I love golf. This is not news to anyone that knows me. And as a non-professional golfer, I am a fairly decent player. I hit the ball a long way off the tee, my long irons are iffy, and my putting is getting better. When I am not playing golf, I am usually watching it on television. The Golf Channel is on more that my wife would prefer, but what can she do? She is married to a golf nut.
Until this weekend, as much as I love the game, there is one thing that I had never had the priviledge of doing, and that is attend a live PGA Tour event. My daughter and I were fortunate enough to get a couple free passes to the practice round and Junior Golf Day at the Memorial yesterday. It was amazing to witness these golfers we had seen on TV for years up close and personal. We purchased a flag, and even got a few autographs. (My daughter was speechless when Rory McIlroy walked up to her and signed her flag.) I stood and watched one of my all-time favorites, Ernie Els, practice putting for about 20 minutes. A fascinating process. I am also going back on Saturday and am really looking forward to these guys actually hit in competition.
As we walked the grounds and watched the players a few things stood out. One, these guys really do hit the ball a LONG way. Even guys we had never heard of could bomb the ball 350 yards right down the middle. Next, most of the players are very nice and personable. They take time to talk with the fans, sign autographs, and show they care. I really appreciated that. Finally, the course is amazingly beautiful, but television really does not really do justice to the elevation changes and the undulations in the greens. They try with their computer graphics and charts, but until you actually walk the course, you have no idea how hilly it is. Plus, having played mostly public courses, I have never hit off of fairways that tight or pristine, and the tee boxes were like most of the greens I play. Which leads me to the point of this posting.
On Wednesday at most professional golf tourneys there is a Pro-Am tournament going on. This was no exception yesterday at the Memorial. There were 3 amatuer players paired with a professional player, and at the Memorial, they were top name players. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, among others. As I watched some of these poor guys hack it around with their pros, I wondered what it must be like to be inside the ropes with a tour pro, if only for just 18 holes. The amatuers even had caddies with their names on the back of the bibs How cool is that!?!!? So, yesterday, it became my mission to find out. #1 on my "bucket list" is now to play in a pro-am!
I am not sure how one gets to enter a pro-am tournament, but I have heard that it involves a very large entry fee, sometimes up to $15,000 or more, which of course goes to charity. That's great, except that I work for a charity; a small, non-profit, homeless shelter and $15K is almost half of my annual salary. I also have a daughter with special needs which tends to place an extra burden on the family budget. Thus, I just don't believe my "financial advisor" would allow me to spend than we paid for my car on one round of golf. I payed $75 once at a really nice course I had been wanting to play for some time and she griped for weeks.
So, here is my quandry. How does an average guy, who loves golf, and is just trying to make the world around him a better place, get into a pro-am tournament? I can't afford to join a country club, and usually play budget golf. I have a discount book that I use at local courses, frequent GolfNow.com and other discount sites, and hate paying more than $30 for a round. I dream of one day playing Pebble Beach, Whistling Straights, Torrey Pines, and Pinehurst #2 is #1 on my list, but have never played any of the top 100 courses in the United States. One of those may happen someday, but dropping $10,000 on a pro am will not. There must be a way for budget conscience golfer to get invited and participate in a pro-am.
I have seen contests where entrants win a spot in a pro-am, and I always enter, but my history in winning things like that is typically "Thanks for entering! You will be notified if you are a winner." I am never notified. I do win the occassional golf club or hat, but never anything beyond that. Another option is to quit my awesome job at the shelter for homeless families and become a professional golfer. I could be the "Pro" in the pro-am. I have actually discussed this plan with my "financial advisor" and while I cannot repeat her response word for word, her demise and pigs sprouting wings on the same day were mentioned.
Perhaps my best chance may be to find one of those wealthy corporate sponsors that needs a 4th to complete their team, and hope they pick me based on my game. I am a 7 handicap after all, I could help a pro-am team. While there are certain professional golfers that I would prefer to play a round with, I am not picky as long as I am in a pro-am. Thus, if you have a team and are in need of a 4th, please email me. I am a really nice guy, don't drink beer, love a good joke, and play well under pressure.
You never know, this just might work.
Hit 'em straight!
