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My player this week is Il Mi Chung
Monday: The pro-am was scheduled for today and tomorrow so all I
could walk was nine holes. Long and tough with slick greens and deep
rough. Just the way a major should be set up. I came out late to get the
back nine done after we practiced but that was cut short due to a sever
thunder storm. The funky pro-am format resulted in six hour rounds and the
last few teams couldn't finish. The pro plays her own ball and the
amateurs could only play off her tee ball but not any other shots. They
play a scramble the rest of the way with no help from the pro. The best
ball of the team is recorded. As you may imagine, less accomplished players
have a tough time if the pro is having a bad day.
- Two of the longest par fives we play are on this track. Number two
at 555 yards and number eleven at a whopping 596! There is no step cut
so if you miss the fairway you're in the deep stuff. The greens are scalped
and rolled every day.
Tuesday: First out of the box for the pro-am and it still took
us 5:40 to play. It was worth it though, made my biggest tip ever.
Wednesday: Played the back nine with Leta Lindley and her
husband Matt. One of the perks for a husband/caddie is that walking the
course is optional. That was the case for this twosome so I lent a hand on
targets off the tees for the blind holes. A bit of practice after lunch and
we were done. With this heat (85°+) rest may be the
best preparation.
- This McDonald's Championship has lost much of the flavor, literally,
of past events. The absence the McDonald's food trailer with it's
aroma of burgers and fries is starkly evident. The humongous Ronald
McDonald inflatable that was precipitously perched atop the Dupont
club house is also MIA. Though this monstrosity will not be missed,
you knew right from the start whom was footing the bill. In fact, you
have to look very closely for any signs of 'The Golden Arches'. I
heard the food trailer was nixed to optimize revenue for the current concessionaires.
Sure will miss my annual Quarter with cheese and a large fry in the
middle of a steamy afternoon!
- A few other belt tightening decisions were made that's not sitting
well with the caddies. Our long time caddie masters, Sam Lloyd and Roy
Smith, haven't received the treatment of past years deserving of their
contribution. Having to pay for their accommodations so far from home,
scrounging for a box of donuts for the caddie area and having to bring
in their own coffee pot are just a few annoyances associated with this
year's event. As a result, this event bodes farewell to our compadres.
The basic organization seems lacking. A whole new group of volunteers
surely contributes to disarray.
- The course is one of the better lay-outs I've seen but the main
practice putting green is a bit of a conundrum. It has no semblance to
the undulating greens on the course but that a plot of turf prepared
for lawn bowling. Put some rails on it and you would have one gigantic
billiard table! Trying to get a feel for the topsy-turvy breaking
putts encountered during your round is all but impossible.
- A shortcut through from the third green to the next tee takes
us through the trees over a low wooden walkway. Sherri Steinhauer found
out the hard way that soft-spiked golf shoes and wet wood don't mix.
During yesterday's pro-am she took a tumble on the ice-like surface
but managed to finish the round. Sand was later scattered about to
provide a bit of traction.
- A contrast in decorum; Michelle Wie refused a request from a
teenaged fan to sign a souvenir pellet stating "I don't sign golf
balls". While Brittany Lincicome, after a late pro-am time, drove
to Baltimore for a TV interview, came back after eleven, then arose
early for a seven o'clock radio interview. Think Michelle may be
getting some wayward advice?
- The new catch phrase for the LPGA is "These Girls Rock"! I
only wish it was true.
- Jamie Hullet finds a new cadero on the bag after Wilksie switched
over to Mi Hyun Kim when Kimmy's looper was called up to 'the show'.
Jamie's dad Larry, a avid reader of The Caddie Corner, will be toting
his daughter's bag for the week. Keep cool Larry and lay off the
brewkies this week!
Larry and Jamie
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Cindy |
Pat |
Thursday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
A perfect morning for a round of golf and Il Mi took advantage.
The greens were holding, dead calm till the last four holes and
only a couple nasty lies in the rough to deal with. I mentioned it
was my birthday today and Il Mi asked what would I like for a
present? I responded "Two under par". Almost got it.
Finished at -1 concluding with a bird on eighteen. The bird doesn't
seem to remarkable except for the fact we had to hit a four iron,
off a hook lie, to a left front pin, guarded with water on the left.
