#TB30 Father's Day Spotlight: Tom & Sean Lehman on Golf, Parenting & Paradise

Most folks know Tom Lehman for his impressive golf career, but we know him as a friend and a dedicated family man. He and Bob Emfield, one of Tommy Bahama's founding partners (and namesake of the legendary Emfielder Polo), share a longstanding friendship sparked by a love of golf, good food, and family.

Today, the former World No. 1 ranked golfer resides in Arizona with his wife Melissa and is father to four children—two daughters and two sons. In honor of Father's Day, we sat down with Tom and his younger son, Sean, to talk golf, family, and living the island life.

HI, TOM & SEAN! YOU BOTH CLEARLY SHARE A LOVE FOR GOLF - TOM, AS A LEADING TOUR PROFESSIONAL, AND SEAN, PLAYING AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. HOW HAS THE SPORT BROUGHT THE TWO OF YOU CLOSER TOGETHER?

TOM: I think the greatest thing that golf has done for our relationship is give me the opportunity to consistently show Sean that I love him for who he is, not for what he does. Whether good or bad, he knows his performance does nothing to change how I feel about him. Not one bit.

There are lessons to be learned from a game like golf—lessons like perseverance, commitment, and discipline—but the outcome never changes my love for my son. That kind of love goes both ways: I am blessed to get that same love back from him.

SEAN: This game has created a bond between me and my dad that is unbreakable and has truly shown me that my dad loves me for who I am and will always be by my side—as he always is on the course.

SEAN, WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT LIFE LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED FROM YOUR DAD?

SEAN: My dad has always taught me that, one, if you keep your head down and grind, you can achieve anything you want, and two, that failure is part of greatness. Just like in golf, you have to deal with the hand you're dealt in life, stand strong in the face of adversity, and be poised in times of fear.

TOM, HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT HAS SEAN TAUGHT YOU ABOUT LIFE AND BEING A FATHER?

TOM: Being a father is one of life's greatest responsibilities and blessings. There's no guidebook or road map. I have taken my experiences with my own dad and others whom I have admired and have created my own brand of fatherhood.

I'm proud of Sean for always putting people first. He loves people. Treats everyone well and makes them feel special, important, and valued. It's easy for us as adults to get focused on so much outside of relationships, but I'm so inspired by Sean for the way he lives his life.

YOU'RE BOTH BELIEVERS OF OUR BRAND AND WHAT WE STAND FOR. WHAT DOES TOMMY BAHAMA MEAN TO YOU?

SEAN: To me, Tommy Bahama means family—a community of people wanting the best of others. The motto, “living the island life,” portrays a sense of comfort in our everyday stress-filled lives. It reminds us to have peace in our day and do what makes us happy.

TOM: Yes, “Lliving the island life” has a simple meaning to me, but it's not insignificant. In fact, it's quite an important message: slow down and take the time to smell the roses! Enjoy your life with the people you love and care about! Yes, it is relaxed and casual, but it's also very, very intentional. Living the island life is a decision to be content with who you are, what you do, how you look, where you're at, and who you're with.

AND IF YOU COULD CARRY ONE TOMMY BAHAMA ITEM WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

TOM: A Tommy Bahama beach chair! It's super comfortable and easy to carry, but it represents the need to not get going so fast that you miss the moment, that you don't enjoy what's right in front of you.

WELL SAID, TOM. AND TO ALL THE FATHERS AND FATHER-FIGURES OUT THERE ACTING AS COACH AND CADDIE IN LIFE AND ON THE GREEN - HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!