Doug Garr: From Wrestling Mats to Bumping Elbows on the Squash Court

Recently we had the pleasure of diving into a “Boast About It” interview with the fascinating Doug Garr, a long-time member of Open Squash. What emerged was a portrait of a man with a life as rich and varied as a well-written novel. From his days as a wrestler to his encounters with celebrities on the squash court, Doug's story is one that's sure to captivate and inspire. The conversation kicked off with a glimpse into Doug's athletic origins. It wasn't all about squash from the start. 

"I wasn't really good at sports as a young boy until  in ninth grade, I got interested in amateur wrestling because my school had a very good wrestling team," he said. This passion led to a successful wrestling career, culminating in a senior year record of 22 and 1!

Of course, squash is a major part of Doug's life. He's been playing since the late 70s, experiencing the transition from American hardball to the international game. He describes the initial challenge of stepping onto the court: "When you get on a squash court for the first time, it's really. kind of a little worse than playing chess for the first time. Because squash is about geometry, chess, and fitness. And until you get all of those three together, you're gonna look really stupid," he said. 

In other words, evryone starts somewhere and it's okay to feel a little lost at first!

Doug offers valuable advice for those new to the sport: "If you're in it for fitness, play a lot. You're gonna get fit. If you're into it to try and really improve and get to that next level, you gotta drill a lot. Drilling is boring. I hate drilling. You're not supposed to like drilling. Drilling is about muscle memory and learning how to groove a swing," he said. 

Doug’s transition into the world of writing is just as compelling as his athletic exploits. He recounts his accidental entry into journalism at Syracuse University's "Daily Orange."

His first assignment? Covering a lacrosse game, despite knowing very little about the sport. "The first question I asked him was how many guys are on a team?" he admits with a chuckle.

This foray into journalism eventually led to a prolific writing career. "I've authored or co-authored seven books," Doug said, a testament to his dedication and skill. One of his proudest moments was when his book "IBM Redux" received a rave review in the New York Times’s Book Review section.

"My agent called me on Friday and said you're going to be in the review on Sunday. I saw it and I said ‘well is it?’ and she said ‘it's a rave’," he said, capturing the thrill. Beyond writing, Doug's professional life took an unexpected turn into politics, where he served as a speechwriter for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. One particularly memorable incident involved a speech with less-than-stellar feedback from the Governor. "It said, at the bottom of the speech, ‘this isn't an ending, this is a collapse’," Doug remembers.

Squash has provided Doug with a variety of lessons both on and off the court. 

"First you learn how to lose, then you learn how to win, then you learn how to lose again," he explains. "You go home, you lick your wounds and you go, wow, I could have played better, I could have done better, this, that, and the other thing. What do I need to do to get better?" 

The second phase, learning how to win, comes with its own challenges. "You're getting better and you get obsessive and you wanna be really good. So you get out there, you go to the tournaments, the club tournaments, and you learn how to play well and then you analyze your own. Did I play well enough to win, or I played well and I lost, but I sucked and I still won?" 

However, it's the third phase that truly resonates. "Then you get to a high enough level where losing hurts," Doug admits. This isn't the initial sting of defeat but a deeper ache, a recognition of the fine margins that separate victory from loss. He uses the example of professional athletes: "You watch the pros on the court and everything and you're going like, man, the difference between number three and number eight is in an hour and a half, it's like a couple of rallies. I could have done that. I should have done that. So they're replaying that in their head." This phase is about building resilience, the ability to pick oneself up after a significant loss and continue to strive for excellence.

Doug's analogy of Muhammad Ali coming back to win the World Heavyweight Championship after losing underscores this point. "Very hard at that level to just say, ‘oh man, you know, it's going to be hard to come back, I should just pack it in now, I have all the money I need, I have all this, why go through the punishment of training again and risking losing and humiliating myself again?’"

It all speaks to the mental fortitude required at the highest levels of competition and in life. It's about pushing past comfort and fear to pursue passion and purpose. And they say squash is just a game! 

One of the most entertaining parts of the interview was hearing about Doug's squash partners. He used to play with Rick Moranis from “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.”

“Rick and I kind of met because we had children in the same school,” Doug said. “So I would go to the Y and play with him, And the only thing he didn't like to do was go out to lunch because he got mobbed." 

Doug also mentioned playing with “American Werefolf in London” actor, Griffin Dunne, adding a touch of Hollywood to his squash stories.

Doug's life extends far beyond sports, but squash continues to be a focus, bringing all the complex threads together. Thanks, Doug, for taking the time to sit down with us!