Originally Published on August 11, 2008 by ranchomurieta.com

Diaries written by: Don Thames

 

DAY #1:

​​The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado

​

Thursday, July 03, 2008:

Prelude to our 9:05 starting time: UPS arrives at 8:10 with driver head aboard, while Don is on driving range. Not sure whether to interrupt his routine but not wanting to make the decision about playing with a new driver, Carole runs to driving range and lets Don know the head has arrived. Carole: "What do you want to do?" Don: "I want my driver."

​

While sister Mary is retrieving shaft from hotel, Carole gets John Spitzer from the USGA to meet her in the office. After a brief examination of the head and a thumbs-up from John, we are scrambling to the range with screwdriver. By 8:35 we had reassembled the driver and Don takes three practice swings before heading to the first tee. Whew!

​

It is difficult to explain the electricity in the air of a major championship. It is thrilling. With that thrill comes the challenge of controlling the nerves. With thousands of people on all sides in the stands you realize that you are being watched intently.

​

People were lined eight deep 100 yards down the fairway.

​

The first hole is an uphill 439-yard par four with a chute of trees just off the tee on the left side. With my fade ball flight, I had to tee the ball on the extreme right side of the tee box. My ball was teed up no more than two feet from the front row of spectators. I was so nervous I could not hover the club as I ordinarily would. Instead, after a small waggle I soled the club on the turf and left it there until I was ready to take it back. Thank God, I trusted my swing and spanked it solid and straight down the middle. What a relief.

It was a tough day. I struggled to make pars and made no doubles. I made some fine up and downs and one particularly good sand save from the short side to an elevated sloping-away green. My aforementioned friends were with me all the way, cheering the goods and hurting with the bads. Carole did a great job on the bag and read the greens very well. The problem on Thursday was that I seemed to be between clubs all day. Long or short, hardly ever hole high.

​

I was lucky to have had Carole by my side the entire week. Although she did a fine job on the bag she was even better as my manager. She was able to handle all of the administration of the family and friend passes. She was constantly deflecting distractions and laid out the social agenda for our troupe. She did all of the work behind the scenes and took care of every detail that would have been a distraction. I cannot praise her and thank her enough. Great job, Carole.

​

Page 6