Mark’s Kaddy Korner

Your Chicago suburb resident and Sony Open Champion, Mark Wilson, decided to play this week despite his beloved Packers teeing it up against the Bears. The game will be broadcast approximately the same time they’re playing in Palm Springs so you can count Wilson out this week, his concentration will be on the oblong ball or he may miss the cut (purposely?) and have his feet hiked up in front of the screen sipping a cold beverage with a brat or two.

If you’re going 36 on Sunday a caddy can’t pick a better track than Waialae CC. It’s short, flat, has a temperate climate and the scenery ain’t bad next to the ropes, up the mountain slopes, and along the shore. If you pay attention to the wind, grain on the greens, nibble on a couple of PB&J sandwiches along with some fruit and suck down a few bottles of H2O you should be okay.

Ensure Classic at Rock Barn CC & Spa – Hickory, NC

Heading west on I-40 from Cary, NC John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” droned in my head. Hickory, NC is the smallest town supporting a Champions Tour event but the gallery lining the fairways is deeper than L.A., New York, Chicago or any other metropolitan tournament. The fans are supportive, appreciative, and cordial and have more fun during their tournament week than any other tour stop. Driving into town signs are everywhere, “Welcome Champions Tour Players and Caddies.”

Royal Birkdale Ladies British Open

After finishing three, three, three, and missing a ten footer for three on the eighteenth hole of the toughest finishing holes in the British Open Rota it was off to Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. The old Victorian seaside resort was about a six hour relaxing countryside drive from Carnoustie. I caught the tournament office closing down and they helped with accommodations for the night. In England it’s either a high priced hotel or a comfortable rather cheap B&B. The first night was a hotel and the rest of the week I bounced around the B&B’s for 25 to 40 pounds per night, including breakfast and lukewarm water in the shower.

Sunday night I was napping at LAX waiting for my redeye flight back to Chicago when I got the call from Rubble. Rachel Hetherington’s caddy was going back to Europe and she needed someone for Prattville, AL. It wasn’t a definite job but she was supposed to call the next morning and confirm things. I caught my flight, Wendy picked me up in Chicago early the next morning, and I napped till about noon, when Rachel called to confirm my employment. We chatted awhile and planned to meet Tuesday at noon.