In June 1996 I golfed in a group right behind him at Spyglass Hill (https://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/spyglass-hill-golf-course/) on the Monterey Peninsula. Myself and 3 buddies drove down from San Francisco to play at Spyglass. When we arrived inside the clubhouse Denver was meandering around and we were signing in. Then over the PA came the announcement for the Denver party to tee off. One of my buddies goes up to him and says, “Denver, like John Denver”. And he smiled and said yes.” He was easily recognizable.
If you have ever played golf at Spyglass or Pebble Beach you know how crazy it is with the overcapacity due to the tourists. The pace of play can be sooo long.
So they were always waiting to play and we arrived to the next tee box on almost every hole. We had the opportunity to constantly chat with him and his much younger girlfriend, an Aussie or Brit I can’t seem to recall which. But she was a very good golfer, having played collegiately at the University of Texas. And we learned that he had just arrived back from a concert tour in Japan and South Korea where he was still very popular.
The last 3 holes we all played together as one big group since it was getting dark. I think I have a group photo somewhere. In any event he was a down to earth kind of guy just enjoying himself and life.
John Denver: ‘My dark night of the soul’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4707943/John-Denver-My-dark-night-of-the-soul.html
The aussie he was with was most likely his second wife, with whom he had a daughter, about 10 years old when he died.
Neat memory!