After spending 50 years being someone’s daughter, I’ve noticed a few things dads just universally love. I’m not saying every single dad, but a surprising number of them seem to fall into these categories. Here’s my take:
1. Dads love golf.
Oh boy, do they love it. I used to work for a golf equipment company—you know, the kind that prints alignment guides and college logos on golf balls. I was their marketing director, which basically meant I wrote a ton of blog posts about putting techniques and visual alignment (yes, that’s a real thing), and I even got to design some cool graphics for their site and print ads.
One of my favorite gigs from that time? A well-known golf writer, John Andrisani, asked me to illustrate golf terms for his book. Yep, I drew cartoons. In fact, the main graphic for this blog is one of them. Golf dads even have a specific sense of humor—like golf dad jokes. It's a niche, and I know it well.
2. Dads love tattoos.
Here’s a fun one: I spent seven years doing henna art on Clearwater Beach, and for a while, I was even licensed to give permanent tattoos. Let me tell you, there’s something kind of hilarious about watching a dad get a matching henna tattoo with his daughter.
Pro tip: It’s hard to say what hurts more—getting permanently inked, or walking into the office Monday morning with a glittering henna unicorn you got with your five-year-old.
3. Dads love books.
If there’s one thing dads treasure (besides their families), it’s a good book. I’ve met so many dads who dive deep into classics—especially ones like Plato’s Republic. I actually read that during my first year as a philosophy major. It’s all about how to build a fair and noble society, and let me tell you, idealistic dads love applying that stuff to family life. My book collection is full of philosophical reads which are great for thoughtful dads who always have a quote for every situation.
4. Dads love the great outdoors.
When I was a kid, my dad used to take me fishing instead of my brothers—mostly because the boys would get seasick. Eventually, he made the move from Indiana to Florida just to be near the ocean. I followed not long after and got into sailboat racing.
I don’t fish anymore, but I’ve captained boats through some serious weather, and it’s made me tougher. There’s a painting in my art collection of a bear catching a salmon—it’s called “Strength through Adversity,” and honestly, it sums up what my dad has taught me pretty well.
5. Dads love whiskey.
As someone who does promotions for wine and spirits brands, I can say with confidence: whiskey is a dad thing. Whether it’s bourbon, scotch, or Irish whiskey, they all have their fans. And dads? They tend to be connoisseurs. They know their stuff and they’re proud of it. And honestly, I kind of love them for that.
In the end, these “dad loves” aren’t just hobbies or passing interests—they’re reflections of who they are: thoughtful, adventurous, a little quirky, and deeply committed to the people they care about. Whether it’s teeing off at sunrise, matching a henna design with their kid, quoting philosophy, braving the open sea, or savoring a smooth pour of whiskey, dads have a way of finding joy in the little things—and sharing that joy with the ones they love. That’s what makes them unforgettable.