My sister-in-law Ann Marie has tickets for the Super Bowl so arrived from Foxboro late Thursday Night. We told her that the trip to Arizona would not be complete if she didn't go to the golf tournament dubbed "The Greatest Show On Grass".
Upon entering the tournament welcome tent, I promptly lost my husband in the crowd. There was record attendance of 120,000 that day. Doesn't anybody work anymore?? It's a friday afternoon! I actually took the day off just for this.
So, we headed to the 16th Green where we had agreed to meet if we were separated. This is probably not the most ideal meeting place, since the 16th hole is the most busiest, craziest, wildest part of the tournament. There is nothing else like it in golf. It's a par 3 of about 160-something yards, surrounded by stands. These 153 corporate boxes cost $45,000 each for a total of $6.9 million - the most profitable 160 yards in all of the PGA.
The roar from the crowd is incredible when you tee off and hit the green, but when you don't hit it, get ready for the BOOs and the taunts.
I did find my husband an hour later behind the 16th green, a beer in his hand and talking to two dark-haired, beautiful ladies which turned out to be sisters. One quickly said "We were just networking." I love it. Is that the new excuse? I thanked them for keeping him company and told him that I'm sure he didn't mind the beautiful escorts.
He told me that he was starving and had to get something to eat at the corporate tents before trying to look for us. He knew we had a meeting place. I railed at him for not answering his phone. I had called him 9 times, left a couple of voicemails and text messages. I was worried. He said he didn't think to call. He was worried about pulling out his phone, a forbidden item to bring into the tournament. Also, he didn't realize I had snuck my phone in, too.
After we regrouped, we headed for the corporate tents to get our share of free beer and the great view of the approach to the 18th. We passed by the Greenskeeper lot, an area full of tents and tables where you pay hundreds of dollars to drink, eat and party. I noticed there was absolutely no view of any golf from there. I'm sure that half of the 120,000 people that day didn't know the first thing about golf. Golf watching is definitely over-shadowed by people watching. People come dressed to impress. I've seen stiletto heels, revealing tops, short skirts, you name it. I've heard it said that FBR not only stands for the Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc that sponsors the tournament, it could also mean, the Fake Boob Round-Up. We definitely have seen our share of them whenever we go.
Even I wore heels, and my black tank top with "Grayhawk Mom" written in Swarovski crystals, a shirt I purchased from my daughter's school PTA. Grayhawk is not only our neighborhood and school, the golf course is renowned. Phil Mickelson used to play there all the time, and many of the local FBR golfers consider Grayhawk their home course. Including past FBR winners, like JB Holmes, who is currently in the lead today.
Yes, a golf tournament does go on here. I actually was able to see one of my favorite hottie golfers tee off at 11. I would have enjoyed seeing him putt, too. He has the most interesting stance when he gets as low as he can to see the lay of the land and the ball. And on the 16th green, one guy was booed for missing the green on the tee off. Then when he chipped on, it completely skipped over the green and landed on the other side. He didn't hear the end of it! The 16th is not for the faint of heart.It was a beautiful day for golf. Although a frost warning and 31 degree weather at dawn delayed the golf, it warmed up to the 60s and the lack of wind made it feel even warmer. The tournament is just about 3 miles from my home, so it's a must-go event for me every year.
No comments:
Post a Comment