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Scoring the pros and celebs [UPDATED]
Published 11:49am Thursday, January 24, 2013 Updated 11:49am Thursday, January 24, 2013It’s not everyday a person can say they stood on the same fairway as professional golfers V.J. Singh, David Duval or Tom Lehman.
Nor can many people say they also got to joke around with comedians Ray Ramano and Kevin James. Kelly Martin of Fergus Falls has had the pleasure of doing both at the same time as a scorekeeper for the AT&T Pro-Am at the Pebble Beach Golf Course.
Martin, a physical therapist assistant at New Dimensions in Fergus Falls, started eight years ago through her sister, Polly Lange, who had been scoring the tournament the previous three years.
“I would get so excited hearing about her stories, I decided to do it myself,” Martin said.
Planning her vacation around the tournament, Martin leaves for California a few days prior to spend time with her friend, Gretchen McGinnis, celebrating their birthdays and catching up.
But after those days of fun and relaxation are over, the “work” finally begins for Martin and the scorekeepers.
The night before the tournament, the celebrities gather for a friendly shoot-out, where fans and workers can take photos. Following the “competitive” tourney, the volunteers at the tournament are treated to a buffet dinner which includes shrimp, crab legs, lobster ravioli, lamb, stir fry and several different deserts.
After the meal, Clint Eastwood hosts performances by some of the top tier stars at the tournament. Michael Bolton, Huey Lewis, Carson Daily, Ray Ramano and Kevin James are just some of the performers that Martin has seen in the years working at the tournament.
“One year, Kevin Costner even sang for us,” Martin added.
The four-day tournament begins the following day. The scorers are assigned to a group of four golfers, which changes each of the four days, and keeps each
golfer’s score by using a palm pilot.
The scorer’s job is to enter which golfer they are following and where they are hitting from, bunker, rough, fairway or green and tally their shots on the course.
Martin has scored for several big name pros including Singh, Duval, Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia and celebrities ranging from Hall of Fame football player Lynn Swan to comedians George Lopez and Bill Murray.
Martin described her best day scoring was with Murray. “He plays to the audience and is hilarious. I’m very star-struck, so when he started calling me by name I about fell over.”
Another exciting moment, was when Martin got on stage with Clay Walker when he was singing in the hospitality tent.
“He asked if any of the volunteers wanted to come up and sing with him, so I ran up and sang with him,” Martin said. “It took me about three days to come down from that high.”
The tournament will take place Feb. 4-10 and will once again be loaded with pros and stars. Last year’s winner, Phil Mickelson, will be one of the numerous pros playing, while celebrities Andy Garcia, Josh Duhamel, Tony Romo and Chris O’Donnell are just some of the names in attendance.
