John Hartson is a big golf fanatic.
The Celtic hero regularly partakes in charity golf days including for his own foundation fundraisers where he has played the links on countless occasions.
Big Bad John can always also call on his old teammates and pals within the game to raise cash and put in a shift on the course.
Perhaps that is why the Welshman still remembers one promise in particular from majority shareholder Dermot Desmond back in 2001.
The owner was desperate to sign the striker from Coventry City under Martin O’Neill to compete with Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton for a spot in the starting lineup.
As the pair engaged in a phone call to discuss the proposed switch, Desmond put one negotiation tactic into play as he offered the big man a meeting of his dreams on the course with a hero of his.
Hartson recalled the Irishman attempting to convince the now 49-year-old to move to Glasgow by offering a round of golf alongside himself as well as Tiger Woods.
The American is the biggest name in the game and Hartson immediately signed off and urged the businessman to get it done.
John Hartson was invited to play a round of golf with Tiger Woods
But that’s when Desmond fell silent and the game would never take place.
Much to Hartson’s dismay.
Speaking on A Celtic State of Mind podcast, Hartson chuckled as he made his way through the tale.
He said: “I took the phone call from him and I went, ‘Hello?’ and he went, ‘Hiya John, Dermot Desmond here’.
“So, I’m just about to put the phone down now, and he said, ‘John, are you a golf fan?’
“I said, ‘I love my golf.’
“And he said, ‘Would you like me to arrange a game? myself, Tiger Woods, and you could choose another one to come and play with us?’
Hartson signed for Celtic in 2001 and hit over 100 goals
“I was overwhelmed and said, ‘I would adore that, he’s one of my heroes Mr Desmond’.
“From that phone call to today, I’ve not heard another word from Mr Desmond.”
The gesture may have been an empty one from Desmond but it did go a long way in proving to Hartson that Celtic was the right destination for him.
He would stay at the club for five years and notch 105 goals and 36 assists in 194 fixtures for the Hoops.
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