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Encounters with the Touring Pro kind....

I'm playing in a playing with the tour pro event at a local CC in 2 weeks with 2 of my clients, will let everyone know who shows up.
 
When I lived in Houston in 2000 or so, I won a lesson with Dick Harmon. That was kind of cool. Last Monday I was eating at Rocco's Tacos in Orlando and Ben Crane sat at the table behind us. I passed by Tiger once on I-4. I was once playing a course called Alvamar in Lawrence, Kansas and Matt Gogel was in the group behind us.

Those of us at the outing at ChampionsGate a couple weeks ago saw Dr. Bob Winters.
 
StLCardsFan said:
I"m fortunate in that my company donates to the title sponsor for the local web.com event so we always end up with a foursome in the pro-am and I've played several times. Add to that that I used to spend all 4 days at the course so every once in a while you get to know a couple guys. It's weird how many guys are unknown on that tour then 4-5 years later they explode on the PGA Tour and make a name. Some guys are just out there going through the motions (I'm sure the pro-ams get boring for them), but others make you feel involved and welcome. I'm sure I'll forget someone but here is what I remember.

Camilo Villegas - It was his first pro season and he had a lot of energy and was very kind and fun to play with. I then followed him all four days and got to know him quite a bit chatting here and there. I took my son (who could care less about golf) one day and he walked up to him and started conversing with him between holes. He signed some stuff for me; glove, ball, and I got him to sign one of his Titleist hats with the "Camilo" tag on the back. I had asked his caddy about it and after the Sunday round he motioned to me to follow him to his car and he pulled one out of his luggage. One of my more memorable golf weeks.
Michael Putnam - Another young guy. He was kind of quiet at times but we had fun playing with him. I had a tricky shot on one hole and was going to try something goofy with a 2-iron (before I had a hybrid). He told me to hold on a sec and pulled out one of his hybrids for me to hit. I didn't pull the shot off, but was impressed that he offered up the club.
Scott Gutschewski - Big guy who could hit it a ton. He dealing with some kidney stones at the time so he wasn't really into at the time. Still a nice guy.
Dicky Pride - Probably the absolute best time I've ever had on the golf course. The guy was freaking hilarious the entire time. He'd flick us some crap, and we'd give it right back. I don't think I've ever laughed so much on the course.
Darren Stiles - Experienced guy on tour who was pretty much going through the motions. Which is fine, he was pleasant to play with and wasn't a jerk or anything, just didn't really want to be there.

I know there are a few more, but I can't really remember the names. They must not have made it too far since I would try and follow most of the guys on tour for a while to see how they were doing.
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There was one other popular name I forgot about - Billy Hurley III. It was just a few years ago and I think it was his first pro year after the Navy. He was a little reserved at first but after a few holes he opened up and was a real pleasure and treat to play with.

Another guy doesn't quite qualify as a tour pro, but he was a Remax long drive champion and he does traveling 'golf entertainment' as he calls it - Dan Boever. He's a local guy who was our pro for a benefit scramble last fall. He was a very close second to Dicky Pride on the fun scale for a round. Guy makes his living with trick shots and can also pull them off on the course.
 
I played with Kris Tamulis and Meredith Duncan from the LPGA. Both were very normal girls that happened to be able to play golf really well. They were a lot of fun to spend a day with.
 
I was at Foxwoods Casino getting ready to head home waiting at the valet for my car. A limo pulls up and Jim Thorpe hops out. He chatted and took pictures with me and my brother in law for about 20 mins. He could not have been nicer.

I often volunteer at the Travelers Championship and one year I was a standard bearer. In my group was Chris Couch and Joey Sindelar. Sindelar could not be nicer. Came right up and introduced himself and after the round gave me one of the Titleist he had used. Couch was pretty cool as well.
 
I chatted with Jason Dufner at the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, he is so down to earth and reserved you would never think he was a celeb if you met him off the course.
 
JT723 said:
Care to share some names?
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Caddies for Palmer while at Bayhill in the men's group.
Pat Sheehan and Rich beam are both friends of mine.
Taught with Tiger in his first clinic in Miami.
I also won the Father/Son Priam with Tom Lehman (-16) the last year it was held at Championsgate.
 