She stuck it within seven feet and snuck in the putt on the low
side.
- The field staff came to their senses and moved up the 596
yard eleventh hole about 25 yards. Now we can hit three metal
past the 17 yard wide neck in the fairway and have a
reasonable shot to the green.
- They really scalped a few of the greens and tomorrow's pin
on the third hole is in just such an area. It looks like mowed
dirt right now so I can't imagine what it'll be like when we
play it late tomorrow.
- Lisa watch continues; Lisa Kiggens returns, after a
few weeks off, on her quest for 'rookie caddie of the year'.
She's made seven cuts in a row and the pressure is on her
current bag, Michelle Estill, to keep the streak alive. Oops!
Finished at +7. Need to bring it tomorrow..
- How about this group? Annika, Natalie Gulbis and Gloria Park
shot a combined 10 under par!
- My computer seemed to be lost in 'UPS Hell' with time
running out for a delivery this week. After further
investigation, seems they sent it back to the Super 8 in
Corning for the second time! An apology and promise of next
day air delivery to my current address was offered to smooth
things out.
- Angela Jerman shot 88! What the heck has happened to her
game?
- Found three new Titleist still in the box on the practice
green. The initials marked on the balls were BK. Ring a bell
'Motorcycle Jim'? Jim works for Betsy King and she was on the
second hole by the time they were noticed. Souvenirs for the
green's marshal.
- Notice anything odd about this picture?
The car in the middle is mine! The a-hole behind
me must think my car has wings. Luckily, the auto in front was a
tournament vehicle and was able to be moved.
Figures the a-hole would have a vanity plate.
Yeah, maxed out of brains!
Friday: Bunted it around and putted her
butt off for a super round of 4 under par. Missed a 4 foot birdie
putt on the last hole and it was a harbinger of things to come.
Too much thinking and not enough playing.
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Seems the concessionaires this week do not
have the food handling standards McDonald's strives for. The
main concession tent near the clubhouse was threatened with
closure from health inspectors if improvements weren't made.
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Parking is the main nightmare this week with
caddies and even some players being turned away from the lot.
This did not dissuade the most determined though, daring the
police to arrest them and driving on was a maneuver that got
them a spot.
Saturday: Our easygoing style that put us
at -5 the last two days just wasn't good enough for Il Mi today.
As we headed down the first fairway she stressed that outside distractions
were to be avoided and we should just pay attention to ourselves.
That kind of thinking puts more emphasis on were you stand and
tension replaces relaxed confidence. It showed with an abomination
of errors that resulted in a round of 79 strokes! You dance with
the one that brought ya.
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Lisa's streak has come to an end with Michelle
Estill missing the cut at +7. Time to start another one.
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Now I'm getting pissed; My computer
arrived and is worse off then when I sent it in. Besides still
running slowly, it seems to be sensing an over-heating
situation, the fan runs continuously, and shuts itself off.
I'll be sending it back again next week. They think it may be
the mother board. Really?
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Wendy Ward's caddie Carl ( The Machine), had
an intestinal volcanic attack on the course yesterday, rivaling
anything found South of the boarder, and couldn't finish the
round. The doctor guessed that too many Powerades may have
been the culprit but waiting an hour to eat the sandwich that
Wendy gave him with the advice of "Eat this now before it
spoils" may be a close second.
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Figuring his player, Wendy Doolan, missed the
cut at +5 and wanting to get back home to Mississippi before
the tropical storm hit, Tex headed for the Philly airport,
returned his rental car and checked his bags awaiting word
from his wife with assurance that he had the weekend off.
Fifteen minutes before departure the call came that he made it
on the number. The bags came off, the one-way ticket rescheduled
at a higher cost than the original round trip and a new
rental car acquired at an exorbitant premium. OUCH! Play hard
Wendy!
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A fitting farewell for Sam and Roy and their
association with the McDonald's Championship these past
seventeen years. Thanks for the memories guys.
Nancy Lopez Stops By to Pay Her Respects
Sunday:
Back to relaxed mode and it paid off. Shot -1 and finished
25th. Off to Rochester
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