Having been a fan of golf for roughly 20 years at that time, I was familiar with some of America’s most televised courses. There were always the ‘A’ list venues: Augusta, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach. Then there were the best of the rest, mostly near the west: Kapalua, Torrey Pines, Riviera, Scottsdale. Other popular tour stops were Whistling Straits, Medina, and Firestone in the Midwest and Bethpage Black on Long Island. But down South, there were always two courses that had the TV networks drooling over how stunning they looked: Doral & Bay Hill. Of all the golf courses that hosted PGA events every year, I had only set foot on a few of them. Of these dozen or so “super venues”, only one prior to this occasion. Bay Hill Club & Lodge was as gorgeous as any other sports venue I have ever visited. The place radiated tradition, with symbols of greatness in every direction. Even before I recognized the famous faces of golfers and celebrities, Bay Hill itself was a shining star that gave me chills just walking the grounds. There was the famous par-5 6th hole that bends around a lake. There was probably the largest greenside bunker I have ever seen at the par-3 17th. Then there was the green at 18, which I immediately recognized from vivid memories of screaming in my living room back in 2008 after Tiger Woods dramatic putt dropped in for a win… then again in 2009. I was aware that I was in the physical presence of this historic piece of the golf world; a spectacular follow-up to the a private golf outing I had treated myself to at Disney’s Lake Buena Vista that morning. Now I was at an actual PGA super venue that was oozing with world class professionals and greatness.
First of all, no… Tiger Woods was not in the field nor was he in attendance that week. But there were probably 50 other golfers that I saw and recognized. It is worth noting that this was not a competition day; it was a pro-am which meant that one pro was paired with four amateurs who paid a handsome fee to experience a day in the life of a PGA Tour pro. So while the course was in picture-perfect condition and the play serious, the mood was relaxed and the players were relatively casual as they joked with their amateur playing partners and greeted fans between holes. Kevin Na was petting a dog while waiting for the fairway to clear before teeing off. Ernie Els expertly chipped a ball that landed outside the green but rolled to within one foot of the hole. Rory McIlroy confidently held his finish after every drive from the tee and every iron shot from the fairway. Hideki Matsuyama used every part of his 5’11” frame to blast drives over 300 yards. Getting to watch golf at its highest level was both impressive and inspiring. Even though I was by myself, I felt welcomed into the community of golf fans and spectators, especially since I was not the only one there without a companion.
One guy that I talked to had a camera set up on a tripod behind the 6th tee. He said that he was a golf instructor and goes around to the different tournaments as part of his job requirements but also for his own enjoyment. He must have noticed my U.S. Navy ballcap since he thanked me for my service. We talked about all kinds of golf related topics. How different courses are designed around the country, how private courses differ from public ones, how different types of golfers perform and behave, and some of the hidden benefits of the game that we both have come to love. As much as this photographer golf instructor guy was on another level than I was in terms of knowledge and experience, it was clear that we still shared a common interest in dissecting the game as well as enjoying a nice conversation. We talked for about a half hour, which was almost as long as I talked with the volunteer event worker off the 18th fairway. He talked about the perks of working the event, life in Florida, and being unable to witness some of the most historic moments because the crowds get too large and loud during those times. I was having so much fun immersed in the tournament environment that forgot to plan for one important part of the afternoon.
How would I get back to the hotel?
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