US Open Saturday June 18, 2022  

I received no text from my 19th hole marshal captains with any kind of assignment so I texted my buddies Mike and Tom from the Cape who had ground pass tickets for Saturday's and Sunday's rounds.  They were  on site, headed to the grand stand at the iconic short par three 11th hole, but later ended up at the 10th green grandstand instead.  I joined them there for about an hour of spectator golf, a bit of a different perspective from my vantage point having spent the last two days walking inside the ropes, but this was quite enjoyable as well.  The weather had taken a decided dive in temperature from yesterday's mid-80's, today only in the mid-60's but still sunny and pleasant this am.  

I got an assignment text at 12:45 to report to the 16th tee to reinforce the marshal staff there, so I said my goodbyes and made my circuitous way over with a stop at a concession stand for lunch.  I met the hole Captain, Corey Griffen, who said he'd requested six 19th hole marshals to help with this 180 yard par three hole, since he was finding his initially assigned staff were woefully inadequate to fulfill the demands of this hole. At the tee, Corey was handling the orange signal paddles for ball flight direction, and indicated that I might be most useful marshaling along the left side rope line eventually.  As we talked a bit further, he got a sense that I might be able to handle the paddles, which would free him up to move about the various positions which this hole presented to him from a supervisory standpoint.  I ended up managing the paddles for 2 1/2 hours in challenging conditions as the weather steadily deteriorated from sunny to overcast, the chilly wind picking up, swirling around this location which was presenting distinct challenges to players.  Managing the paddles became a precise process of closely monitoring the players on the nearby 15th green, signaling for the closing of the crosswalk on the 16th hole, then visually tracking the ball flight of every tee shot on 16 to indicate to the spectators up at the green, as well as the marshals there, where each shot had tracked.  Players took lots of extra minutes at the tee checking the confusing wind direction, as demonstrated by the flags above the grandstands surrounding us on three sides, often blowing in completely opposite directions.  Had an interesting moment when Bryson Dechambeau came to the tee, a single forlorn spectator shouting out "Brooksy", which thankfully drew zero response from Bryson or the crowd in general. I noticed he was adjusting a clear mouthguard on his lower teeth, which I figured was indicative of his very physical style of play.  Who says golf isn't a sport? 

Corey eventually posted me up to the crosswalk, where I ran into Lars who'd been there a few hours, who greeted me warmly.  I met a marshal at this location who said he'd been at TCC since Monday, this now being his 6th day, with one more to go!  There were now 4 marshals managing this crosswalk, where 2 would suffice, an overuse of the 19th hole reserve contingent, but since there were no apparent inside the ropes assignments today, this was acceptable.  I stayed here for an additional 1 1/2 hours until the crowds had diminished sufficiently due to the cold conditions, then checked out of my shift and rejoined my buddies at the merchandise tent.  We grabbed an ice cold beer, and headed to the 18th hole grandstand, would have been better to have had the option for a hot chocolate.  Go figure in mid-June.  Mike, being a 130 pound "heavy-weight'' was shivering.  The view from here along 18, just below the green was terrific.  We loudly applauded Keegan Bradley as he made his way up 18, just two stokes back of Will Zalatoris leading.  I imagined what it would be like tomorrow afternoon for the final groups coming up to finish the US Open.