passion for the game has remained. And it's still a family affair.

With Chris as his caddie, one of O'Donnell's older brothers, John, has played in the U.S. Amateur the past two years. Conversely, when the younger O'Donnell competes in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, his brother John is usually his caddie.

"I have only beaten him once in my life gross, which means I really choke when I play him or he's really good," Chris says. "My parents play golf, too, as do most of the members of my family. We're not golf obsessed (except John and I), but we all enjoy the game."

Now the father of four children, O'Donnell divides most of his time between acting and parenthood. But he also ventures annually to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

"I really don't play in celebrity events, except the AT&T," O'Donnell explains. "I play as much golf as a I can, but when I do, it is with my buddies. It's hard enough to get away from the family to play. But if I'm going to do that, I want to be with my buddies at my favorite courses."

"For a guy like me, the AT&T is about as big as it's going to get. I am not good enough to play in real amateur events. Even club championships are a stretch for me, so I just love the tournament. Inside the ropes? Playing at Pebble Beach? That's tough to beat."

Periodically, O'Donnell also returns to the courses of his youth. His lives in Los Angeles, but travels to Michigan and Chicago and memories unfold.

"I get back to Michigan as much as I can," he explains. "I have not played Exmoor in a few years, but I really need to. I've heard they've made great changes.

"As for West Shore, I try to get a round in every year. Plenty of nicer courses have opened in the area, but that one will always be most special. It reminds me of my childhood more than anything else."

O'Donnell also has another golfing desire - to play all of the country's top courses.

"I really want to play the top-100 and I'm pretty far along," he says. "But that list changes so much, I don't think my pursuit will ever end."

"The keep adding courses and I keep adding kids, so it makes it tougher to knock off this list."

PERSONAL FILE

Age: 36 (June 26, 1970).

Handicap: 7.

Best Score: 69 (White tees at Riviera Country Club); 73 (Tournament play at Bel-Air Country Club).

Favorite Course(s): Pine Valley Golf Course "But when I'm in Chicago, it's Chicago Golf Club and ShoreAcres."

Equipment: Mostly Titleist. "But I love checking new stuff out. I am at the Roger Dunne store all the time."

Claims To Fame: Started modeling at age 13; First "role" was in a McDonald's commercial in 1986; First acted in an episode of an ABC-TV drama series "Jack and Mike" (1986); First film role occurred in 1990 in Men Don't Leave; Attended high school at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill. Graduated from Boston College (1995) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing; Chosen by People Magazine as one of the world's 50 Most Beautiful People in 1996; Played Al Pacino's "babysitter" in Scent Of A Woman (1992); Played Robin in Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997); Currently appearing on the television shoe Grey's Anatomy; In May, 2006, began shooting on the film DoubleWide.