Sunday final round

Wow - what a tournament - drama right to the end with three of the biggest names in golf trying to overtake a couple of unknown's who ended up 1st and 2nd.

My plan for the day was to go early and walk backward from 18 for a few holes then head to the driving range. I stopped at 17 for my breakfast/lunch and sat at a table overlooking 18 and Stillwater Cover - what a site. I heard a couple at the next table talking when they mentioned Indianapolis. I asked if that was where they were from and sure enough they were - what a coincidence! They had come on Sunday and had been at the tournament everyday including the practice rounds - there are some loyal fans.

I then stopped at the tee box for #'s 17 & 4 - it's one big tee box. Not a bad place to watch. You can see groups finishing up on 3 and other groups teeing off on 17 and 4 all in one spot. I then started working my way up 3 until I got to the tee box on # 2 and watched some groups tee off. Then I worked my way to the driving range. It's interesting that the driving range is outside of the tournament gates. So, you wouldn't need a ticket to simply go and watch the players warm up. I got there about an hour and a half before the final tee times. Here you get to see all of the players in contention. It was interesting that has players would work there way on to the range a few people would yell encouragement but when Phil entered he got a roaring ovation. And then came Tiger - wow - another roaring ovation - almost a standing ovation - isn't interesting that in the end they tied.

I find it really interesting to watch the pros warm up on the range working their way through the bag. What is most amazing is how easy they seem to swing - even with their drivers, and always - always ending their shots in perfect balance - never over swinging - like all of us. There is no doubt in my mind that the single best swing improvement any of us amateurs can do is to learn to swing rhythmically and in balance - much like we do when we hit a lay up shot.

What a great experience. I got lucky with my assignments. Mine were all on the course. Many of the volunteers had assignments inside merchandise tents, or directing traffic or somewhere away from the tournament. Next year the tournament is the Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland - I'm filling out my application as soon as I can!




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Saturday

My official duties as a volunteer ended Thursday so I'm free to enjoy the Open. Today I positioned myself around 15, 14, and 13 and simply watched as the players came through. The weather here has been magnificent - sunny in the mid 50's, which the locals tell us highly unusually. They call this time of year the June Clooms. Since pictures aren't allowed once the tournament starts I'm including some pictures that Margaret took at the Carmel Mission while I was at the tournament.

The crowds are unbelievable. This course isn't really designed for spectators so viewing areas are limited and very crowded. As usual, the big crowds are following Tiger and Phil. If you were watching on TV it had to be exciting watching the Tiger charge. Tomorrow should be very interesting.


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Carmel Mission Inn Photos

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Sailing pictures

Friday we took a day off from golf and took a two hour sailing tour (sounds like what Gilligan did). Turns out we were the only passengers. Our captain was Chris (in the yellow jacket). We left the pier at Monterey Bay and sailed out to sea. Chris let me steer the boat for the last hour of the trip - and we still made it back. My record was 8 knots while tacking into a 19 knot wind. Margaret was hanging on for dear life. At times the boat was tilting was much that one side was level with the water.












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Margaret sailing video

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Sea Lions video

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Location:Pier at Monterey Bay

Thursday's post

I'm finding it easier to do the day before's post the next morning. We're starting to get into a routine - I head out around 8 AM to Peets Coffee (the company that was the origin to Starbucks) about two blocks from our lime green Travel Lodge. I grab some coffee and a paper and then settle in for the day's post. Margaret joins me around 9 AM and we map out our day.

Yesterday, the first day of the tournament, I worked the 5 - 9 PM shift. I wanted to get there a little early to watch some of the tournament. So after our lunch (see picture below) Margaret dropped me off at the volunteer shuttle lot and off I went. From 2 - 5 I parked myself inside the ropes on the side of the 13th fairway where the spectators weren't allowed. This gave me an unobstructed view of the players as they played the hole. And, yes Tiger, Westwood and Els all came through. From my spot at the 13th I could see part's of the 8th, most of the 9th and 10th. You could tell where Tiger, Westwood, Els group was by watching the sea of people move in unison like a swarm of bees has the group progressed through each hole. As they neared the 13th the first sign of their approaching was in increase in media people, then security, then spotters, then USGA officials and then the swarm started forming on the other side of the 13th fairway. After they completed the 13th it was like a evacuation siren went off suddenly no crowd.

