This is my third volunteering experience and I was
assigned to be a walking scorer which was my first choice. They ask you when
you fill out the application what your preferences would be. Whether you
get what you asked for probably depends on what previous experience you've
had.
Anyone can apply as a volunteer anywhere there is a PGA tournament. I hear some folks even follow the tour city to city like groupies.
My first was the 1998 PGA Championship at Sahalee G.C., where I was assigned to post scores in the media center and won by Fiji born Vijay Singh. I think it was because of my good penmanship on my application. My longtime good buddy Rick Watts (terrible penmanship) was assigned to transportation. Maybe it was his good driving record but it was still better than environmental control (garbage) and he got to meet some pros in person.
It was Rick who gave me the heads up on the volunteering angle of getting into these tourneys cheap while seeing a lot of the behind the scenes action, which as a true golf fan is invaluable as you can imagine.
My second was the 2002 NEC Invitational again held at Sahalee and won by aussie Craig Parry. At this one Rick and I were assigned the same task of on-course shuttle drivers. Our shifts were also the same which worked out good.
We had a great time running folks around the course and the surrounding streets. Met a lot of nice people who appreciated our services very much and even scored a few tip$.
Ok on to the most recent job of a lifetime, next to being on the tour. As a walking scorer you walk the round inside the ropes with the players and caddies recording every shot into a hand held Palm Pilot which feeds to the ShotLink scoring trailer. You also use a walkie-talkie headset in case official communication is needed by the players or in the case of medical emergency with your group or anywhere along the course.
The responsibility of being a walking scorer is immense. The laser shot crew needs immediate accurate input to do their job well, the media wants their instant info and the players will also compare scores with you at the end of the round in the scoring tent. Besides the media and a PGA official, you are the only other person allowed in the tent with the players.
My group Friday included Jim Dent, Rocky Thompson, and long drive winner Lon Hinkle. Not a particulary well known group of household names as far as pros go but each very cabable of the difficult task of consistent scoring to hang onto a place very many pros and non-pros alike would love to call a job. It is a great retirment plan if you can get it.
I practiced my assignment on Wednsday at the Pro-Am which includes 4 regular guys playing alongside one of the pros. The guys had to chip in $1200 apiece for the priviledge but the money went towards the sponsoring charity, the Heart Institute at Virginia Mason, which happens to be the hospital where my dear Mom born me 47 years ago.
I walked alongside the winner of the 2005 Champions TPC, Mike Reid. Mike is a super nice guy, very quite but speaks volumes when he does. He helped these guys out with yardage and advice when he could while still focusing on preparation for the upcoming big money rounds to come. After 9 holes and feeling comfortable with my equipment I bid the group farewell to just let them just have fun with no one observing except a great guy like Mike who happens to be a pro.
Mike was -3 for the 9 holes and was looking solid. He liked the way the Nicklaus designed course was laid out and the way the surrounding development interacted with the beautiful views of the cascade foothills. He also offered me a signed ball and took the time to pose for a picture, which I will always look upon as a sign of what I have defined as a true professional in every sense of the word.
I gotta tell ya the practice round with Mike and the 4 hackers was even a little bit more fun than with the other 3 pros on Friday when it really counted. It was all business on Friday and you were really only focused on not making mistakes. Yes there were hundreds of well mannered fans there but the only time I noticed them was as if I was the one hitting the ball and there was a distraction to be heard or seen.
I really walked away with the understanding of the fine line of concentration that's necessary to perform a great golf shot under pressure. You wouldn't think it would really affect you at that level but it's been elavated to such an extreme on the tour. These guys litterally need all the co-operation of every person within earshot to not get rattled. It's that important that every shot is a chance to excel and win or just get your paycheck and move on to the next chance at keeping your card and your job.
Now walking up the 18th fairway with all the crowds and grandeur of a finishing hole is a world in itself. This is where all the hospitality tents are set up and many were ignorant of the real reason why they were even there. I suppose these guys are used to it but it was much noiser around the green than all the other holes with many people more interested in talking it up and sipping mixed drinks with their boss,wives,girlfriends and buddies than watching the game being played below them.
Even though it was just the first day these guys played their hearts out. All you wanted to do besides your volunteer job well was shut everybody the heck up, lift the ropes when needed, and clear the path in between holes. Just give em every chance to not blame Seattle and its fans for not shooting the best shots possible.
