Live from the US Open - Pebble Beach June 14, 2010

June 14, 2009

It is Pebble Beach – the 2010 US Open and life is wonderful! Welcome to my world!

Now, you will all remember the monsoon of last year at Bethpage 2009. Let us all forget.

Yesterday in Sonoma – yes California wine country – it was 95 degrees and sunny. A glorious day even if it was a tad bit on the warm side.

Today in one of the most beautiful places on earth – Carmel/Monterey – it was the eternal June gloom. The fog finally lifted her skirts – and not all the way – around 5:30 p.m. I think the high temperature was 60. It was cold and rather windy. I needn’t remind you of the foot of mud at last year’s annual confab so cool and windy are okay.

Phil Mickelson did not show his smiling face at all to warm our hearts, souls and hands. Tiger did play a practice round I understand and he was on the driving range this afternoon. That said he apparently still needs a little work on that driver. Oh, and the 3 wood. And most likely every other club in his bag. But, I still predict he will prevail. Please remember that come Sunday afternoon but only if he actually does win. If he doesn’t you may conveniently forget it and tell your friends that your favorite blogger predicted that the golfer who actually won – won!

This year we are a marshal. (Please note that I refer to us as we because each of you are with me each step of the way – actually I always wanted to be the Queen and hence the royal ‘we.’) We are a “19th Hole Marshal.” I know, I know. How cool is that? We get to keep track of what they drink at the bar. In all actuality the 19th whole marshals are fill-ins wherever needed. Can be a very cool thing.

Today being cool was marshaling the driving range grandstand. It was really hard work for the 20 or so of us that were there. For awhile there were more of us than there were patrons. It is quite interesting how almost every person who wanders up the stairs immediately stops to look over the railing. No one apparently gets it that the people behind them in the stands cannot see. Most are gracious and move along. And then there are the ‘others’ who seem put out that they are not special and cannot stand there until their hearts are content. Move along…everyone.

If I seem to be rambling it is because it is 11 pm and we have to be up and out the door at 6 to walk the seemingly 18 miles to find out our 19th Hole Marshal assignment. We could be sent backwards 16 miles to our appointed place. More on the “WTF” for volunteers tomorrow.

Carmel is beyond wonderful and we were blessed to have a B&B recommended that is awesome. We can walk to the Carmel gate and not drive 35 minutes to north Monterey to our parking lot and be bussed back 35 minutes. It is still quite a hike and my tootsies are ready for bed.

I just realized that I did not talk much about golf…but then, there wasn’t a whole lot to be seen. Players out there but it is still very relaxed, laid back and everyone is just chillin’. The hoards are not far from view so I am enjoying the quiet.

Pictures and hopefully sun on Tuesday. Sleep well. Only two more days and the race is on.

Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes and bear gets you. Right now, I have the bear by the tail!

Later….