I played a few holes with Bubba Dickerson at Trump National Bedminster...and I was wearing my Seminoles cap, he a Gators polo. The looper thought it was hilarious!
 
When I was 13 or so, I caddied in the pro-am of the SHO. Justin Rose was in our group and he was a really nice guy. He took the time and talked to all of us individually for a hole or two and seemed really likeable and down to earth. David Leadbetter also followed Rose for a while and seemed like a nice guy.
 
Masonicus said:
I played a few holes with Bubba Dickerson at Trump National Bedminster...and I was wearing my Seminoles cap, he a Gators polo. The looper thought it was hilarious!
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I got to play in a pro-am with him last year. Had a great time. Unfortunately, one of our group was a gator, so that helped keep us Dawgs in line :)
 
A long time ago....probably 18 years ago...I was working at a radio station in Dallas and got to play in the Bryon Nelson Pro Am...I met several guys and actually got to play with Tom Kite in the event.
 
I can't say I have met anyone from the world of golf, but I have met a number of people from the football world (soccer to you foreigners... :alien:)

I guess the most famous would be the late Sir Bobby Robson, who attended the school I went to as a kid and came back to visit and sign an old team photograph that the school put up on the wall, so all of us who were on the team at the time ended up meeting him and having our picture in the local paper and he gave us all autographs. I was then fortunate enough to meet him again years later while on a golf weekend when he was staying at the hotel we were in with the Irish junior and senior national football teams.
 
GaBubba said:
I got to play in a pro-am with him last year. Had a great time. Unfortunately, one of our group was a gator, so that helped keep us Dawgs in line :)
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What a coincidence - I posted this last night, and just this morning I get the call inviting me to play in this event again this year. Can't Wait!!
 
I know he isn't a toruing pro, but Larry the Cable Guy is a member at my course and I see him quite a bit. He was actually out Friday and Saturday when I was out this weekend!!!
 
IceyShanks said:
I know he isn't a toruing pro, but Larry the Cable Guy is a member at my course and I see him quite a bit. He was actually out Friday and Saturday when I was out this weekend!!!
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Didn't picture Larry as a golfer.

~Joseph~
via Tapatalk
 
Rhyno said:
John hurley grew up in my town. Not quite pro yet.

~Joseph~
via Tapatalk
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Met John at Redstone, very nice guy.
 
Rhyno said:
Didn't picture Larry as a golfer.

~Joseph~
via Tapatalk
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Oh yeah:
http://www.gitrdonefoundation.org/e...re-the-git-r-done-foundation-golf-tournament/
http://www.gitrdonefoundation.org/events/2013-git-r-done-golf-classic/

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Played with Ray Floyd and John Elway in the NFL Classic. Elway was a nice guy. Floyd......not so much.
 
2008 Open at Royal Birkdale I had clubhouse pass as friend is a member there. On the Wednesday we were in the clubhouse having pint or two. Went to toilets and Jim Furyk was in there.
I said to him 'I must shake your hand Mr Furyk', to which he replied 'please let me wash it first'.
 
Craziest thing happened on the Range today

Craziest thing happened on the Range today

So i was at my local range today in Lodi CA hitting balls and talking to a buddy when this big strong guy starts hitting a few places down from us we watch him hit a few lob wedges about 150 yards then he starts pumping 8 irons out 210+ yards and is hitting his 5 iron to the back of the range maybe 280 or so which is where i hit my drives i start looking close at his bag he has a old nakashima staff bag (which is not that unusual around this area as they are based out of stockton) his irons are nakashima but his driver head cover was one that i have not seen before then starts hitting drivers he is launching them 400+ yard over the tee boxes behind the driving range His driver was long and had a white shaft which i had never seen I final when up and started to talk to him and noticed his Drivers were Krank's and his bad said Ryan Winther then the name clicked i was hitting next to the 2012 Long Drive champ. Ryan was way cool he was nice enough to let me try one of his Krank drivers which i toe shanked
 
That's crazy! You imagine that?

"What's your sky caddie say?"

"Uh I got 207 to the pin"

"Ok grab my 8"

Lol!
 
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