Senior PGA spectators travel near and far | Pga

BENTON HARBOR — Paul and Juliett Hopkins, a couple from London, England, made their way to Southwest Michigan devoid of a hitch.

No flight delays. No COVID problems. No travel challenges.

But receiving from their Stevensville resort to the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores took a bit of creative imagination.

The two were amongst people from all more than the environment and the nation who arrived to look at some of the world’s biggest golfers contend in the first spherical of the event Thursday.

The London couple’s eyes would be targeted on a person golfer in particular. Juliett’s brother, Paul Broadhurst, is one of this year’s competitors and gained the very last Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in 2018. So when they could not get a cab, Uber or Lyft experience from the Hampton Inn in Stevensville to Harbor Shores, they bought imaginative.

They had earlier achieved Rick Rea, a volunteer marshal for the tournament, and noticed him in the hotel foyer donning his KitchenAid PGA garb. They requested him for a ride to the golf study course, and he gladly complied.

“We marshals are ambassadors for the tour. Our position is to assist the players, their family members, caddies and spectators have a enjoyable and harmless event,” explained Rea, who is from St. Louis.

The pair from London explained they’ve been to the U.S. various situations, but this was their initially time in Michigan. When asked if there is nearly anything they’ve listened to about in Southwest Michigan that is a “must see” on their journey, Paul mentioned, “This golf class.”

Mike Russell and his spouse, Carole, traveled from Wallace, N.C., to watch Mike’s mate, golfing professional Larry George, compete in the Senior PGA Championship.

“We observe Larry where ever he goes,” Mike Russell explained. “I golfed with him up north a pair times back. He’s good. But everyone in this article is fantastic.”

Their eyes will also be on George’s wife, Patty George, caddying for her partner for the initially time.

The Russells are staying at an Airbnb about 5 minutes away from Harbor Shores. They explained they savored a pleasant evening meal Wednesday night at RyeBelles Restaurant & Bar in St. Joseph.

“Dinner was pretty superior and our server, named Drew, was fantastic,” Russell mentioned.

Next on their meals tour, Silver Beach Pizza.

Mark Johnson drove in from Struggle Creek, and packed together two of his golfing buddies.

“A friend had despatched me tickets, and I brought these two good friends alongside,” he explained. “This is my to start with time below. I like that it’s not as crowded as the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin past September.”

The 3 buddies, all carrying umbrellas, explained Thursday morning’s temperature was far better than they envisioned.

“We also have tickets to the extravagant club at the 16th inexperienced, and we’ll take pleasure in free foodstuff and beer,” Johnson mentioned. “At the Ryder Cup it was $18 for a beer. I experienced zero beers.”

Dave Pontius drove in from Elkhart, Ind. He stated it’s his initially time coming to Harbor Shores even though he has friends who have performed the training course.

He mentioned he follows golfing on tv and, alongside with a friend, has volunteered at the Senior PGA at the Brickyard in Indianapolis and worked the KitchenAid Senior Open at Notre Dame.

“We came today because we made the decision to steer clear of the holiday getaway weekend,” Pontius stated. “I’m experiencing the tournament ambiance. I’ll look at the rest of it on Television set.”

Chase Carnes of Columbia, Mo., attended the very first working day of the tournament with his father, Cardie Carnes from Monmouth, Unwell., and Scott Pieper from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Cardie Carnes said he and Pieper played golf with each other in significant college, and stated he once performed with pro-golfer Todd Hamilton. Chase Carnes coached golfing for a 12 months just after graduating from university.

It was their initial time coming to Harbor Shores.

Nearer to home, learners from Gennifer Gunter’s culinary course at Benton Harbor Large School ended up taken care of to a morning at the golf study course as guests of KitchenAid movie star chefs Christopher Covelli and Brett Wagner, who earlier this 7 days shared culinary abilities with students forward of their approaching physical appearance at the KitchenAid Fairway Club.

The students attended a cooking demonstration at the Fairway Club, then viewed a little golfing prior to heading back again to college.