My job for the day was to collect the bids from the caddies as they came to the 9th hole scoring tent with their player. This turned out to be a very interesting assignment. The 9th hole scoring tent was positioned on the 13th fairway away from the spectators. These were the groups that started their rounds on 10 and finished on 9. So, about every 15 to 20 minutes three players, their caddies, and their "player guests" would head to the scorer's tent. We would collect the bibs from the caddies, who would hang around until the player's came out of the tent. Then the players and caddies would gather their group and ask us how to get back to the player's hospitality area. So we were "up close and personal" with this entire group that included Tom Watson, Kenny Perry, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Ryan Moore, Aaron Baddeley, etc. Tiger started on 1, so the bib collectors working 18 get to see him.

Today - I'm taking a day off from the tournament. We're going to take a sail boat tour on Monterey Bay this afternoon and then back to Spanish Bay for dinner.






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Location:Peet's Coffee Monetrey

Lunch at Spanish Bay Inn

Overlooking then first hole at Spanish Bay



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Wednesday's activity

Today was a day off from golf. After breakfast we headed to Big Sur driving down the very scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 - enjoy the video and pictures:


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Big Sur

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Big Sur McWay falls

This is about 35 miles south of Monterey

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Big Sur # 10

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Big Sur # 9 - Bixby Bridge

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Big Sur # 8

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Big Sur # 7

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Big Sur # 6

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Big Sur # 5

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Big Sur # 4

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Big Sur # 3

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Big Sur # 2

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Big Sur # 1

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Today I'm taking a break from the tournament saving up my energy for tomorrow where I'll be on the course from noon 'till 9PM - the first five hours as a spectator and the final four working my shift - the 9th green again.

Today we'll mill around Monterey and Carmel and then later this afternoon we'll head down the coast on highway 1 to Big Sur taking in the view and ending up at the Post Ranch Inn for a late dinner. By the time we get back I'll be too sleepy to do a post so I'm getting it in a little early.

Below are our accommodations in Monterey - the Travel Lodge (a very loose use of the word "lodge") - you might be able to see it right behind the Chevron station! Luckily the bed is comfortable and the room has been updated recently, but still pretty small. Closet space is an 18" rod, so when we needed some extra hanging space Margaret created the "iron board" closet - see below.








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Tuesday's posting a day late

I failed at getting a posting in yesterday - so you get two today - I think. Since my official duties at Caddie HQ was completed five minutes after I arrived, I volunteered to fill a vacancy at the 10th tee - we had a no show. My duties at the 10th tee - stand and look official. I'm finding out that they ended up with 6,200 volunteers! Looking around the course there seem to be as many volunteers as spectators. They run the AT&T Pebble Beach tournament, that is played on three courses here, with only 2,000 volunteers - we are vastly overstaffed.

While "working" the 10th tee I get tapped on the shoulder by the two guys below - some home town Kentucky boys, one of which I've played golf with at Sharon and Perry's (sister and brother-in-law) course in Scottsville, KY. They were following Kenny Perry - that' him teeing off below.







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Caddie HQ up close and personal

This was where I was assigned on Tuesday. Our responsibility when working at HQ was to get all of the caddies registered. By the time my shift started on Tuesday (1:30) all but one caddie had already registered. Just as I was reporting for duty the last caddie was signing in - so in essence I had no more responsibilities for the day.

Despite being tucked away from everything else, their "tent" is actually a wellness center. They have a buffet of food all day, plenty of beverages and the best part, a chiropractor on site and four message therapist at the ready. Imagine hauling a golf bag around a very hilly course for seven straight days. The only caddie I saw was "Bones" - Phil's caddie.








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Caddie HQ

The caddie hospitality "tent" is tucked back at the end of the area where all of the players park their Lexus SUV's - provided to each player as a courtesy - soon to appear on some Lexus dealer's lot as a "special" US Open demo at $10,000 over sticker!

If you look really hard past the vehicles you'll see the caddie tent:



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I'm official

As with any organization there is a hierarchy - and the Caddie Hospitality committee is toward to bottom of the volunteer group. The badge to have is one that says "All Access" at the bottom - note mine has nothing. But, it does get me in the gate everyday of the tournament.




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At the Open (US that is)

Left SF this morning (Monday) and got to Monterey around noon - after a quick stop at the In N Out Burger - just can't pass up that opportunity! Got checked into our fine accommodations - an old Travel Lodge in downtown Monterey. I'll send a picture of it tomorrow but suffice it to say it sits between a Marathon gas station and a Denny's - that should help set the stage. Supposedly we have free Wi-Fi in the room but the signal is so low that I'm having better luck with 3G. The room isn't all that bad - I guess with the outrages prices they're charging for the Open they've been able to do some upgrading.

