Ryder Cup 1991

Throw Back Thursday - Kiawah Island Ryder Cup USA defeats Europe 14 1/2 - 13 1/2 on September 29, 1991 and Cedar Posts is there for the champagne bath. 

Hard to believe it was 1991 the first of many volunteer outings for the PGA, USGA and PGA Tour because it really does see like yesterday. 

My hole marshal debut was the Ryder Cup on Kiawah's now famous Ocean Course. The course was a actually famous before the Ryder Cup it's links style layout and waste bunker design on the wind swept dunes of Kiawah island with the blustery Atlantic as a backdrop was epic before the first shot was played.

Today's club house a much better design that the orginal which has been demolished.

Being the new kid on the block my assignment to 17th hole wasn't a surprise. The thinking was those who drew 16 and above would see little golf since most match play rounds would end before the 17th. In order to make the most of my Ryder Cup Marshal gig I volunteered for both practice and completion days. Practice days were dull, with most groups making easy birdies on 17 and moving on. the luck on the draw iit was clear I'd gotten the short straw and would see little if any golf. The old guys tried to cheer me up at least 17 had a nice breeze.They could not have been more wrong.

Friday brought flukey winds and all squared matches, on Saturday at one point I looked around and within arms reach an amazing sight the greatest golfers in the world shanking my hand and calling me by name. 

Yep Cedar Posts at the far left leaning to watch Fred a Couples shot miss the green.

Sunday brought a new dimension and rather orderly europeans were fuels up shaking the ropes and tossing beer cans onto the tee box. A passes PGA Official asked if I needed any help. I suggested that the euros were getting a little rowdy. 

Ten minutes later no less than 20 uniformed SC State Troopers were arm to arm 

Having served as Marshal on the 17th the entire week, I ended up escorting in a mad dash, Dave Stockton to the edge of the 18th for the final putt along with two members of SCHP.  

Bernhard Langer missed his six foot putt to hand Hale Irwin the match and Team USA their Ryder Cup victory.

Langer's choke often referred to as golf's Buckner ball, is absolutely the biggest moment in golf I've ever witnessed.

Dave Stockton was stunned, he stood motionless for the longest time, finally I grabbed his arm and pulled him through the crowd towards Payne Stewart and the glowing Champagne. 

USA and Europe meet again this weekend in Scotland for the 40th Ryder Cup Matches at Gleneagles.