Living in fast forward

I can’t believe it has already been about two weeks since my time in Spokane.  I have already finished two more tournaments, and I only have three left with my internship at the AJGA.  It is crazy to me that it is already almost August, it is crazy to me that I have already helped to run more than 13 tournaments, and it’s crazy to me that after three more, I don’t know when I will be a part of another golf tournament. 

Sunrise off the No. 7 hole

That being said, I am very excited about the future – moving to Austin, and beginning a new chapter of my life.  For now, I’m going to focus on the present.

Presently, I have decided that I am not a fan of the New Jersey road system.  Have you ever heard of no left turn lane?  NO LEFT TURNS…at all.  Well, this seems to be the norm in New Jersey.  Apparently they believe that if you make enough right turns, you will end up going left.  I understand that this is a true fact (if you keep turning right you will eventually end up going the same direction as you would if you made that initial left turn), but I would rather not accept this fact.  It takes way longer, and it just causes more frustration. 

The senator of New Jersey actually made an appearance at our qualifying round this last week, and I have decided that I will bring this left-turn issue up to him the next conversation we have.  Whenever that may be.

Despite the no left-turns and crazy thoroughfares, New Jersey was quite enjoyable.  We were able to work at a gorgeous course – Trump National Golf Course Colts Neck – with some incredible facilities.  The clubhouse and pro shop were almost disgustingly nice (the paper towels had the Trump National crest embellished on them, and the golf carts had white leather bucket seats), but they were infinitely comfortable and irresistible.  I would expect nothing less from Mr. Trump!  I hope one day I will be fortunate enough to enjoy these finer things again. 

Clubhouse from the front - Pro Shop is out of the photo
to the right

This tournament was quite unique, as it was set up similar to that of a collegiate golf tournament.  We had our qualifying round on Saturday at a different course, but then Monday and Tuesday we had our championship rounds.  It was set up with two shotgun rounds on Monday, and then a final round on Tuesday.  Yep, you read that correctly.  We played 36 holes of golf on Monday, and if you factor in the rain delay, we were working from 6 am to 10:30.  Crazy long day, but it went over smoothly for the most part.  Finishing post-round communications duties that night, my brain was working in overdrive, and I don’t remember the last time I was that focused or alert without caffeine.  It was weird and unnatural.  After 15 hours working, no one should be able to work that well.  Guess it’s all part of the job!

My experience at Colts Neck was pretty great though.  Upon arrival, there is a gatekeeper who will grant you access into the course.  We drive down a winding road, and the clubhouse appears out of nowhere.  It’s huge, with a large fountain in the middle of a roundabout heading into the parking lot.  There’s a pool to the left, hidden by well-maintained landscaping. 

Goldfish anyone?

Once we walked in, you can hear classical music playing.  There is a restaurant/bar to the left, and to the right was our headquarters.  We were in what is normally the Ladies Lounge, and as such, there were several couches and chairs for our use.  The chair we were able to use at our tables were so soft, with leather seats that felt like heaven on your bum.  We even had a few snacks available to us.  Apparently if you pour Goldfish into a classy glass jar, it turns into a wealthy snack.  Who would have thought?

The staff at Trump National definitely made us feel welcome.  They always brought us beverages, like pop, juices and water, and they would always stop by to check on us.

This week was stressful, long, and tiring, but it was very successful.  I am looking forward to the next few weeks.  Heading to Warsaw, Indiana this week (I have absolutely no idea where that is, so don’t ask), then to Colorado (I get to see some of my family there!!), and then I will end in Norman, Oklahoma at the University of Oklahoma home course.  These next weeks are going to fly by, so I’m going to make the best of my time before it’s over. 

Clubhouse from the back

One of the pristine holes

Fountain in the front of the clubhouse

Beautiful clock!

Sun peeking through after Monday's rain delay

Rolls Royce of golf carts...white leather bucket seats!

View from headquarters

Whirlwind

Spokane: just one more stop on the itinerary.  And probably my favorite so far!  

I mean, Aspen, Vegas, Vermont, you all were pretty cool, but I'm sorry, you can't compete with home...or the LAKE!