Below are a few pictures from the Monday practice round. My official duties for the day was to stand by the 9th green with my partner - a local - and collect the Caddies bibs and towels. Guess what - the caddies don't where bibs during practice rounds and almost all have their own towels. So our take for the entire day - that includes the three shift before ours was - one towel! The best part was being up close and personal while the golfers were practicing various shots around the green. Wonder why these guys are so much better than us? The last player to come through was Ernie Els. It was almost dusk but he spent at least 20 minutes chipping shots from about 3 feet off the green to different areas of the green where he and his caddie think the hole placements will be. He didn't do much putting - mostly chipping - at least 40 to 50 balls. And, unlike most courses where the 9th green is next to the club house, Pebble's 9th green is at the farthest point (except for the 10th) from the club house and the walk back is all up hill. But, here was Ernie chipping and chipping - and this was just one green.

Tomorrow I'm stationed at the Caddie Hospitality HQ from 1:30 - 5:15. This will be the last day pictures are allowed. More tomorrow.......




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On the job

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Davis Love III

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Entrance

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Number 6

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Duck Boat Video - I Hope

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Duck boat

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A cultural day spent in San Farncisco

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Sunday

It's 11:27 PM in San Francisco (that's 2:30 AM in Indy) - we've been up for over 20 hours and dead tired. Our flights were right on time and we actually got here a little early. Since this is our one day in SF we wanted to pack it in. We wanted to do something cultural. You know, something to expand our horizons - the Art Museum? No - the Science & Industry Museum? NO - the Opra, the Ballet - No & No - What did we do - The Duck Boat Tour!!! And wow was it fun. Enjoy the pics and the video - tomorrow we head to the Open.






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Post

Here’s the plan. I'll use this post as to chronicle my experience as a volunteer at the US Open which starts Monday the 14. I’ll give it my best shot to post something every day (I’m sure your excited about that). Writing is not my thing, but as most of you know, I’ll be in the company of a very prolific writer (Margaret) who may stand in on occasion. On those days be sure to set aside some time for a fairly long, but very interesting post.

So here is how this whole thing started. I received an email last fall from the 2010 US Open committee looking for volunteers. I had never worked a tournament before but thought it might be interesting. When I mentioned it to Margaret she encouraged me to apply - so I did. I really didn't think I would get accepted. They wanted to know if I had worked a tournament before - NO. Did I live near the tournament venue - NO. Had I ever officiated a tournament - NO. And then the big question - how old are you - I figured 60+ would certainly be a deal killer. Surprise surprise I got accepted. Then I found out they needed 5,000 volunteers!

Next we had to select our desired work assignments. My first choice was to work the driving range. There I would see every player and caddie and maybe get some tips on how they go about practicing effectively, from which I would learn, take home, and beat all my golf buddies. I didn't get that assignment - so golf buddies - you're safe for now.

My biggest fear was that I would get assigned to emptying the Port-a-Lets! But, I got lucky – I’m assigned to the Caddie Hospitality Committee - one of 67. What I know at the present is that our primary job is to issue the caddies their vest and a towel, then collect the vest and towel when their round is finished. Oh - and to make sure the player's name is spelled correctly on the caddie’s vest. Had they given me a spelling test on the application I wouldn't have gotten this assignment. I like this assignment. You don't hear much about caddies, so it will be interesting to get an inside look at a part of the professional game that isn't covered by the media. Should I ask Stevie for the sordid details of Tiger's demise?

Volunteering is a bit of a misnomer. You have to pay $165 for your "outfits" - which isn't a bad deal. If I’ve done this right there is a video below showing goods. The real volunteering cost is the hotel (minimum stay 7 nights at probably 4 times the normal rate) rental car, food and airfare...... it all adds up.

The bonus is that volunteers only work three shifts on three different days (each shift is about 5 hours) and when you're not working, the volunteer badge gets you into the tournament. And for those of you who might be asking - don't you get to play the course the Monday after the tournament for free - well that was my first question. Answer - NO. With 5,000 volunteers that would be logistically impossible – or at least that’s their excuse. Couldn’t they give us voucher?

Margaret will be joining me on the venture but has no interest in attending the tournament, so she will be chauffeuring me back and forth to the Volunteer’s Shuttle Bus Lot at Cal State U in Monterey. Other than that she’ll have a week to explore.

We leave Sunday morning for San Francisco where we’ll spend the before heading down to Monterey. My first assignment is the “late” shift at the Monday practice round. They probably figured a novice volunteer couldn’t do much harm at the end of the day on the first day of practice.

Next post will be late Sunday from San Francisco.



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Video

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