Volunteers treasure experiences
Web posted
Saturday, April 9, 2005
Augusta National Golf Club's third hole is where he has spent the first full week in April for 32 years.
Perched more than 30 feet above the green turf, he can hear crowds react to the world's best golfers striding the ryegrass below him.
But more times than not, he doesn't see greats such as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods or Tom Watson take a swing.
Fortune shares a narrow catwalk with the men he wants to spend time with - brother Bryan and former Georgia Southern University co-worker and friend John Ratliff.
They update crowds with the over- or under-par score of each passing golfer.
Call it the best excuse in the world for a golf outing with old buddies.
"This is the only time I get to see these guys," Fortune said. "(This) is about catching up with friends as much as anything."
Just as the St. Patrick's Day Parade does for those of Irish descent in Savannah, Ga., this week offers the corps of volunteers, most of whom are men, a rare chance to bond.
Hundreds of people from across the United States who are lucky enough to land job assignments, for which there are reportedly waiting lists, take their vacation time to work at the tournament.
They keep score, introduce players to the galleries at greens, give signals along fairways and even hold rope lines to keep fans from the field of play.
"This is grand central," said Savannah resident Ron Calahan, who is a gallery guard on the first hole. "You name it, we've been asked it."
Identifiable by their yellow Masters' hard hats, curious fans seek out Calahan and his co-workers for information.
Calahan, who is working his 18th tournament, politely imparts his knowledge of the Masters to all who ask.
Whether it's at the course or after the tournament.
"People think you're special when they realize you were at the Masters," said Calahan, who is the general manager for the Savannah office of AIG, an insurance company.
"(Working the event) makes you feel like you're more a part of what's going on."
And, if you're truly lucky, as former Tybee Island, Ga., resident Mike Farmer was, you actually do take part in the Masters.
As a first-time fore caddie on the ninth hole last year, he put on white overalls like those worn by caddies who accompany players.
He walked into the fairway and waved a yellow flag. The signal to his co-worker at the tee box meant the golfers could launch their drives.
Players in front of them were no longer in danger of being hit by a shot.
But Tom Watson's caddie on the adjacent eighth hole injured himself during that Tuesday practice round last year. Watson looked to the nearest caddie-like person he could find and whistled.
Farmer answered.
" 'My caddie has damaged his back,' " he recalled Watson saying. " 'He needs first aid.' "
Farmer, 40, quickly got medical help for the man, who could not carry Watson's gear through the round.
That's when the two-time Masters champion made Farmer the offer of a lifetime.
"He looked to me and said, 'I'm going to play the back nine,' " Farmer recalled. " ' If you want, you can be my caddie.' "
More thrills awaited after Farmer's amazing Watson experience: Arnold Palmer ended his string of tournament appearances at 50. And Phil Mickelson won his first major.
All are great stories that Farmer expects to tell time and again with his ninth-hole co-worker and dad, Lawson.
As volunteers, Farmer, his brother Mark and brother-in-law Clay Chambliss have some of their own stories to add after the day is done.
That's part of their family's tradition the first week in April at the Masters.
"We rent a house, watch The Golf Channel, play a little poker," said Mike Farmer, who now lives in Naples, Fla.
"It's a guys' week, good for fellowship with (family). Even though it's tiring, the view is kind of nice."
Reach Erin Rossiter at (912) 652-0329 or erin.rossiter@savannahnow.com.
