Volunteering at the SBS Open
Did a volunteering gig with Wayne's World this past weekend at the LPGA's opening event of the year, the SBS Open. Volunteered on Friday and Saturday, the last 2 rounds, from about 6:30am to 5:00pm on the first day, and from 8:00am to 5:00pm the Final Round.
Volunteers rise early and gather for their assignments.
We were assigned as on course marshalls for the Par 3 13th hole.
After a quick free breakfast of bagels, danish, muffins, and coffee, we were on our way. We got hooked up with this cool older fella who's been doing this for a couple of years and he showed us where we could park on course and also where the good spots were to retrieve balls from the lake and the bushes.
View of the 13th from the green.
Just like Augusta!
View of our hole from the tee
Throughout the day, we were able to see the best female players in the world.
The power group of Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb, and another player. I don't think I was supposed to take this shot but I took a chance!
Japanese superstar Ai Miyazato had a large following of photographers and journalists.
An action shot with both Wayne and LPGA sex symbol Natalie Gulbis.
Here was Wayne's favorite, Thai player Virada Nirapathpongporn.
And here's an exlcusive shot of the winner, Paula Creamer! Check out my mad photo skillz! LOL
It was fun to get to see these women up close and personal. You got to see who were buddies and could talk story, while most just hit the ball and didn't say much at all.
I kept special notice of who said hello to us as they walked by to the tee. About 1 out of 10 or so said hello, including Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak and last year's money leader Lorena Ochoa. Morgan Pressel surprisingly went out of her way to say hello both days and even said "thanks you guys for volunteering this week" to us on the final day. Props! I'm also glad to say that my favorite player, Mi Hyun Kim also acknowledged us with a nod hello both days.
All in all, it was a fun experience to see the behind the scenes stuff at a golf tournament. I think next year WW and I might try the walking scoring gig cuz you get to walk the course, although you're with the same group the whole day and can't see everyone like we did this past time.
And the volunteers were very well taken care of. Not only did we receive free golf shirts and visors or caps, we also got a free round of golf at the Turtle Bay Arnold Palmer course, worth around $70-$80. They also threw a party for all the volunteers after the event, feeding us with rice, mac salad, tossed salad, roast pork, shoyu chicken, and cake. There was even beer and wine! Then they topped it off my handing out tons of door prizes such as golf shirts, visors, Titleist and Pinnacle balls, and even 1 night stays at the Turtle Bay, a new 58 degree wedge, and a ukulele worth $500! Unfortunately, both WW and I walked out empty handed.
But it was lots of fun and I'd defintely do it again and I'd recommend it to anyone else who's a golf fan.
Volunteers rise early and gather for their assignments.
We were assigned as on course marshalls for the Par 3 13th hole.
After a quick free breakfast of bagels, danish, muffins, and coffee, we were on our way. We got hooked up with this cool older fella who's been doing this for a couple of years and he showed us where we could park on course and also where the good spots were to retrieve balls from the lake and the bushes.View of the 13th from the green.
Just like Augusta!
View of our hole from the tee
Throughout the day, we were able to see the best female players in the world.The power group of Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb, and another player. I don't think I was supposed to take this shot but I took a chance!
Japanese superstar Ai Miyazato had a large following of photographers and journalists.
An action shot with both Wayne and LPGA sex symbol Natalie Gulbis.
Here was Wayne's favorite, Thai player Virada Nirapathpongporn.
And here's an exlcusive shot of the winner, Paula Creamer! Check out my mad photo skillz! LOL
It was fun to get to see these women up close and personal. You got to see who were buddies and could talk story, while most just hit the ball and didn't say much at all.I kept special notice of who said hello to us as they walked by to the tee. About 1 out of 10 or so said hello, including Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak and last year's money leader Lorena Ochoa. Morgan Pressel surprisingly went out of her way to say hello both days and even said "thanks you guys for volunteering this week" to us on the final day. Props! I'm also glad to say that my favorite player, Mi Hyun Kim also acknowledged us with a nod hello both days.
All in all, it was a fun experience to see the behind the scenes stuff at a golf tournament. I think next year WW and I might try the walking scoring gig cuz you get to walk the course, although you're with the same group the whole day and can't see everyone like we did this past time.
And the volunteers were very well taken care of. Not only did we receive free golf shirts and visors or caps, we also got a free round of golf at the Turtle Bay Arnold Palmer course, worth around $70-$80. They also threw a party for all the volunteers after the event, feeding us with rice, mac salad, tossed salad, roast pork, shoyu chicken, and cake. There was even beer and wine! Then they topped it off my handing out tons of door prizes such as golf shirts, visors, Titleist and Pinnacle balls, and even 1 night stays at the Turtle Bay, a new 58 degree wedge, and a ukulele worth $500! Unfortunately, both WW and I walked out empty handed.
But it was lots of fun and I'd defintely do it again and I'd recommend it to anyone else who's a golf fan.
posted by Myong Choi at 6:56 PM
1 Comments:
Excellent writeup. It was alot of fun and a great experience. It was my first time at any Pro golf tournament. Walking with the gallery at the last four holes on the final day was really exciting with it being so close!
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