A few lucky golfers will get to follow in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate today at Torrey Pines, playing the course in tip-top condition to support Junior Golf and Pro Kids Golf Academy.
“It's not going to be pretty,” says developer Doug Barnhart. “It will be a good lesson in humility.” After watching the difficulty the pros had parring the course, Barnhart says, “I hope I'll get under 105.
Another player, Roth Capital managing director Ted Roth, joked, “I may wear red and black, but I won't be confused with either of Monday's players.”
They are among 132 men and women who paid $1,500 for a charitable cause and a chance to try out the course in its U.S. Open format.
Others on tomorrow's play list include: Gen-Probe CEO Hank Nordhoff, former Qualcomm president Tony Thornley, ResMed CEO Peter Farrell, banker Tom Wornham, San Diego City Councilman Scott Peters, San Diego Magazine publisher Jim Fitzpatrick, steel firm president Ted Rossin, KUSI-TV owner Mike McKinnon Sr. and his son, Mike Jr. and several family members of Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs.
U.S. Open notes
Prescription glasses and sunglasses were the most numerous “lost” items reported at the golf tournament, but there also were wedding rings, keys, visors, sweat shirts, jackets and, this morning, a wallet containing $200. U.S. Golf Association intern Lauren Danylyshyn-Adams said the wallet, bearing the ID of San Diegan Kirk Edward, was found by a police officer and taken to the “Lost and Found” desk.
Items checked at the entrance because they were banned from the course included cameras, cell phones, Blackberrys, lawn chairs, bottled water, even shoes and rice cakes (carry-in food was not allowed). Checked items will be held for several more days at the USGA golf course office before being donated to charity.
Strange sighting: A woman was walking in a sand trap at 7 a.m. Saturday before play began. She told a tournament marshal she wanted to see what it felt like. Go figure. The grounds crew had to be summoned to rerake the sand.
Meanwhile, over at Barbarella restaurant in La Jolla Shores, people-watching was great. Model Cindy Crawford and several of the U.S. Open golfers were spotted there Thursday evening, although not together. Golf fans collected her autograph on their golf caps, too.
Transportation woes
Jim Shean says the last time he hitchhiked was more than 30 years ago. Nevertheless, he decided it was easier than driving to Qualcomm Stadium to take the golf course shuttle. After all, lots of people were headed there. He parked his car in Encinitas and stuck out his thumb.
“It wasn't four minutes before a guy pulls over and offers me a ride,” reports Shean, 51, general sales manager at XX Sports Radio who was dressed in golf attire and wore a volunteer badge. A pickup driver took him as far as Del Mar. Shean put out his thumb again, and a lady driving a Toyota Prius pulled over.
“I must be crazy for doing this, but get in,” she said after affirming he was headed to Torrey Pines. She dropped him off at the golf course entrance.
His ride home was easier – Shean went with friends.
Quote of note
With yesterday's official U.S. Open attendance at 21,638, Joe Moeller, president of the San Diego International Sports Council, says he's sure of one thing: “A lot of people called in sick today.”
Other news
Scott McClellan, the former press secretary to President George W. Bush, will be in San Diego today to talk about his controversial memoir, “What Happened,” and respond to questions. He is addressing a 6:30 p.m. City Club banquet, open to nonmembers for $60, at the downtown Holiday Inn on the Bay. (Go to www.cityclubofsandiego.com for details.)
Diane Bell's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fax items to (619) 260-5009, call (619) 293-1518 or e-mail to diane.bell@uniontrib.com.
