US Open Thursday June 16, 2022 

First day of competition at the 122nd US Open, a tremendous day in my marshaling experience, but I'll get to all that.  Since my 19th hole committee chairmen were non-committal yesterday to my being assigned as a walking marshal, I was ecstatic to receive a text at 8:44am offering me a spot as an "advanced walking marshal'' for an unnamed group in the afternoon.  When I arrived at HQ for check-in, I was informed I would be marshaling a marquee group including Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, and Victor Hovland, teeing off at 1:14.  It was explained to me that the USGA was continually concerned with avoiding an excess number of marshals inside the ropes, consequently limiting advance marshals to groups of two, even going so far as to issuing the inside rope credential to only one member of these 2-person teams, the theory being to have one person inside, one person outside the ropes for 9 holes, then trading off for the back nine. It was further emphasized that we would be marshaling ahead of the players, never falling behind them.  My head just spun with these guidelines, which would then have to be implemented on a hole-by-hole basis, responding to each circumstance as it presented itself.  That is the essence of being a walking marshal, to continuously assess each situation as it unfolds, hole by hole, positioning in the most effective places without drawing attention to oneself, yet always bearing in mind what will help the players the most in making their way around this golf course in the best manner possible.  Having one of our 2-man crew outside the ropes was impractical and almost silly, how could you keep pace with the group while constantly battling the spectators crowded outside the ropes?  

Since we had a bit of a wait, I got lunch and was seated outside the volunteer village, when to my surprise I met up with my great friend Chris Rogers, who I'd worked with both at TPC Boston and River Highlands for multiple FedEx Cup events.  He'd been accepted into the US Open volunteer pool, but unfortunately been assigned to work in the merchandise tent, a complete waste of his marshaling expertise.  He mentioned several of our mutual friends, former mobile marshal volunteers, in merchandise who were in similar circumstances, all with decades of experience, wasted in folding shirts and operating cash registers.  He asked how I was able to arrange to get on the 19th hole committee, and I said I wrote emails and made phone calls to Lena Campbell and was ultimately transferred to this assignment.  All credit to the USGA for their willingness to assign me to a position where my prior experience was the most applicable.  Once again, I think the 19th hole marshal committee is a great advancement at the USGA, in having a ''bullpen'' from which marshals can be utilized to fill-in at any and all positions, due to their vast experience.  Chris asked if I thought I could request that he and our other friends could be re-assigned from the merchandise tent; I said it wouldn't hurt to ask.  I was later told that re-assignments at this late stage once schedules had been implemented was impossible.  

At 12:30 I re-convened at 19th hole HQ to meet my partner for our 2-man crew, and to receive the coveted green lanyard, designating 'inside the ropes' status.  It was impressed upon me that this would have to be given back at the end of our round today.  My partner was Lars Richarson, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, practicing at MGH, and employed on the medical staff of the Boston Bruins and New England Patriots.  Lars was a TCC member and by his own admission was a total rookie to marshaling, this being his first experience at a professional golf event.  My long history of training mobile marshals continues!  He readily agreed to having me be his mentor as we made our way through 18 holes. Lars settled the issue quickly as to who would wear the coveted green lanyard to be inside the ropes by stating that as a member, "No one was going to tell me that I can't be anywhere I like, lanyard or no lanyard".  I knew I was going to like working with this guy!  What really made for a great day was that Lars knew every inch of this magnificent golf course, one not so easily deciphered by looking at a course map, especially when temporary structures blocked the natural flow from one hole to the next.  He was my marshal scout, like having a caddie at the Old Course at St. Andrew's.  He was impressed early on when I told him of the old caddie trick whereby the golfer's bags were always positioned greenside pointing at the next tee box.  He thought this was brilliant.   

As we worked tee to green with JT, Tony, and Victor, it became apparent that each of these three players was of sufficient status to the spectating public that we'd have the luxury avoiding the urge for crowds to  scamper forward to gain a better position once the 'name' player had completed his shot.  Probably turned out to be the best group of the afternoon.  Lars had his own gallery sprinkled throughout the course as he was frequently called-out by members of TCC.  He couldn't believe he was having an inside-the-ropes experience and commented it was much better than any day in surgery!  It was an almost indescribable sensation of being inside the ropes once again after a three year absence from professional golf, four years from my last US Open.  Boston had been waiting for this for a long time as well and the atmosphere was positively electric.