by Porter Anderson, Southwest Airlines Spirit magazine

David James Elliott reveals one of his passions right off. "As soon as we're done here," he says, "I'm going to the driving range before going home." We keep him from golf for a few minutes to find out more. He played guitar in a band, and, thus, is passionate about music. He's also married to Nanci Chambers, who plays Lieutenant Singer on JAG, and the couple has a 8-year-old daughter. Thus ... we talked golf.

Spirit: When did you start playing?

David James Elliott: I was in my 20's, and that's not as early as it might have been. I wish I'd started when I was a kid, but it wasn't an option.

Spirit: They weren't playing much golf in Toronto?

DJE: They were playing it, but my father really didn't do much golfing. My dad played guitar, so I played guitar, my brothers played guitar. I ended up with two passions: golf and guitars.

Spirit: Looks like golf is winning.

DJE: We have a little golf academy set up here at work. Got a mat and a net and a digital camera for swing analysis. I have a wild putting machine set up in my trailer. Gives me 72 holes. You can practice every facet of your game. So while they're lighting the set, we're working on our golf game. I have some pals on the show who are equally obsessed about it.

Spirit: What is the appeal?

DJE: The game can never be mastered. One's always reaching for it. You can stay competitive into your later years. It's not necessarily a game of muscle. It's a sport, though, so you have to maintain a degree of physicality. And it's challenging, a lot of variables.

Spirit: What are you going to work on this afternoon?

DJE: Consistency. It's tough, with the shooting schedule for the show, to play enough golf to be consistent. I have a 6 handicap now. I'd love to get it down to a lower digit.

Spirit: Which facet of your game is giving you the most trouble right now?

DJE: My long irons. My putting has been great lately.

Spirit: That work in the trailer on the set pays off.

DJE: Absolutely.

Spirit: How often do you get to play a full course?

DJE: Just once a week.

Spirit: Is Nanci into golf, too?

DJE: Yeah, she is - not qui-i-i-te as avid as I am, but I'm working on her.