My First Muirfield Experience - This Side of the Story
By Giles Kennedy, Contributing Columnist

Central Ohio knows how to roll out the red carpet for the PGA. The 2004 Memorial is a showcase not only for golfing's great, but the friendliest folks this side of the green.

While walking the course and taking in the ambiance of the PGA’s greatest golfers, I was pondering how to go about this installment. This is the first time I went to the greens near Dublin as a reporter. But, I can simply say that the reason why I call Central Ohio home is some of the folks I met at Muirfield. Residents and fans seem very hospitable and friendly.

Take two teenage boys from Dublin Coffman. Ken Johnson and Brian Davis only live a stone’s throw away from the prestige of the Tournament and have been attending the past seven years. They are like most young men enjoying the action on the links and getting autographs. Of course, they both play golf.

I was not the only rookie out on the links. Volunteer Paul Bebe and attendee June Acker were amongst the first timers.

Paul, a native Dubliner who works at the 10th hole, met with a friend who had been a marshal for the past 14 years. “ I thought it might be something I would enjoy,” Paul says with a smile on his face. “My friend submitted my name. I get a letter from the powers- that-be in December (accepting me as a marshal). We met April 19th at the volunteer meeting and here I am.”

June Acker came with her husband, Jeff. Jeff had been coming to the Memorial several years. “Well, you can feel the excitement. When you see the golfers, you can especially tell the first timers like me,” she said.

Julie Fletcher doesn’t have far to go to see golf. She and her husband are Muirfield residents. “I was pregnant with two kids watching the Memorial,” she chirped. “I have been watching this since 6th grade. It’s a lot of fun but a lot of work. It’s well worth it.”

She even mentioned that Dublin schools used to let the kids out during the Pro-Am rounds, but have since abandoned that practice.

Overall the fans two favorite golfers were local favorite Ben Curtis, last year’s British Open champion and of course golf legend Tiger Woods.

What was the only complaint from the fans I talked to? The beer. That’s right, no one and I mean no one I talked to like the switch from the Anheuser Busch products to Rolling Rock.

Trixie, an attractive lady with her friends, was very expressive about it. “This is a fan friendly course, but we are wondering why they change to Rolling Rock?”

Will I be back? You can count on it. The Muirfield Experience is something everyone should do at least once. That’s my story and I am sticking to it.