Parker and I on the boat! Finally made it to the lake :)

I arrived home from Columbus on Sunday night, slept a little, and then hopped on the motorcycle with my brother Ben and jetted out to lake Coeur d'Alene.  What a life!  There, we were greeted by Granny and we spent the day talking and catching up.  The weather wasn't great at first, so we just hung out inside chatting, then decided to boat to lunch at Shooters.  We all shared a Derailer, (probably the best giant mixed drink ever), and then headed back to the cabin.  Later the sky cleared up, the sun came out, and I was able to enjoy the water for the first time all year.  It was fabulous.

Ben and I went wakeboarding for a few short rides.  It was rewarding knowing that I can still land my 180, even after a year!

Pure happiness

I was so thankful that I was able to see both Ben and Granny.  I haven't seen Granny in quite a while, and this is the last time I will see Ben until Christmas.  One of the bummers of growing up and getting into the real world I guess...you don't get to see your family as often.

I also had the pleasure of seeing my oldest brother Jeff and his fiancé, Jess.  They just bought their first house, and it looks incredible!!  It really was a weird feeling walking into their home...I mean, MY brother has his own HOUSE...What the heck!?! Where has the time gone??  That being said, it's perfect.  They are still in the process of decorating and moving in, and so I can't wait to see what it will look like when it is all finished.  So proud of my big brother!

So good to see Granny and my mom!

The next few days were filled with errands, all of them actually really fun!  I was able to get my hair cut and highlighted (this was extremely necessary...had you seen my roots lately??), and I had the opportunity to go car shopping!!!  Yes, my beloved 4Runner Henry died a few months ago, and so I need a new ride.  I had been looking into the Honda CR-V and the Subaru Forrester, but I just can't stray from Toyota.  And so, I will be the new owner of a Toyota Rav4 very soon!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! Now, I just need a new name for this new ride....any suggestions?

Look at this beauty!

I have got to say that car salesmen are extremely pushy.  I understand they work on commission, but come on, it's a little ridiculous.  Our car salesman wasn't getting anywhere with my mom and I as we were only coming to test drive and gather information for purchasing.  Our plan was to research the cars, figure out the one that worked the best, and then buy the car in Austin so we didn't have to lug it around for 2,000 miles on the back of a U-Haul trailer.  Well, the manager decides to come over and reason with us.  

Man, they are good.  They got us to test drive it for the night.  

We decided that it was the right car, but we couldn't buy it now, so I was given the lovely task of returning the car to the dealership the next day.  I walked in and asked where to drop the keys.  I explained that our salesman was great, but it just wasn't the right time to buy.  (I was telling this all to the secretary.  What exactly she was going to do with this information, I'm not quite sure, but I tend to ramble when I'm nervous or about to do something epic).  Another manager sees me and I can see him make a beeline for me with my peripherals.  

Nice ride!

He starts asking what was wrong with the car, how we can make it work, how we can make the price work, yatta yatta yatta.  I explained to him our situation and he kept trying to make a sale, so I just reached my hand out to shake his and said very politely, "Thank you very much for your help, but it's just not going to work today."  I was very proud of myself!  I don't think he expected that...

After that triumph, I met my mom for lunch at my favorite restaurant, Wave, where we grabbed some sushi.  Delicious!!  That night, we decided to stay in town, and I was able to spend the entire night with my mom and dad.  It was great.  I was able to give my dad his gifts from Father's Day and for his birthday, drink some huckleberry lemonade, talk, laugh, and our favorite, get some ice cream.  Dad and I rode into town on the bike and ate ice cream like little kids.  Delicious.

Thursday was another great day.  I slept in, took the pup for a run, and then headed out to the lake.  And guess who met me there?  

Nick had met up with a friend who was driving across the country, and they ended up driving from Columbus to Spokane in about four days.  They both came to the lake for the day, and we all were able to hang out.  My good friend Kelsey came and met us, and it was a perfect end to my week off.  

So much fun!

And so, my week at home was quite a whirlwind.  I didn't really do as much catching up on sleep as I planned to, and I actually left with a bit of a head cold, but let me tell you, it was definitely one for the books.  I had a blast with my family and friends, and I can't wait to go back.  Thanks Spokane for a great visit, once again.

He sure loves the boat...maybe scouting out
some potential grub? 

Huckleberry Lemonade - my mom's specialty : )

Kelsey and I heading out on Thursday night -
you can tell we are at the lake...see my Tevas?
Not quite clubbing shoes 

Aren't we beautiful?

A week of firsts

I have to say, it never gets old explaining to people what I do for my job. 