After all, the players are the ones who decide where they play and where we get to enjoy great, memorable golf.
Anyone can apply as a volunteer anywhere there is a PGA tournament. I hear some folks even follow the tour city to city like groupies.
My first was the 1998 PGA Championship at Sahalee G.C., where I was assigned to post scores in the media center and won by Fiji born Vijay Singh. I think it was because of my good penmanship on my application. My longtime good buddy Rick Watts (terrible penmanship) was assigned to transportation. Maybe it was his good driving record but it was still better than environmental control (garbage) and he got to meet some pros in person.
It was Rick who gave me the heads up on the volunteering angle of getting into these tourneys cheap while seeing a lot of the behind the scenes action, which as a true golf fan is invaluable as you can imagine.
My second was the 2002 NEC Invitational again held at Sahalee and won by aussie Craig Parry. At this one Rick and I were assigned the same task of on-course shuttle drivers. Our shifts were also the same which worked out good.
We had a great time running folks around the course and the surrounding streets. Met a lot of nice people who appreciated our services very much and even scored a few tip$.
Ok on to the most recent job of a lifetime, next to being on the tour. As a walking scorer you walk the round inside the ropes with the players and caddies recording every shot into a hand held Palm Pilot which feeds to the ShotLink scoring trailer. You also use a walkie-talkie headset in case official communication is needed by the players or in the case of medical emergency with your group or anywhere along the course.
The responsibility of being a walking scorer is immense. The laser shot crew needs immediate accurate input to do their job well, the media wants their instant info and the players will also compare scores with you at the end of the round in the scoring tent. Besides the media and a PGA official, you are the only other person allowed in the tent with the players.
My group Friday included Jim Dent, Rocky Thompson, and long drive winner Lon Hinkle. Not a particulary well known group of household names as far as pros go but each very cabable of the difficult task of consistent scoring to hang onto a place very many pros and non-pros alike would love to call a job. It is a great retirment plan if you can get it.
I practiced my assignment on Wednsday at the Pro-Am which includes 4 regular guys playing alongside one of the pros. The guys had to chip in $1200 apiece for the priviledge but the money went towards the sponsoring charity, the Heart Institute at Virginia Mason, which happens to be the hospital where my dear Mom born me 47 years ago.
I walked alongside the winner of the 2005 Champions TPC, Mike Reid. Mike is a super nice guy, very quite but speaks volumes when he does. He helped these guys out with yardage and advice when he could while still focusing on preparation for the upcoming big money rounds to come. After 9 holes and feeling comfortable with my equipment I bid the group farewell to just let them just have fun with no one observing except a great guy like Mike who happens to be a pro.
Mike was -3 for the 9 holes and was looking solid. He liked the way the Nicklaus designed course was laid out and the way the surrounding development interacted with the beautiful views of the cascade foothills. He also offered me a signed ball and took the time to pose for a picture, which I will always look upon as a sign of what I have defined as a true professional in every sense of the word.
I gotta tell ya the practice round with Mike and the 4 hackers was even a little bit more fun than with the other 3 pros on Friday when it really counted. It was all business on Friday and you were really only focused on not making mistakes. Yes there were hundreds of well mannered fans there but the only time I noticed them was as if I was the one hitting the ball and there was a distraction to be heard or seen.
I really walked away with the understanding of the fine line of concentration that's necessary to perform a great golf shot under pressure. You wouldn't think it would really affect you at that level but it's been elavated to such an extreme on the tour. These guys litterally need all the co-operation of every person within earshot to not get rattled. It's that important that every shot is a chance to excel and win or just get your paycheck and move on to the next chance at keeping your card and your job.
Now walking up the 18th fairway with all the crowds and grandeur of a finishing hole is a world in itself. This is where all the hospitality tents are set up and many were ignorant of the real reason why they were even there. I suppose these guys are used to it but it was much noiser around the green than all the other holes with many people more interested in talking it up and sipping mixed drinks with their boss,wives,girlfriends and buddies than watching the game being played below them.
Even though it was just the first day these guys played their hearts out. All you wanted to do besides your volunteer job well was shut everybody the heck up, lift the ropes when needed, and clear the path in between holes. Just give em every chance to not blame Seattle and its fans for not shooting the best shots possible.
After all, the players are the ones who decide where they play and where we get to enjoy great, memorable golf.
