Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime.  First, I was somehow, miraculously, Alternate No. 8 for the United States Golf Association (USGA) 1998 (National) Senior Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.  Then, I was accepted into the field and got to meet and play against some of the world's best amateur golfers.

I had only sent in an entry form because I could.  My index was low enough (11.7 being slightly below the 12.4 maximum) and my age was high enough (over 50, though I really didn't like having to admit it.)  When the postcard arrived saying I was an alternate, Dick and I decided we'd fly to Virginia and wait for a last minute cancellation.  We reserved a room in Colonial Williamsburg, just down the road from the Golf Club.  Best of all, my most wonderful husband agreed to caddie, if I got to play.

Four weeks later, after having been notified I was in, we arrived at the Richmond Airport.  Here banners were flying welcoming us players!!!  

While getting off the plane, I heard someone wish the woman behind me “Good luck in the tournament.”  Small world; she, Jill Blackwood, was also a competitor.  She had a rental car and offered us a ride.  Thanks to Dick's innate talent, we fit us three, 3 sets of golf clubs and all our luggage into the small car.

It was Friday afternoon, "player check-in time," when we arrived at the Golden Horseshoe’s Green Course.  The place was buzzing with volunteers.  They helped with sign-ins, reservations for the planned events -- a dinner and a banquet, -- locker assignments, transportation, etc.  They were there throughout the tournament, always extremely helpful and making me feel quite special.

The first task was to fill in a USGA form requesting “Information for the Press.”  I was supposed to list my golf achievements.  As I’d hardly played any competitive golf (the 3 times I had tried, things had not gone well,) I tried to recall my several Chevron Women's Golf Club awards.  Later, I learned that almost all the players were seasoned competitors with major titles.  I was also asked to provide my John Hancock for the “Players List.’  This large piece of parchment was to be framed and hung in the Clubhouse.  My signature to be displayed forever (or at least for several years.)

After hitting some balls, (and wishing I had Jill’s lovely swing) I practiced chipping and putting.  That’s when we discovered that the grass was bermuda --thick, grow-every-which-way, grabby bermuda.   Ouch.  Dick helped with advice and encouragement, but my normal chip shot just wouldn't go through this "grass"; it was too thick, and an altogether different stroke was required.   We worked on my flop shot, but it's definitely not my bread and butter.  So, add a few more strokes to the score…

Saturday and Sunday were practice rounds.  These were chances to see the course, (which was long -- about 5800 yards, quite hilly, and studded with moguls) figure out where not to be, and decide what clubs to hit off the tees.  The course was in great shape and the greens rolled true.  There were bunkers everywhere;  only a few greens had an opening of any sort, and all were surrounded by the dreaded bermuda.  Thankfully there were only two water holes.  One was a very elevated 153-yd par three, water on the front and left sides.  I managed to be in the right rough every round, even after trying to adjust my aim further left.  My body just said no. 

The other water hole was on the par-5 18th.  This was the prettiest hole on the course, though you had to be on the tee to see it.  The water, a rather wide river was right in front of the tee box.  It was a 140-yard carry; not a real problem, just a psychological one.  After the river, one needed to avoid the pond on the right and then hit an iron uphill to the green.  The large bowl–shaped green area was well shaped for spectators, the nice clubhouse sat at the top.  This water didn’t cause me any grief.  On the first competition day, I even managed to birdie the 18th, enjoying my good fortune and a bit of glory in front a small audience.

Williamsburg in mid-September can be cool, rainy, or hot.  It was hot, and humid -- about 95 degrees and 95% humidity at mid-day.  Of course, that's in the shade.  Dick was allowed to ride with me during the first practice round.  After that, the rules required that only one of us rides at a time.  You know I was riding.  Tournament rounds were played as two-somes, with the pace-of-play set for under 4 hours.  Dick did a great job keeping up, which usually required fast walking or jogging in the heat.  Aside from being my anchor, Dick paced off yardage, raked bunkers, helped read putts, gave excellent advice, and provided on-going support and encouragement.  (Thanks again hubby!)

The night before the competition opened, the local Host Committee threw a party for the players -- an extravagant buffet with members of Williamsburg’s fife and drum core playing and marching us into the huge dining tent.  Dinner included 3 types of buffets followed by a desert buffet.  Entertainment was a humorous speech by Virginia’s1770 mayor, "Mayor Spotwood".  By all accounts, this was the best host party ever.  

The next night the USGA put on a dress-up banquet.  At dinner, the accomplishments of some of my fellow 127 competitors were acknowledged.  I can’t tell you how many US Women’s Amateur Champions, US Sr. Women’s Amateur Champions and former Curtis Cup Team members were in the field; I quickly lost count!   This was an illustrious group of women golfers.  Alice Dye (multiple US Amateur Champion and Pete’s wife), Judy Bell (recent USGA president), Barbara McIntryre (former Curtis Cup Team captain) were in the field, to name a few.

The championship started with a 2-day, stroke-play qualifier. The lowest 64 amateurs would proceed to match-play.  I played with Joan Winchester, a lovely, quiet lady.  She was easy to play with, and we got on well; thank goodness!  Joan had recently won FOUR area Championships and knew most of the players in the field.  She was a bit nervous, and the first 3 holes showed it.  I started off really well, a birdie and 2 pars.  Joan was 3 strokes behind after 3 holes.  Then of course I came back down to earth with a double bogie, and she loosened up.  She eventually qualified for match play, but lost in an early round. 

After those first 3 excellent holes, my game went downhill.  I faded practically all my irons and woods, which I try to hit with a draw.  I landed in about ten bunkers per round, and bunker play is the worst part of my game.  Fortunately, the sand was fluffy and relatively easy to get out of, except when the ball got buried under an overhanging lip.  Once, Dick said I could bully my way through (he was right); the other time we prudently played sideways. 

The highlight of my rounds was our putting.  I’m not an especially good putter, but this part of my game was really working.  Having Dick's help reading breaks improved my confidence.  We made several long putts, had only one 3-putt in two days, and mostly got within a foot of the hole.  One foot!  Another highlight was having a personal gallery following me in.  Blake B, Diana E. and a friend of hers were all rooting for me down the home stretch.

As the eighth alternate, I knew I wasn’t competing to win; there were scratch players in the field!  Toni Weisner the medallist, shot a record-breaking 67, 68 in the qualifier.  So my objective was simple: don’t embarrass yourself.  I also wanted to beat the ninth alternate, the one player in the field with a higher index than me.  We (that’s Dick and I) shot 85 and  90.  The 2-day sum of 175 beat 8 players and tied 5 others.  Not bad.

The final Championship match was between a Canadian and a woman from Ireland, two "foreigners".  Clearly we Americans need to be working harder on our golf games.  So when I got home, I took a series of lesson right away!

The 1999 Sr. Women’s Amateur will be played at Desert Mountain in Carefree, Arizona -- emerald green fairways and greens completely surrounded by desert.  I don’t expect to make the cut next year.  By then, the word will be out: a player with an 11.7 index got to play in 1998!!!   Most likely, the player with the highest index in next year's tournament will be a 4.2, just as it was in last year's tournament.

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