Here’s how a typical conversation goes down:  It will be some derivative of the question, What do you do?, such as “Wow, I look at Facebook and see you in a new place every week at a new golf course…what the heck do you do?”, or “So, what’s this AJGA thing?”.  Anyways, you get the gist of it.  But I’ve got to say, I love being able to say:

Elvis was on-site on Sunday!

“Yeah, I have this great stint working with the American Junior Golf Association.  I have the opportunity to fly around the country to a new golf course each week, watch the nation’s top juniors play, use my degree, get a bunch of free merchandise, and meet famous athletes and coaches.”

How many fresh college graduates get to say that?  I’m crossing quite a few states off my list, and I have decided that I want to try to spend the night in every single state before I die. 

This week was a week of firsts for me for sure.  It was my first time in upstate New York, (which is gorgeous by the way), my first time spending the 4^th of July on a golf course, my first time renting a car, and my first time in Ohio.

The tournament went over pretty smoothly.  I got to spend the second week in a row with the same team, and it was great to get to know everyone that much better.

By the end of the week, we were dancing to YouTube sensations, cracking jokes, and making fun of each other.  It was great!

We were also fortunate enough to get to watch some fireworks last week too.  The course had their own show on the 3^rd, and on the 4^th we got off work early enough to catch the tail end of the entire city’s fireworks.  The hotel we were staying at was perched on the highest point of Rochester, on a cliff overlooking the whole area.  We could see about six different firework shows going on at the same time.  It was quite the experience.

Some of the fireworks from the course

So now onto my next ‘first’ that I crossed off my list: renting a car.  I was given this week of July 6-13 off from work, and it just so happened that my best friend Nick’s older brother was getting married in Columbus on July 7^th.  It was about $350 to fly the 300+ miles from Rochester to Columbus, and it would have taken about 12 hours to do so with all of the layovers and plane changes.  So, I thought I’d just rent a car and drive the 6 hours.  I mean, 6 hours is pretty short compared to most of the drives I’ve been making in the last few months.

My first rental car!!!

Thank goodness for USAA.  They saved me about $60 on the ‘under 25’ fee, found me a great deal with Budget, and made it as easy as possible for me to get to Columbus.  I had a little Chevy crossover type car, and I blasted my iPod and smiled the whole way.  What a great first experience!

Now for one more ‘first’.  It was my first trip to Ohio, and my first trip to

The Ohio State University (yes, they all say ‘the’ when they talk about OSU).  I also was given a VIP tour of some of the athletic facilities.  Nick’s sister Shelaine works at the volleyball arena, and Nick trained for his NFL Pro Day there last year, so I was able to see all of it.  Let’s just say Ohio State’s volleyball arena is bigger than NAU’s football arena…Pretty cool, huh?

Ohio State's indoor football training facility

Anyway, I arrived around noon on Friday, Nick and his friend Nick Melonas picked me up, and we went straight to work.  We needed to pick up chairs for the ceremony and help set everything up, so we got right to it.  Oh, and did I mention that there has been a ridiculous heat wave in the Midwest, and it was over 100 degrees?  Sweating bullets the entire time I was there.

Later that night we headed over to Shelaine’s house for the rehearsal dinner.  I had the BEST fried fish there ever.  I couldn’t tell you what it was, but it was goooood.  We played cornhole, drank some beer, socialized, and rode the quad.  It was such a fun night, and so good to see some people I haven’t seen in quite awhile.

The next day was a whirlwind.  We all were able to sleep in, and then the chaos started.  All the bridesmaids had to be up early to get their hair and makeup done, and then the groomsmen started getting ready around 2.  The ceremony started at 5:30, and I have never seen so many hot, sweaty people.  I was glad I chose the dress I did because you couldn’t see any sweat marks!! Score!

With Nick on the quad.  So much fun!

Just so you get a better idea of how hot it really was, there were three or four people who passed out.  Nick was one of them.  The poor guy – he made it through the ceremony and pictures like a trooper, and then he started to get a little wobbly.  Out like a light.

A few bottles of Gatorade, some bananas, and a clothing change later, he was ready to go.  He gave his best man speech and rallied.  Then the party started.

We all danced and danced late into the night.  It cooled off enough to feel comfortable, but by that point none of us cared.  We were having so much fun!!

