Down to the Locker room for breakfast. Nothing but sugar and carbs, no protein what so ever. But eggs are available in the caddie tent, so Connor gets me some. I hope it is not like this all week, Minda will be very disappointed.
Up to the range to hit Pro V-1s for range balls at a space with my own name placard.
Head to the first tee for my 7:52 tee time and meet Greg Bruckner, Vic Wilk and Jeff Hart. I know them and they all know me: Bruckner from mini-tour days. Wilk from junior golf and Hart from San Diego golf. This is a great group for me for we are very social throughout the round. Did I mention it is hot already?
What a golf course!!!. All but one hole has elevation to deal with. The only shots downhill to greens are on par-3's. Every par-4 but one requires an uphill second shot, to only non-up hill second shot is on the 477 par-4 8th. Only on the 8th hole and the par-3's are the lies flat for shots into the green. I have never encountered a course that has so much unevenness and elevation change into greens. Including the par-5's, as listed on the card, there are only 5 five birdie opportunities. The two additional birdie opportunities are the two short par 4's on the back. I did get some applause on #17 when I backed up a wedge to within a couple feet of the hole, not that I could see that.
My "3-D" club is working great. I am able to keep up with Bruckner and Hart, who finished 6th in the Senior Players Championship two weeks ago. The fairways aren't particularly tight, and in fact are fairly wide. I think the elevation is providing enough challenge without putting exceptional demand on the tee ball.
If you miss the green by more than a 5 yards, you really have very little chance of getting up and down, unless you are in a bunker where you can get some spin. But no matter where you are you must commit to the shot and be solid with your hands through the grass and the ball.
Did I mentioned it is hot! I must of consumed a half dozen 1/2 liter bottles of water.
I gave my autograph about 10 times this today. Most people have a embroidered flag on a piece of cardboard for us to sign. Gave one to a boy who must have been three and a gentleman in a scooter.
Back to the locker room for lunch. Jeff Hart asked Connor and me to join him and we had a nice conversation. Lunch was much better with a small sandwich bar and hot dogs and sausages. Michael Allen sat down with us for a little bit as well. He attended UN-Reno while I was at UOP.
Three dozen Pro V-1s and two Titleist hats were in my locker when I arrived. But no clothes from Nike. So I am worried, neither Connor or I packed more than clothes through today.
Connor received his tour of the media areas and may get to go into the NBC trucks later in the week.
As Connor took his tour, I hung in the cool locker room. When I checked my locker one more time a box from Nike was on top, but it only contained pants for me and shorts for Connor, no shirts. I called Nike when I returned to the hotel and was told that because I had logos on the shirts, GMGC and PGA Certified Professional, they wouldn't arrive until Wednesday! Why wasn't I told this last week! Having the shirts was much more important than the logos, but I was never given the opportunity to make that known to Nike because I was never told the logos would delay the shipment! Nothing drives me crazier than vendors or businesses that do not communicate issues with customers, it happened with receiving the king bed Saturday night instead of the two queens. Tell your customers what is happening. I hope I am good at that with my GMGC customers.
So a trip to the Laundromat tomorrow morning.
Saw Jeff Brehaut near the locker room today with his reading glassed hanging from the placket of his shirt. We are old! Had a short conversation as he headed to the tee.
Back to the hotel to relax, to Dillards to purchase some heat and humidity fighting underwear, sponsored by my mother in law. Yeah, I know TMI!
Late tee time tomorrow with Duffy Waldorf, currently fifth in the power rankings.
So far so good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your opinion on vendor and business communication. Its either hubris or fear driven; I can never tell which one is the primary cause, I just dislike it in the extreme.