The condo we traded for two of our week long U S Open tickets is AWESOME! Not 1 block to "the" ocean, as we had thought, but 1 block to "Ocean" the main street in Carmel! We are actually about 8 short blocks from "the" ocean -- but spent several hours there today -- the weather was incredible! We are right in the thick of things. On Mission St. in a darling condo over top of shops. Definitely an "inner city" experience -- even in Carmel. We share the courtyard with a restaurant that is open for breakfast and lunch only -- the fan on the roof, right by our bedroom starts at 6:00AM! Maybe I'll finally get up early and get some writing done!
Carmel defines the words quaint, upscale, and unique! Not a McDonalds or Safeway in sight (YEA!) - every store is either locally owned or a very scaled down national chain -- and only the best "get in" here. Coach, Saks, Banana Republic, Robert Talbotts (the tie people - HQ just up the road - Phil made me include them) -- but they blend in just like all the other small shops.
Parking is very tight here - we have "landed" the van about 4 blocks from the condo -- and plan to leave it there til we leave! We've made 2 trips up there already today - think we may have completely unloaded the Van in to the Condo. We can walk about 1/2 mile to the course -- the other "non Carmel" slobs are having to park at Fort Ord and be bussed to the course. Spent our first day here walking the town (and getting my glasses fixed - Phil sat on them in the Van in Trinadad (now we know why bringing an extra set of glasses was highly recommended!) - had to order a new piece - it will be here Thursday). We also spent a couple of hours at the beach just people watching. Of course Phil chatted with everyone -- and even managed to talked a couple of guys into driving us up the hill back to our condo! Will it never stop!
CONTINUED AFTER THE OPEN WAS OVER - VERY BUSY WEEK!
The Open was really "a happening". The USGA does a first class job. And they charge a first class price for everything too! Hot dogs were $6.00 (chips extra), a beer was $6.00 or $7.00, depending upon whether you wanted Bud or a Microbrew! They quit serving alcohol on the course at 4 PM - regardless of how long the play will continue! One day we were standing right by a garbage can, and thought since they were charging for everything else, we'd try charging a nickel to use the garbage can! We made a lot of people laugh, but collected no nickels. Decided we weren't charging enough to be taken seriously...
One day we followed Brian Henniger from Portland on his round. Walked all 18 holes with him and his playing partners. The course is really a monster from where they have the Pros play. Other days, we picked certain holes and watched players play through. You could always tell where Tiger was on the course, it was a mob scene following him. One the last day, our friends Jim & Ann Lowry from Portland went early (thanks guys!) and secured seats in the grandstand behind 18. We sat there all day watching the players come in - you could see from the tee to green - and then watched the Ceremony afterwards. An absolutely magical day. We took turns going out for food, to stretch, and just enjoy the ambiance of the place, it was really something to remember.. I missed the best picture of the entire event. Tiger and his coach were putting before he teed off on Sunday. Here was Tiger, squatted down next to his bag, listening to his coach, eating a sandwich (wonder what HE paid for his!?). It was a pic that will have to live in my mind only. A completely candid shot of a very intense young man.
Wednesday night, the Lowry's had made reservations for all of us at Inn at Spanish Bay. WOW. As though the setting was not spectacular enough, the bagpipers came over the hill at sunset with those wonderful lilting tunes-Curtis Strange was also enjoying cocktails on the terrace.. At dinner, we were seated next to Freddy Couples and his wife (a definite "10"). And to top it all off, the food was absolutely devine. It was actually hard to leave such a beautiful place.
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PHIL'S PHILOSOPHY
It was very obvious Tiger was in a class by himself when he shot an opening round 65, and completely deflated all the other players chances for winning. Then it was just a matter of formality for all the other 3 rounds, as Tiger handled the elements of wind, sun, exceptionally hard greens to hold, and completely dominated the field. The coup d'gras (?) was on the putting greens just before tee off on Sunday (when he was eating his sandwich), the other leaders were practicing on one green, and Tiger and Butch Harmon, were alone on the other practice green. How else could it be for "El Tigre" -- it must be tough at the top.
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Going to a world class event of this type is never cheap. But was it worth it? It is an event we will never forget, and is one of those rare occasions in life, when you forget about the dollar and just, flat out, enjoy the experience. It may never come again. And, you know, in the end, it really didn't cost that much....