Anyway, this last week was one to remember.  I had a wonderful time at the tournament in Rochester, and the wedding in Columbus was one for the books.  Now I am spending my week off at home with my family, and I couldn’t have asked for a better time.  Looking forward to my next five weeks with the AJGA, but savoring every moment I have left at home. 

Now, for the wedding photos : )

Waiting for Maggie to make her big entrance

Here she comes!

Saying their vows

Love this!

The Larson clan - J.D., Shelaine, Emma, Kristen, and Nick

Gorgeous view!

Picture time

Isn't he the cutest?

First dance

Nick cooling off - getting ready to rally!

Right after the ceremony

Sparklers!

Feeling better!

Let the festivities begin!!

My favorite :)

Finally made it to the lake!!

Killing it in Vermont

How can I be so lucky?  Sure, I know that some days it’s tough, the hours are long, and I get cranky, but really, everyday of this internship is a gift.

So serene

I’m not trying to be corny, but this six-hour ride in the car has given me loads of time to think.  I have decided that for my first internship, there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be.  This opportunity and experience is incredible.

Ok, so now that I’ve got that off my chest, Vermont was pretty bitchin’.  Yes, that is the ONLY word that successfully describes my time in Vermont.  Bitchin’.

This was my first excursion to the northeast tip of the United States.  I have been to Boston and New York, but not in the boondocks of the real ‘tip’ of the U.S.  Now I just need to get to Maine to say I’ve been in the extreme northeast…

I traveled from Galena, Ill., with Blair and Kurtis, two other assistants, to Manchester, and then the three of us drove to Killington.  It was about a three-hour drive, and we arrived just in time to grab some grub at a nearby restaurant.  It was very quaint, set on the bank of a pond at the base of the mountains.  Dinner was so relaxing, and it gave me a chance to de-stress from the previous week.  It was so wide open in Vermont – never once did I feel cramped or claustrophobic. 

It's electric!

After dinner, we drove the three minutes to our lodging.  It was a picturesque ski lodge, complete with a fireplace and playing cards.  I was amazed at the amount of people we squeezed into that place.  There was room for nine people upstairs and four or five downstairs.  And we used every little nook and cranny to jam all of our crap in that little ski lodge.  I don’t know how we did it with almost ten girls, but we all managed to get ready in the morning in a respectable manner, showers and everything.

Now, I know I claimed that my lack of painted nails was the reason for all the stress last week.  I only gathered more substantial evidence for my claim.  InfoScore gave me more trouble the first two days we were at the tournament.  I was able to paint my nails on the third day, an electric orange, and you know what?  The fourth, fifth, and sixth days, ZERO InfoScore trouble.  Nail polish is a priority, and a necessity. 

The golf course in Killington was very nice.  It was very hilly, and several of the holes had elevated tee boxes.  It also had a wide variety of wildlife.  We had a friendly black bear that kept hanging around the garbage cans, and he even utilized a car to hoist himself into the fenced dumpster.  I also saw a few foxes and of course, chipmunks.

I also have to share that the general manager of the golf course had the deepest voice that reminded me of James Earl Jones.  I wish I could add audio to this post, as I believe most of you would agree that Mufasa was telling me where No. 7 was on the course…

He was adorable!

Some fun facts from Vermont: Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream was created about 30 minutes from where we were all week.  Good thing I didn’t realize how close it was, otherwise I would have done some damage on my day off.  Also, one of our juniors fathers, Dan Tyminski, is a Grammy award winning bluegrass musician, who is part of Alison Krauss and Union Station and who wrote songs for the movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou?  Oh, and Vermont is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been.  I think I might venture to put it in the category of Montana and Aspen…maybe.

We were lucky enough to finish our final round in record time, and so we had a bit of time post-tournament to go for a hike.  It was glorious; about a four or five mile hike, and we were able to see one breathtaking view.  A nice vigorous hike was just what I needed after a long week.  I slept like a baby last  night, mostly from exhaustion.

I have one more tournament until my week long break.  We are heading to Victor, N.Y., and by the looks of things, we are going to be hooked up for lodging.  Hope this last week goes by smoothly.  I am definitely looking forward to a little break before the last half of the summer.  See you all soon!

View from the 10th tee

Mountains were lost in the clouds during
the rainy days

Dense forest lined the holes

Since the tournament was sponsored by
the town of Killington, every restaurant
welcomed the AJGA!

View from the summit of the 'hill' we hiked...simply gorgeous

Blair, Katie and I at the top

Perfect end to a great week